In a game that was anything but ordinary, Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler made a strong case to secure the backup spot behind veteran Derek Carr, while wide receiver Samson Nacua electrified the crowd with a special teams play that showcased his potential, despite a bittersweet ending. The New Orleans Saints ultimately fell short in a 30-27 nail-biter against the Tennessee Titans in their final preseason showdown on Sunday.
Rattler, a fifth-round pick from South Carolina, took the field with purpose, leading the Saints on four scoring drives and amassing 24 points. He threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Equanimeous St. Brown and orchestrated a 70-yard drive on his very first series, coming in for fellow reserve QB Jake Haener. Rattler also set up a 54-yard field goal before the half and capped off two fourth-quarter drives with touchdown runs by undrafted rookie Jacob Kibodi.
"I’m just here to get better every day and help the team in any way I can," said Rattler, reflecting on his performance and growth throughout the preseason.
On the other side of the ball, Titans backup quarterback Malik Willis stole the show late in the game, connecting with Bryce Oliver for two fourth-quarter touchdowns. The second, a clutch 5-yard strike on fourth-and-1 with just 1:25 left, sealed the Titans' comeback win and completed their perfect preseason record at 3-0.
While Rattler made his mark, it was Samson Nacua's 106-yard missed field goal return that had fans on their feet. Nacua, brother of Rams receiver Puca Nacua, zigzagged across the field before being tackled just 3 yards shy of the end zone as time expired in the first half. Despite the thrilling return not resulting in points, it could bolster Nacua's chances of making the final roster.
"My legs were burning by the 50-yard line," Nacua joked afterward, knowing his family would tease him about the close call. "I know I’m faster than Puca, but they’re never going to let me live this down."
The Saints, who opted to rest most of their starters, saw Haener struggle against Tennessee's defensive starters early on. He later redeemed himself with a field goal drive but was sacked and stripped for a significant 20-yard loss, stalling another drive.
The game also held a moment of reflection as the Saints honored the late Ed Daniels, a beloved New Orleans sportscaster who recently passed away at 67. The team requested a moment of silence to remember the man who had been a fixture in the community since 1992.
In a rare sighting, Titans cornerback Caleb Farley, a 2021 first-round pick, made his return to the field for the first time since the middle of the 2022 season, contributing with an assisted tackle.
As the Titans head into the regular season riding the momentum of their unbeaten preseason, the Saints will now focus on finalizing their roster and building on the flashes of promise shown by their young talents, like Rattler and Nacua. With one final roster cut looming, the Saints will soon reveal which players made the cut and which ones will have to keep fighting for their NFL dreams elsewhere.
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