Turnovers, penalties, poor red-zone execution and a defense that could not get off the field turned the Saints’ second preseason game into a complete collapse at SoFi Stadium.
By Big Q | The Who Dat Daily
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — There is no reason to soften what happened at SoFi Stadium. The New Orleans Saints were outplayed, out-executed and embarrassed in a 34-0 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Yes, it was only a preseason game. Yes, New Orleans rested most of its projected starters after a demanding week that included joint practices against the Dallas Cowboys and Rams. Los Angeles also kept its top players on the sideline, however, which made this a direct test of roster depth, discipline and preparation.
The Saints failed that test.
New Orleans finished with 293 total yards but never scored. The Saints lost the turnover battle 3-0, committed 12 penalties for 96 yards, went 0-for-2 in the red zone and missed their only field-goal attempt. Defensively, they surrendered 405 yards, 28 first downs and scores on three of the Rams’ five red-zone trips.
This was not one isolated mistake. It was a full-team breakdown.
Turnovers destroyed every chance to build momentum
The collapse began on the first play of the second quarter. Zach Wilson tried to connect with Bub Means, but Rams cornerback Al’Zillion Hamilton intercepted the pass. Los Angeles immediately turned the takeaway into a Stetson Bennett rushing touchdown and a 10-0 lead.
The most damaging mistake came after halftime. Spencer Rattler replaced Wilson and moved the Saints 78 yards to the Rams’ 6-yard line. Facing third down, Rattler attempted to force the ball to tight end Treyton Welch between multiple defenders. Safety Alex Cook read his eyes, jumped the route and returned the interception 100 yards for a touchdown.
Instead of cutting a 20-0 deficit and creating a small amount of life, New Orleans fell behind 27-0 on one disastrous decision.
The Saints reached scoring range again on their next possession after Rattler connected with running back CJ Donaldson for 32 yards. Two plays later, Ty Chandler fumbled at the Rams’ 2-yard line.
Three turnovers produced seven direct Rams points, set up another Los Angeles touchdown and erased New Orleans’ two best scoring opportunities. No offense can survive that combination.
Neither quarterback took control of the QB2 battle
Wilson started and completed 6 of 12 passes for 55 yards with one interception. He struggled to create rhythm, and the Saints entered halftime without any points.
Rattler moved the offense more effectively in the second half, completing 14 of 23 passes for 141 yards while adding 21 yards on five scrambles. But his goal-line interception was the defining play of the game. Moving the football means little when a quarterback gives away points in the most important part of the field.
Neither quarterback separated himself in the competition to back up Tyler Shough. Wilson was cautious and inconsistent; Rattler was more productive but made the costliest decision of the afternoon. Head coach Kellen Moore said afterward that he still felt good about both quarterbacks based on their overall camps, but the game film will show that the race remains unsettled.
Penalties revealed a major discipline problem
The Saints were flagged 12 times for 96 yards, including two penalties for having 12 defenders on the field.
Those are not talent problems. They are communication, focus and preparation problems.
Preseason football is supposed to help coaches learn which players can be trusted when the regular-season pressure arrives. Repeated procedural errors make it harder to evaluate the scheme because drives are being extended or disrupted before talent can decide the play.
For a team trying to establish a sharper identity under Moore, the lack of discipline was every bit as concerning as the final score.
The defense could not apply pressure or leave the field
Los Angeles controlled the game with 405 total yards and 28 first downs. The Rams converted 7 of 13 third downs, rushed for 151 yards and did not allow a sack.
Bennett completed 19 of 31 passes for 181 yards and used his legs to score twice in the first half. His two rushing touchdowns exposed poor containment near the goal line, while the Saints’ lack of pressure allowed Los Angeles to sustain long possessions.
The Rams put together scoring drives of 14, nine, 11, 10 and 11 plays. That is the clearest sign of what went wrong defensively: New Orleans could not consistently win early downs, pressure the quarterback or get off the field.
Linebacker Jackson Sirmon led the Saints with 11 tackles, but too many of those stops came after Los Angeles had already created favorable down-and-distance situations.
Red-zone execution and special teams completed the shutout
New Orleans reached the Rams’ red zone twice and walked away with two turnovers. The Saints then mounted one final drive in the closing minutes, but Tanner Brown pushed a 39-yard field-goal attempt wide right.
The miss did not decide the game, but it added another concern. New Orleans needs stability at kicker, and failing to convert a manageable attempt when the team was simply trying to avoid a shutout will keep that competition under the microscope.
The Rams, meanwhile, scored on three of five red-zone appearances and received two rushing touchdowns from Bennett. One team finished drives; the other repeatedly found ways to waste them.
Injuries made a bad afternoon worse
The Saints also lost running back Devin Neal and tight end Moliki Matavao to injuries in the first half. Their statuses will need to be monitored as New Orleans returns home and prepares for its preseason finale.
That matters because the Saints entered the game already dealing with a growing injury list. Alvin Kamara is recovering from a sprained MCL, Jordyn Tyson is sidelined by a serious hamstring injury, and several other players have missed time during camp. Every additional injury puts more pressure on the remaining depth players to prove they can handle meaningful snaps.
Were there any positives?
CJ Donaldson provided one of the few encouraging performances, leading the Saints with four receptions for 51 yards while adding 15 rushing yards on three carries. Kendre Miller made his preseason debut and rushed six times for 22 yards, and Sirmon’s 11 tackles showed activity in the middle of the defense.
Rattler also demonstrated that he could move the offense between the 20s. But in a 34-point shutout, the positives have to be kept in perspective. The players fighting for roster spots were given a major opportunity, and too few of them took advantage of it.
What the loss really means
The Saints should not be judged as though their full starting lineup lost 34-0. Tyler Shough, Chris Olave, Travis Etienne, Justin Reid and most of the established core did not play. The preseason standings will not matter when New Orleans opens the regular season.
The habits exposed in this loss do matter.
Ball security matters. Getting the correct number of defenders on the field matters. Red-zone decisions matter. Tackling, pass-rush discipline and finishing drives all matter. Those issues can follow a team into the regular season if they are dismissed as “just preseason.”
Before the finale against the Dallas Cowboys, Moore and his staff must demand three immediate improvements:
- Protect the football: The quarterbacks and running backs cannot continue giving away scoring opportunities.
- Clean up the operation: Twelve penalties and repeated substitution mistakes are unacceptable regardless of who is playing.
- Finish drives and get off the field: The offense must turn red-zone trips into points, while the defense must create pressure and win on third down.
The 34-0 score was ugly. The more important question is how the Saints respond to it. Their final preseason game at Dallas will show whether this was one exhausted, undisciplined afternoon—or a warning that New Orleans’ depth is not ready for the regular season.
Who Dat Nation: What concerned you most—the quarterback play, turnovers, penalties, defense or kicking? Join Big Q’s full postgame breakdown on The Sports Coma.
