Titans vs Saints: A Gripping Preseason Showdown

The Electric Clash of Titans vs Saints

The third and final preseason game of 2024 for the New Orleans Saints turned into a showcase for the two quarterbacks battling to be Derek Carr's backup. Second-year pro Jake Haener got the start Sunday against the Tennessee Titans at the Caesars Superdome and played in the first and third quarters (and parts of the fourth) while rookie Spencer Rattler played in the second and some of the fourth as the Saints lost to the Titans 30-27 to finish 1-2 in the preseason.

Haener, a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder out of Fresno State, was eight of 17 for 87 yards. With 1:10 to play and the Saints down three, Haener entered and hit Stanley Morgan Jr. with a 19-yard completion and had a nice scramble before the game ended on an incompletion. Rattler, a 6-0, 211-pounder out of South Carolina, was seven of 13 for 105 yards with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Equanimeous St. Brown with 9:49 to play in the second quarter. He also threw a nice deep ball to A.T. Perry for 43 yards to set up Jacob Kibodi's 2-yard touchdown run with 6:26 to play. Several other of his passes were dropped.

Key Performances and Notable Players

• Blake Grupe took all the reps at kicker for the first three quarters and made two field goals, including a 54-yarder in the first half.
• The Titans played most of their starters, including quarterback Will Levis, quickly scoring 10 points on the Saints' backup defense.
• The first half ended on a crazy play as receiver Samson Nacua fielded a 58-yard field-goal attempt and returned it 106 yards before getting knocked out of bounds at the 3-yard line.

A number of the Saints' top players were give the game off, including cornerback Paulson Adebo and running back Alvin Kamara. Injuries sidelined other key players. The team has to cut the roster down to 53 players by 3 p.m. Tuesday, and they will practice through Thursday as they gear up for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers in the Caesars Superdome on Sept. 8.