Spencer Rattler's heroics against Jaguars still didn't make up Kellen Moore's mind for his Week 1 starting quarterback

The time is coming for New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore and his offensive staff. They have to choose their starting quarterback for the games that count sooner rather than later. The latest preseason action for the Saints made that decision even more difficult, though.

Rattler impresses in final quarter to preserve tie

The young quarterback put together one of the most impressive drives of his NFL career to bring the Saints back to a tied score in the final seconds of the game.

Rattler showed off plenty of poise, completed multiple downfield shots, and even ran in the two-point conversion himself. Rattler's performance, overall, had some highs and lows. The finish was the absolute peak to what he has put on film in the preseason, though.

Spencer Rattler came up clutch in game 2 of the preseason:
- 18/24
- 199 passing yards
- Game-tying TD and 2-point conversion pic.twitter.com/CmKZV0PfSa

— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2025

The finish to the game for Rattler may have clouded what the Saints coaching staff felt was a decision they were comfortable making after Tyler Shough's performances in Weeks 1 and 2 of the preseason for New Orleans. There's no way to know for sure, but there may be additional confidence involved for Rattler due to that drive to tie up the exhibition.

After the tie, Moore was noncommittal on naming a starting QB for Week 1. We could see a culmination of the competition between Shough and Rattler to wrap preseason play for New Orleans, against the Denver Broncos and Sean Payton.

Shough and Rattler remain lockstep by the numbers

• Tyler Shough: 24/34 231 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Spencer Rattler: 25/35 252 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INTBoth players have played a similar amount through two preseason matchups. You could argue that Shough took a lead following the first game, but Rattler roared back to potentially take back the lead against Jacksonville.
  
  Regardless, Moore isn't tipping his hand as of yet. The Saints head coach told Kay Adams last week that a decision was "close" in regards to naming a quarterback for Week 1. Now, that path may have hit yet another hitch that could force the staff to wait until the final preseason game concludes to name their starting QB.