GLENDALE, Ariz. — New Orleans rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler led the winning drive in final minute, providing a spark in his bid to become the team’s backup quarterback this season, and the Saints beat the Arizona Cardinals 16-14 in preseason action Saturday night.
Rattler — a fifth-round selection out of South Carolina — spearheaded a 12-play, 56-yard drive in the final two minutes, capped by a 37-yard field goal from Charlie Smyth with five seconds left.
“We had zero issues with operation, operations went super smooth,” Rattler said. “We could have had better execution here and there, that is what first games are for to work those kinks out. First live game, I was happy to go in there and play ball, put my foot on the gas and come out with a win.”
The Saints are trying to decide on a backup quarterback behind Derek Carr and it’s a duel between Rattler and second-year player Jake Haener.
Haener played most of the first half, completing 9 of 13 passes for 107 yards. His big moment came near the end of the second quarter when he connected with A.T. Perry on a 58-yard pass down the sideline, which set up a field goal. Perry finished with a team-high 85 yards receiving.
Rattler had a 4-yard touchdown in the third quarter, giving the Saints a 13-7 lead. A star at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix before going on to Oklahoma and South Carolina, he was 9 of 17 for 70 yards.
“I thought he executed with poise,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said. “I thought he made some plays, I thought he was able to create with his feet when things didn’t go exactly how you wanted it to. So I thought he did a good job.”
Rattler's mom is a second-grade teacher in the Phoenix area and brought some of her students out to the game, along with friends and family.
Saints rookie left tackle Taliese Fuaga started and played a decent chunk of the first half. He was selected with the No. 14 overall pick out of Oregon State.
The Cardinals sat most of their starters with a few exceptions, including No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. The former Ohio State receiver — who was the first non-quarterback selected in the draft — played one series and didn’t catch a pass.
Arizona starting quarterback Kyler Murray didn’t play as expected.
Coach Jonathan Gannon said he wanted to use the preseason to evaluate backup quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Clayton Tune, who are fighting for the No. 2 spot. Ridder started 13 games for the Atlanta last season before the Cardinals added him in an offseason trade that sent receiver Rondale Moore to the Falcons.
Ridder played the first half, completing 4 of 9 passes for 43 yards while also carrying the ball five times for 39 yards. He didn't get great protection from the offensive line, which curbed his production.
“You'd like to get some first downs, but that's just not on the quarterback, that's everybody,” Gannon said. “He's not blocking for himself and he's not running routes for himself, so I think as a whole, we need to do better.”
Tune topped Ridder’s passing output on the first drive of the second half, leading a nine-play, 70-yard drive that ended with Michael Carter’s 11-yard touchdown run. The second-year quarterback 4 of 5 passes for 54 yards during the drive.
Tune finished 15 of 24 passing for 163 yards and a 10-yard touchdown with 1:55 left in the fourth.
“I felt more comfortable, seeing the defense and was confident in the gameplan,” Tune said. “I was seeing it well and playing on time.”
New Orleans played more of its starters than Arizona, but most weren't in the game for long. Derek Carr completed 2 of 6 passes for 12 yards, Alvin Kamara had two carries for three yards and Chris Olave made one catch for 10 yards.
It was a slow offensive start for both teams. The Saints led 6-0 at halftime after two field goals from Blake Grupe, one from 26 yards and the other from 33.
Arizona had the edge in total yards, leading 328 to 286.
Murray Sits
Gannon announced earlier this week that Murray won't play at all in preseason games as the team tries to protect his health.
Murray missed roughly 11 months while rehabbing a torn ACL in his right knee that caused him to miss parts of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He returned for the last eight games last season.
Up Next
Saints: At San Francisco on Aug. 18.
Cardinals: At Indianapolis next Saturday.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events every year, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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