A major storyline surrounding the New Orleans Saints offseason has been Spencer Rattler’s battle with Zach Wilson for the backup quarterback role. Although it's been close so far, Rattler may have just ended the debate with his best preseason performance in the Saints' Week 3 win against the Dallas Cowboys.
All eyes were on the two quarterbacks heading into this week. It seemed that Rattler was losing ground after back-to-back disappointing performances; however, he impressed on Friday, going 8/10 from the field for 79 yards and one rushing touchdown. He was composed and led the Saints to three scoring drives in his four opportunities.
This isn’t saying that Wilson was bad. On the contrary, the former second-overall pick led the Saints with 93 passing yards and commanded a game winning drive late in the fourth quarter. The stats were similar with both options, but the offense stalled under Wilson in the second half and wasn’t as efficient as the first unit (or technically the second with no starters playing).
Spencer Rattler's performance despite diversity gives him a major advantage in the quarterback battle.
As mentioned, Rattler struggled during the first two weeks of the preseason and had tremendous pressure on his shoulders. Regardless, he showed his poise and fought through the adversity. The stats, comparisons, and final scores matter, but not giving in to the pressure is by far the most important factor in the quarterback battle.
It’s worth mentioning that the criteria for the backup quarterback are different than for the starter. Rattler doesn’t have to prove that he can make game-changing plays or carry his offense to victory. Instead, it’s far more important that he can stay calm, even under immense pressure, and run the offense efficiently.
This is exactly what Rattler did against the Cowboys. He didn’t have any highlight-level plays, and the stats aren’t anything to write home about. But he didn’t commit any turnovers and took what the defense gave him. Kellen Moore should be confident that he can do this in a regular-season game if called upon after this performance.
Even if Rattler officially won the job, it’s unlikely that Wilson is still a real candidate to make the initial 53-man roster. As a veteran, they could also cut Wilson with an agreement to bring him right back and not have to worry about him passing through waivers. Either way, it's a good chance the Saints keep three quarterbacks this year.
This means that the competition isn’t over and will continue throughout the season. However, it will take a herculean effort from Wilson or an injury to Rattler to change the current outlook with no remaining preseason games.
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