The New Orleans Saints kicked off their 2025 preseason slate on Sunday with a 27-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers — a game that offered a little bit of everything: moments of promise, drive-killing mistakes, and a glaring reminder of old habits the team still hasn’t fully broken.
Yes, it’s only the preseason, and no, the final score isn’t the most important takeaway. But for a franchise under new head coach Kellen Moore, these early contests are critical for establishing identity, ironing out execution, and evaluating where the roster truly stands.
The Offense Is Still a Work in Progress
This was not a one-player problem. While quarterback play tends to draw the most attention, the Saints’ offensive performance was a collective story. The first few drives showed flashes of potential — smart reads, efficient checkdowns, and some crisp route-running — but too often, progress was halted by penalties or mental lapses.
These miscues are common for teams in transition, especially under a first-year head coach installing new systems, but they still left points on the board and momentum on the field.
Quarterback Battle Update
The quarterback competition between veteran Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough remains one of the most-watched storylines of camp, and Sunday’s game didn’t exactly produce a clear frontrunner.
- Spencer Rattler finished 7-of-11 passing for 53 yards, with no touchdowns and three sacks. While his stat line wasn’t eye-catching, Rattler did lead the team in rushing with 22 yards, showing mobility under pressure. However, the pocket collapse — particularly against the Chargers’ second defensive unit — was a recurring theme.
- Tyler Shough, the 2025 second-round pick, posted stronger passing numbers: 15-of-22 for 165 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He was also sacked twice. Shough’s performance had more downfield attempts and a few sharp timing throws, but the interception was a reminder that rookie growing pains are inevitable.
Statistically, Shough looked better, but it wasn’t enough to truly distance himself from Rattler. Both will have opportunities in the next two preseason games to build chemistry with the starting offense and separate themselves in the battle for QB1.
Run Game and Missing Playmakers
Without Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Juwan Johnson, Erik McCoy, and Foster Moreau in action, the Saints were missing a significant chunk of their offensive core. That absence was felt in both the passing and running game.
Kendre Miller flashed at times, showing good burst and vision on several carries. Still, with Kamara sidelined, the backfield rotation lacked its usual balance between explosiveness and pass-catching versatility.
Offensive Line Depth Concerns
If one area of legitimate concern comes out of this game, it’s offensive line depth. Starting tackle Trevor Penning exited in the first quarter with an apparent leg injury, and backup center Will Clapp also left with a leg injury. The drop-off in protection with the second unit was immediate, and against deeper defensive fronts, that could be a problem come September.
Defense Holds Firm Early, But Trey Lance Exposes Familiar Weakness
Defensively, the Saints opened the game with a solid first-half performance. The Chargers sat starting quarterback Justin Herbert, opting instead for backup Taylor Heinicke. New Orleans’ defense kept Heinicke in check, limiting him to just 39 passing yards and sacking him once.
For most of the first half, the Saints’ front seven controlled the line of scrimmage, forcing quick throws and stalling drives.
Then Trey Lance entered the game.
Lance’s mobility immediately changed the complexion of the matchup. He finished with seven carries for 48 yards, averaging nearly 7 yards per rush. His ability to extend plays and gash the defense on designed runs or scrambles exposed an issue that Saints fans know all too well — containing mobile quarterbacks.
By the final whistle, the Saints had allowed 148 rushing yards, a troubling number even in the preseason. It’s a familiar weakness that plagued the team under former head coach Dennis Allen. While this is only the first live test under defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, it’s a reminder that personnel and scheme adjustments will be needed to close that gap.
Big Picture Takeaways
It’s important to keep perspective. Preseason football is less about the win-loss column and more about development, evaluation, and getting comfortable in new roles. The Saints are in the early stages of building an identity under Kellen Moore, and that process is never without bumps.
Key Takeaways:
- The offense is still meshing. The system is new, key starters are missing, and timing is still developing. That’s normal for August, but patience will also be required.
- The QB competition is still wide open. Shough had the better numbers, but Rattler showed mobility and poise in moments. Neither has locked down the job yet.
- Offensive line depth is thin. Injuries to Penning and Clapp spotlight a depth issue that could linger into the regular season.
- Run defense needs attention. Lance’s success on the ground wasn’t an isolated incident — it’s a continuation of a long-standing issue the Saints need to fix.
What’s Next
The Saints will return to practice this week with plenty of film to review. Expect Moore and his staff to focus heavily on cleaning up penalties, shoring up blocking assignments, and tightening defensive pursuit against mobile quarterbacks.
The preseason is a testing ground, and Sunday was just the first exam for New Orleans. There’s time to improve, but there’s also no hiding the areas that need immediate attention.
