NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saints coach Kellen Moore will have to decide soon whether rookie Tyler Shough or second-year pro Spencer Rattler should be New Orleans' starting quarterback in Week 1 of the regular season.
As the preseason wrapped up with a 28-19 loss to Denver on Saturday, the choice was anything but clear.
“I have to make a decision and it's a challenging one because these guys have put everything into this,” Moore said. “They've been very, very close.”
Shough scored the Saints' only touchdown against Denver on an 11-yard read-option run around the left end. He was 12 of 20 for 102 yards and led two scoring drives, the first ending with one of three field goals that Blake Grupe hit from beyond 47 yards for the Saints (0-2-1).
Shough “used his feet pretty well,” Moore said.
However, Shough’s performance was marred by a lost fumble on a sack by Que Robinson in Saints territory. The turnover led to a Denver TD on Audric Estime’s 5-yard run.
Rattler started and completed 5 of 8 passes for 43 yards, leading two drives that culminated with Blake Grupe field goals and one which stalled on failed QB keeper on fourth-and-1.
Rattler “did some really good stuff,” Moore said. “He went through some progressions really well, found some guys.”
Rattler thought the Saints were “moving the ball pretty well,” while he was under center, but “weren’t great on third down (0 for 3).
“Could have been better, obviously,” he said. “But it was solid.”
Shough said the competition with Rattler is “obviously close,” adding that he'll be disappointed if he's not the starter, but will "stay prepared, stay ready," regardless.
“Operating-wise, throwing the football, I think it’s been extremely clean," Shough said of his play this preseason. “I feel fully capable to go out there and lead the charge.”
While several quarterbacks could become available as NFL teams make final cuts by Tuesday afternoon, Moore sounded intent on sticking with the QBs he has.
“We’ve invested and poured a lot into these guys," he said. “They’re young guys. They’re going to keep growing."
Denver (3-0) has a clear No. 1 QB in Bo Nix, who passed for 110 yards and a touchdown to Courtland Sutton during three possessions.
Denver's first-team offense put together a pair of scoring drives in the Superdome, where Broncos coach Sean Payton called plays from the home sideline between 2006 to 2021.
“We did some good things,” Payton said. “It’s preseason, but we want to win in everything we do.”
Nix's 14-yard pass to Sutton on fourth-and-5 helped set up Wil Lutz's first of three field goals for the Broncos.
On his final series, Nix capped a six-play, 77-yard drive with his 19-yard scoring pass to Sutton. That capped a four-catch, 83-yard performance for the veteran receiver.
Sam Ehlinger replaced Nix in the second quarter and completed 22 of 31 passes for 198 yards, capped by a late 5-yard TD pass to rookie receiver Kyrese Rowan on fourth-and-4.
“Sam did a fantastic job,” Payton said. “Some of his gifts are with his feet, his athleticism. There's a little moxie and leadership to him.”
Ehlinger was intercepted once when he threw while being hit by Vernon Broughton and the ball deflected to defensive back Quincy Riley.
In a game held six days before the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints held a moment of silence in memory of the storm's victims.
“It doesn't seem like 20 years ago,” said Payton, who was hired for his first head coaching job by the Saints about five months after Katrina hit, while much of New Orleans remained in ruins. "It was horrendous, the damage.
“Everyone that ended up on that (2006) team, ended up part of something much bigger than we ever expected," Payton added, referring to how the team's surprise playoff run came to symbolize the city's resilience. "I'd argue that the ‘06 season was more important than the ’09 (Super Bowl championship) season.”
Broncos: Running back Blake Watson was treated on the field and helped off in the fourth quarter.
Saints: Offensive lineman Landon Young, one of New Orleans' more established reserves, was carted off with a right ankle injury during the second quarter. Moore said offensive lineman Shane Lemieux also has an ankle injury. Receiver Kevin Austin Jr. was examined inside the injury tent before walking on his own to the locker room.
The Broncos open the regular season at home against Tennessee on Sept. 7, when the Saints host Arizona.
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