The New Orleans Saints quarterback battle is a two-man battle between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough, and we can drop the facade. WShough entering the game at the top of the fourth quarter showed what guys have priority. Jake Haener didn't see the field until the final five minutes.
It would be great if the Saints could name a starter after the first game, but the battle between Rattler and Shough should continue. Neither team made a bold claim to the starting role in the first contest. That shouldn't be a surprise either.
The Saints quarterback battle will be ongoing because neither guy came and claimed the title. It's just the first preseason game, so we'll reserve concrete judgement. If the battle continues this way, you'll have a starter. You'll just won't have the level of optimism you'd desire.
Spencer Rattler left the door open for Tyler Shough
If there was a quarterback who had the lead, it would have been Spencer Rattler. He had looked more impressive throughout training camp. In live game action, the second-year player struggled to lead the offense down the field. Part of it was surroundings, and part of it was Rattler himself.
The offensive line did a poor job protecting the quarterback. Rattler was constantly under pressure when in the game. He did a good job managing that pressure early in the game with his mobility, but did cough up a fumble on a sack.
In combat sports, sometimes the last image can decide a round. The last image Rattler put on tape was a poorly thrown pass to Dante Pettis. It was badly behind Pettis. It was probably the worst pass of the day
Tyler Shough sent Saints fans on a rollercoaster of emotions
Shough came on the field and moved the ball efficiently in the 2 minute drill. It showcased Shough's quick decision making, but the Chargers were also playing soft. How he performed when it's not quick nickel and diming down the field needed to be determined.
The third quarter saw Shough's first two touchdowns of the preseason. The only problem is the first touchdown was to the Chargers. Shough threw an ugly interception that the Chargers returned to the end zone. As ugly as that was, he returned with a long touchdown to Mason Tipton on the next drive.
It's terrible and great in back-to-back drives. It's tough to judge that, and it's a great example of why they say, "don't get too high, don't get too low." Through the rest of the game, Shough was at his best when allowed to play on rhythm.