Saints’ Spencer Rattler and play calling show growth in key offensive area

By Ross Jackson

Weeks ago, New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler vowed to overcome his struggles on passes to in-breaking routes. After leaving some behind or outside of the frame of receivers on potential big plays or even scoring plays, he was clear that he would continue to progress in the area and start making those throws.

During Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bears, Rattler struggled. One of his three interceptions on the day was on an in-breaking route that he left behind his intended receiver, Mason Tipton. But after that, Rattler connected on two such routes, one toward the middle of the field, the other across it, for a pair of touchdown strikes.

Following the interception, it was clear that Rattler’s focus on adjusting and making these throws is paying off. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough against the Bears, but the trajectory is worth watching closely.

Third-and-nine: Rattler intercepted by Bears CB Nahshon Wright on pass to WR Mason Tipton

The Saints average 4.2 passing yards per attempt on third-and-seven or longer this season. For this third and long, New Orleans decided to attack beyond the sticks. It was a good choice even though the execution didn’t end up being there. Rattler had Tipton on a slant route to the middle of the field, but put the ball slightly behind him, throwing Wright into the play.

Before the snap, the Bears put seven players on the defensive line. This was a common pre-snap look throughout the game.

Both linebackers T.J. Edwards (No. 53) and Tremaine Edmonds (No. 49) bail out after the snap.

Edwards and Edmonds leave the middle of the field vacated, as they latch on to a pair of routes that carry them outside of the hashes. Edwards keys in on Saints wideout Rashid Shaheed, who runs a curl just shy of the sticks. Doing so, allows Tipton to get more depth break breaking inside at the top of his route into a wide open area.

Unfortunately, the pass is just behind Tipton enough for Wright to make a play on it.

Wright grabs the interception and gets a decent return out of it. Were this pass placed slightly ahead of Tipton, it likely would have been a first down and could have even gone for a bigger gain if the over-the-top safety, Kevin Byard misses the tackle.

Defense is eating good today 🍽️

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/7dMU8iofAW

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 19, 2025

Second-and-10: Rattler completes to WR Chris Olave for 21-yard touchdown

Later in the game, as time was winding down before halftime, Rattler got another chance at an inside-breaking route for a touchdown. Missed opportunities on plays like this one were the impetus for early questions around the team’s ability to seize these chances. This time, Rattler and Olave cash in.

Before the snap, Olave is lined up in the slot with the Bears defense predictably playing off coverage. The coverage is likely intended to keep everything in front of them for a couple more plays in order to force a field goal.

However, Olave’s speed creates an immediate win off the line of scrimmage. As Olave blows past the nickel corner Kyler Gordon, Rattler is already starting his throwing motion.

The ball is placed just high enough to clear the underneath defender, a dropping linebacker that was initially caught up with the middle of the field route run by Shaheed. Meanwhile, Byard is not able to make a break on the ball in time, occupied initially by the vertical route run by receiver Brandin Cooks.

This ended up being the perfect play call by head coach Kellen Moore, attacking the deep middle of the field against two-high coverage. Rattler’s placement is on the money, high enough to get over the leaping defender underneath, but still giving Olave a clear shot at the ball. Olave then does the rest by hanging on through going to the ground.

Rattler to Olave gets us on the board

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/CT0Inyk719

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 19, 2025

New Orleans also connected on a second touchdown, a crosser by Olave, later in the game. These plays showed that, while nothing is close to perfect for the 1-6 Saints in 2025, there are some key improvements the team hopes will stack up over time to help them become more competitive in the near future.

If there’s one thing that Moore knows, it’s that former Saints head coach Dennis Allen’s defenses will struggle to stop crossing routes. The second touchdown was another display of Moore’s play calling being a factor.

Stop playing with #12!!!!!

Olave’s second TD of the day

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/PkVMSZH1NF

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 19, 2025

The Saints now just have to find a way to make sure that it can be a factor throughout the entirety of a game eventually, rather than when already down multiple scores. Even in losses, there are some improvements and building blocks visible on which this team must continue to apply focus.