Jeff Duncan: Spencer Rattler can’t afford more rough days like the one he had against the Bears
Jeff Duncan 6 – 8 minutes
Spencer Rattler had a rough day Sunday.
One week after his best performance as the New Orleans Saints starting quarterback, he suffered his worst one: four sacks, three interceptions, a fumble and a season-low 66.3 passer rating.
It led to a demoralizing 26-14 loss to the Chicago Bears and lowered his overall record as a starter to 1-12.
Rattler’s performance was the kind his skeptics had predicted would happen since he was named the starting quarterback in fall camp, and the kind he’d largely avoided since taking over the starting job.
After showing dramatic improvement with his accuracy, pocket awareness and decision-making in the first six games, Rattler reverted to some bad habits, and the Bears feasted on his mistakes. The turnover total would have been even higher if Bears defenders had been surer-handed.
Afterward, Rattler accepted the blame and preached about the importance of protecting the ball and learning to live for another play. But Rattler knows he can’t afford many more repeat performances if he wants to live another day as the Saints starter.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (2) passes against the Chicago Bears in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Erin Hooley
Tyler Shough is waiting in the wings. The rookie second-round draft pick has played sparingly this season, but he flashed enough talent in the preseason to push Rattler until the final weeks of camp in their spirited competition for the starting job.
Rattler is a confident guy and has said all the right things about the Saints’ quarterback dynamic, but he’s smart enough to know the situation. The club selected Shough with the No. 40 overall pick in the NFL draft for a reason. He’s the highest quarterback drafted by the Saints since Archie Manning in 1971. At some point, team officials are going to want to get a look at him.
Rattler might not see Shough over his shoulder, but like the infamous Keyser Soze, he has to feel his looming presence.
Rookie quarterbacks are a crap shoot. There’s no guarantee they’ll be the answer or savior.
While Jaxon Dart has revived the New York Giants, Cam Ward has done little to change the fortunes of the Tennessee Titans.
Seven games into his NFL career, Ward has twice as many turnovers (10) as touchdown passes (four) and has already seen his head coach get fired. Jayden Daniels thrived a year ago, while Caleb Williams struggled.
The best thing about rookie quarterbacks, as they say, is that they become second-year quarterbacks.
It’s not likely that Shough would change the fortunes of this Saints team. At least not enough to alter their trajectory or the win-loss record.
Sunday’s setback was the Saints’ sixth in seven games this season. They have now lost 10 of their last 11 games and 18 of their past 22, dating to last season. It’s one of the worst stretches in franchise history, one that cost Dennis Allen his job and led Derek Carr to abruptly “retire” in the offseason.
Seven games into the season, the Saints find themselves still searching for an identity or a calling card. There’s no aspect of the game at which they excel, nothing to hang their hats on when the going gets tough. The Saints rank 24th in the league in total offense, 29th in scoring offense, 19th in total defense and 27th in scoring defense. Likewise, they are in the bottom half of the league in every other major situational category: third down, goal line, red zone.
Most expected the Saints to struggle this season. With a new coach, a new quarterback, new coaching staff and new schemes on both sides of the ball, there were a lot of moving parts to synchronize.
But the Saints have somehow been even worse than expected. In five of their seven games, they have never led for a single minute. Of their 73 total offensive drives, they have trailed on 62 of them. These are not the hallmarks of a team that is “close” or competitive.
And with games against Super Bowl contenders Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Rams on deck, the Saints are staring at a 1-8 start, which would be the club’s second worst in franchise history.
Perhaps even more ominous, the Saints entered the Bears game as one of the healthiest and least mistake-prone teams in the league. They had committed just four turnovers in their first six games.
It made you wonder: What happens when the injuries and turnovers inevitably start to pile up?
On Sunday, we learned the answer.
Rattler’s struggles against the Bears were to be expected. There will always be growing pains with any young quarterback. Rattler’s struggles in key situations, though, are worrisome. His 67.7 passer rating on third down is anemic. And his 50.0 completion percentage in the red zone is lacking.
Those numbers certainly won’t quiet his critics, many of whom have called for the Saints to elevate Shough into the starting role.
Rattler is not a frail flower. He’s overcome adversity before in his career and shown he will not wilt from a challenge in tough times.
But if the mistakes and losses continue to mount, the Saints will have no other choice but to call on Shough. Rattler’s runway as the starter was shortened considerably on Sunday.