Green Bay Packers secondary shorthanded as Spencer Rattler takes charge
- The New Orleans Saints were defeated 34-0 by the Green Bay Packers, marking the first shutout of the NFL season.
- Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler struggled without key players and finished with 153 yards, one interception, and one fumble.
- Rattler expressed personal responsibility for the loss and the team's overall disappointing performance.
In a disappointing performance, the New Orleans Saints faced off against the Green Bay Packers, resulting in a 34-0 shutout. This match took place on a Monday night, marking the first shutout of the NFL season. Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler had a challenging outing, especially given the lack of key offensive weapons. The Saints were missing several critical players, including wide receivers Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave, both affected by injuries. Additionally, veteran quarterback Derek Carr was sidelined for the second consecutive game due to an injured hand, leaving Rattler struggling to find his rhythm. Despite the Packers' secondary being depleted, missing three starters, Rattler was unable to capitalize on this advantage. He ended the game with a disappointing stat line: 15 completions on 30 attempts, for 153 yards, along with an interception and a fumble. Rattler admitted the loss was embarrassing and took personal responsibility for the lack of offense, stating he did not have any answers during the game. The Saints have not been shut out in consecutive first halves since 1997, indicating a significant downturn in their offensive performance in recent weeks. Throughout the game, New Orleans struggled to find offensive cohesion, which was evident as they trailed 21-0 by halftime. Rattler's attempts to lead the team resulted in limited success, including a promising drive that ended in a turnover when he was sacked and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Packers' Rashan Gary. This inability to finish drives and capitalize on opportunities was detrimental to New Orleans' performance, as they failed to score any points throughout the match. Looking ahead, the Saints' coaching staff and Rattler himself will need to reassess their strategies and address the impact of missing key players on the offense. The outcome of this game raises questions about the future direction of the team, particularly regarding Rattler's development as a starting quarterback in the league. Overall, this game will be remembered as a low point in the Saints' season, highlighting the need for improvement on both sides of the ball in order to avoid similar outcomes in the future.