The New Orleans Saints were at a total loss for ideas on offense on Sunday, losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-3. In their effort to generate a spark, Saints head coach Kellen Moore benched starting quarterback Spencer Rattler for rookie Tyler Shough.
Ever since Derek Carr's sudden retirement back in May, people have been wanting Shough to be playing over second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler. However, that would not end up being the case, with Rattler winning the starting job. Shough would head into his first season as a backup, watching from the sidelines. However, on Sunday, those very prayers might have been answered when Rattler was pulled in favor of the second-round draft pick.
He didn't play badly at all in his 39 snaps played but also didn't play that well either, only completing 56% of his pass attempts for 128 yards and one interception (though looking at the replay, it doesn't look like it was his fault).
Rookie Tyler Shough isn't the Saints' starting QB just yet
Following the game, Kellen Moore would say that he was trying to find the best way to win when asked about the quarterback switch. "Tyler went in there and looked the part. He made some plays." Moore said to the media. "That one interception was unfortunate... but he hung in there; he battled."
In his own words, the rookie quarterback said he didn't get the job done. "I was proud of how those guys battled, but ultimately we have to go back to the drawing board to keep getting better."
Following the game, head coach Kellen Moore declined to say whether or not Shough would be starting next week against the Los Angeles Rams but did say that he wouldn't be flip-flopping between quarterbacks. "We have some decisions to make in the next 48 hours," he said postgame. "We'll do this collectively."