What We Learned from the New Orleans Saints First Preseason Game

It’s finally here for New Orleans Saints fans! After seven months of rewatching games, analyzing every piece of news posted on social media, and debating our “perfect roster” over group chats, we get to see the team take to the field, displaying the black and gold! However, this isn’t the same group of men that ended their season with a loss of 27-19 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On your screen this afternoon, you may have been watching the culmination of the Saints’ NFL Draft picks, minicamps, free-agent acquisitions, and resignings. There were numbers on jerseys assigned recently to rookie players and numbers that cause you to immediately recall his last name because you memorized it throughout his previous season. After watching them play today in Los Angeles against the Chargers, here’s what caught some attention:

Commence the Competition to Become the Starting Quarterback

The recent offseason had significant changes to their lineup of quarterbacks. Before the kickoff to start this preseason game, the competition was rumored to be fierce for this coveted position. Their initial possession began with veteran player Spencer Rattler, who was on and off the field for most of the first half, until rookie Tyler Shough replaced him. Shough, pronounced “shuck,” would be permitted the majority of the time to lead the offense and have one of his passes intercepted in the fourth quarter. This would result in him being replaced by the other veteran QB, Jake Haener, with five minutes remaining in the game, but with only about one minute of playing time on the field. From the opportunity each of them had to demonstrate their own abilities, Shough proved that he was the most capable.   

There Is a Crack in "The Wall"

What we watched was primarily a defense-based game. The Saints’ reputation of having one of the best defensive rosters in the league throughout their 2025 season has been reaffirmed today. However, their “wall” wasn’t completely impenetrable due to the Chargers’ QB Trey Lance tearing through them. He was quick and agile, which showed a weakness in their lack of coverage of him. Without anyone attempting to tackle him, he was able to easily cut through and bring the ball closer to the goal line. If the Saints hope to strengthen their defensive position on the field, they will need to find a player who can keep up with this risk-taking mobile quarterback.  

This Roster Will Need to Create Its Own "Identity" in Saints History

In many games, broadcasters have mentioned Drew Brees and have shown several highlight clips from his career. However, throughout the broadcast today, there was no mention of his name or seeing his face appear on the screen. Sean Payton was mentioned, but only about a recent rule change. This change would prevent him from calling the “unexpected” onside kick which started the second half of the Super Bowl, eventually leading to their championship win. The announcers did point out that Kellen Moore is the head coach of the Saints and, at 36 years old, is currently the youngest coach in the league. This fact about his age shouldn’t be used during every game to compare him to his counterparts across the field. Age shouldn’t be associated with inexperience because, in Moore’s case, he has a lot within the NFL at his age. The men on the field need to set themselves apart from their predecessors and play the best they are able in their positions, regardless of who was associated with it the previous season.