By Ross Jackson
After a hapless first quarter for the New Orleans Saints on both sides of the ball, things improved drastically for the team once they turned the page to the second.
Granted, quarterback Jake Haener and the Saints’ offense had to take on the Titans’ starting defense. Similarly, the Saints’ defense was loaded with depth players going up against the Tennessee first team.
Haener opened the game going 3-of-7 for just 23 passing yards and a 51.5 passer rating. He had a great play that was challenged and overturned as an incomplete pass where he evaded the active pass rush, extended the play and looked to connect with wide receiver A.T. Perry for a big third-down conversion. However, the play was ruled incomplete after review.
The Saints defense was no match for quarterback Will Levis and the Titans offense. Play action absolutely gashed the unit. Levis had a field day going 100 percent in the quarter. He went 6-of-6 for 112 passing yards including a big 33-yarder to a wide-open Calvin Ridley.
Things took a big shift for the Saints once rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler and the next unit for the team came in. Aided by not playing against a starting defense was a big factor, but the explosive plays and big moments had a lot to like nonetheless.
Rattler came out firing completing 5 of his 9 passes for 53 passing yards and an absolutely gorgeous touchdown pass. The dime from Rattler to wideout Equanimeous St. Brown was easily one of the best throws by a Saints quarterback all offseason. Perfect location and great anticipation on the fade that was run very well by St. Brown, who capped the play off with a solid and sound catch.
The Titans offense continued to add some scores with a pair of field goals, but the Saints finished the half with some excitement. A scoring drive led by Rattler and some great runs by backs Jordan Mims and James Robinson put kicker Blake Grupe in position for a 54-yard field goal which he nailed.
The half then came to a close with a very entertaining field goal runback by wide receiver Samson Nacua. After the missed field goal by Tennessee, Nacua fielded the ball in the endzone and returned the kick a whopping 106 yards. Unfortunately, he stepped out of bounds at the 3-yard line and the half ended without the score. But the excitement that drew from the crowd could carry over to the second half.
What will be interesting to watch next is which quarterback the Saints will field. Rattler could come back for the third quarter while Haener gets to end the game. Or the two passers could alternate quarters.
