Spencer Rattler leads Saints on game winning drive in win over Cardinals

Story by Zach Alvira 

It was the opportunity Spencer Rattler had looked forward to since he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of last April’s draft.

A chance to prove himself.

He delivered Saturday in the Saints first preseason game, where he saw his first action as an NFL quarterback. It just so happened to come in his home state against the Arizona Cardinals.

Much like he did when he played his high school ball just under 30 miles away at Pinnacle High School, Rattler showed his arm strength, elusiveness and heightened sense of leadership while commanding an NFL huddle for the first time. The result: A game-winning drive that allowed the Saints to beat the Cardinals, 16-14.

“It was awesome to be back and see everybody,” Rattler said. “My mom is a second-grade teacher out here. All her students came out, and a lot of my friends and family. It was fun. But I thought I handled it well sitting out that first half getting to see the flow of the game.”

Rattler was forced to sit through two quarters before his number was called. But it was well worth the wait.

He helped lead New Orleans down the field, completing one of his two pass attempts for 15 yards in his first offensive series.

Reminiscent of his days as a Pinnacle Pioneer, Rattler escaped pressure from the 4-yard line and headed toward the pylon. He absorbed a hit from Cardinals’ cornerback Darren Hall but stayed in bounds long enough to stretch the ball over the goal line.

At first, he was ruled out at the one. But a successful challenge by Allen overturned the spot of the ball, awarding Rattler his first NFL touchdown.

“It was a DB coming to tackle so I knew I could give him a shoulder to get a yard or two,” Rattler said of the touchdown run. “I didn’t even mean to reach it but it was in, so I’m happy about that.”

The next three offensive series for Rattler didn’t go as well as the first. But his last time out was once again a flash from the past.

Trailing by a point with 1:50 to play, Rattler started his fifth series from his own 25-yard line. He went on to complete four straight passes – six total in the 13-play drive that allowed New Orleans to kick a 37-yard field goal to regain the lead and ultimately, the win.

“It was a fun first game,” Rattler said. “We could have done things to make it easier on ourselves, but we kept it tight until the end. Couldn’t ask for a better finish, in a two-minute situation.”

Rattler’s ability to remain poised didn’t surprise Saints head coach Dennis Allen. He and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak have raved about Rattler’s improvement throughout training camp leading up to his first NFL preseason game.

It’s been well documented that Rattler has shown flashes of potential. He’s been challenged at times in various red zone and two-minute drills. He’s also been put in must-have fourth-down situations, to which Allen said on Aug. 5 he made a “hell of a throw” to convert and get a new set of downs. Rattler has also become more confident, something that has been noticeable to all his teammates as well as coaches.

Those characteristics are what made Rattler one of the top prospects to ever come out of Arizona. It helped him earn the starting role at Oklahoma. It’s also what allowed him to revive his college career at South Carolina.

Now, he finds himself in competition with Haener — who the Saints drafted a year ahead of Rattler — for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Derek Carr. Haener finished 9-of-13 for 107 yards against the Cardinals. Rattler, however, was the only quarterback to lead the Saints to a touchdown.

“I thought he executed with poise,” Allen said. “I thought he made some plays. I thought he was able to create a little bit with his feet when things didn’t go how we wanted it to. I thought he did a good job.”

Rattler will undoubtedly see more snaps as the preseason progresses and the Saints begin to focus in on who will be the backup heading into Week 1. Allen said there were still plenty of opportunities for improvement.

But for a young quarterback to lead the Saints in a two-minute offense to secure a last-second field goal, Allen believes it’s a step in the right direction for the offense.

“I thought, overall, for our first preseason game and this being Spencer’s first shot out, I was pleased with what I saw,” Allen said. “It’s good for those young guys to be put in those situations. [Rattler and Haener] responded well.”