After wrapping up their lone home preseason game, the New Orleans Saints traveled to the West Coast to play the Los Angeles for another Saturday afternoon exhibition.
Nothing went right for the Saints, whether it was penalties, turnovers, or just not scoring. By the end, New Orleans was skunked 34-0 to Los Angeles on the road.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After an eye-catching performance, Zach Wilson was named the game’s starting quarterback. Unlike last Saturday, Wilson left a lot to be desired.
Wilson started the entire first half for the Black and Gold. In those four drives, New Orleans put zero points on the board and gave the ball away twice. On the team’s second possession, the offense found itself in a 3rd & 16. Wilson and wide receiver Bub Means weren’t on the same page as Rams cornerback Al’zillion Hamilton came down with the interception.
That turnover resulted in Los Angeles going 48 yards in nine plays with quarterback Stetson Bennett scrambling in for the one-yard touchdown. Bennett was initially ruled down before a review reversed the call. Before that, the Rams went 63 yards in 14 plays as kicker Harrison Mevis made a 26-yard field goal. LA was up 10-0 with 10:22 left in the second quarter.
New Orleans elected to go for it on 4th & 1 from the Rams’ 43-yard line. Wilson’s pass was intended for Kevin Austin Jr but fell incomplete, resulting in a second consecutive giveaway by the offense. Los Angeles had no problem reaching pay dirt again. Bennett did it with his legs, this time scoring from eight yards out to put the Saints behind by three scores.
The Rams forced the Saints to punt and had enough time to go 77 yards in 10 plays in less than two minutes. Bennett completed four straight passes of 11 yards or more to help set up another 26-yard kick by Mevis. New Orleans went into the half down by 20 points and 69 yards of recorded offense.
Spencer Rattler came in to replace Wilson at the start of the second half. The offense was looking better as they got into the redzone and were knocking on the door to score their first touchdown of the day. New Orleans was at the Rams’ six-yard line before disaster struck when Alex Cook picked off Rattler at the goal line and returned the ball 100 yards for a pick-six, putting LA up 27-0.
Three drives later, Rattler connected with Cy Chandler for a 32-yard completion to set up 1st & GOAL at the eight-yard line. On 2nd & GOAL, Rams linebacker Wesley Bailey poked the ball loose from Chandler, and Payton Zdroik recovered the fumble for Los Angeles at the two for New Orleans’ fourth turnover of the game.
Jarquez Hunter added to the onslaught late in the quarter with a 12-yard rushing touchdown, capping off an 11-play, 66-yard drive.
New Orleans tried and failed one last time to get on the scoreboard when kicker Tanner Brown missed a 39-yard field goal in the final 32 seconds. That was a perfect way to end off a 34-0 loss for the Saints in their second-to-last preseason game.
BIG NUMBER: 12
There wasn’t much positive for the Black and Gold in their road matchup with the Rams. One stat that stood out was the penalties. 12 of them, to be exact, for 96 yards, as most came in the first half.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Stetson Bennett
The Rams’ backup quarterback played well in his first half of action. The former Georgia Bulldog completed 19/31 passes for 181 yards and wasn’t sacked once by the Saints’ defense. Bennett was efficient on the ground, carrying the ball twice for nine yards and two touchdowns as the Saints lost 34-0.
UP NEXT: The New Orleans Saints will close out the preseason on Friday, August 28th, when they take on the Dallas Cowboys. Kickoff from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, is scheduled for 7:00 PM.