Another Saints QB takes on the Packers in the post-Brees era

GREEN BAY – Over 15 years and seven meetings, the only Saints quarterback to face the Packers was future Hall of Famer Drew Brees.

From 2006-20 for New Orleans, Brees went 4-3 against Green Bay, and a high-scoring game was practically a given. In those seven matchups, only once were fewer than 55 total points scored, and twice more than 75 were on the board at the end of the game.

But since Monday night marks the third Packers-Saints game without Brees, it will feature the third different New Orleans QB in as many meetings to take on Green Bay.

In the 2021 season opener, played in Jacksonville, the Saints started Jameis Winston. Last year at Lambeau Field, it was Derek Carr who was replaced by Winston after being injured early in the second half.

Now it’s rookie Spencer Rattler’s turn as the fifth-round pick out of South Carolina makes his fourth NFL start in place of the injured Carr and fifth appearance overall.

Oddly enough, the best outing of Rattler’s young career was the one he didn’t start last week vs. Washington. He came off the bench after halftime to take over for an ineffective Jake Haener and rallied the Saints from a 17-0 hole, nearly stunning the Commanders.

For an offense that had only managed two first downs the entire first half with Haener, the Rattler suddenly led four consecutive scores — a touchdown, two field goals and another touchdown on the final play of the fourth quarter to pull the Saints within 20 – 19.

New Orleans interim head coach Darren Rizzi decided to go for the win rather than play into overtime, but the Rattlers’ two-point conversion pass was incomplete and Washington survived the comeback attempt.

Still, the effort got the Packers’ attention on several fronts. First, it was another example of how Rizzi has made the Saints play really hard for him and not give up despite a significant deficit against a playoff contender.

For another, New Orleans showed it’s not afraid to pull away, score a TD on a double pass trick play and play for the win at the end instead of a tie.

Furthermore, Rattler showed some moxie by completing 10-of-21 passes for 135 yards and a TD, a performance sure to give him a confidence boost as he gets another start on Monday Night Football, his chance to show a national television audience that he’s got what it takes to be a successful quarterback in this league.

“I think he’s a natural thrower,” head coach Matt LaFleur said. “He can move in the pocket. He’s fearless.”

Expect the Rattlers to continue to play without fear on Monday night.

MNF magic?: The Packers are looking to return to their successful ways on Monday Night Football after last season derailed what had been an impressive run.

Before losing Monday night road games to both the Raiders and Giants in 2023, the Packers were 5-0 at MNF under LaFleur and 9-1 dating back to 2014.

The only loss in that stretch was to the Lions at Lambeau Field in 2017 when Brett Hundley played QB in place of an injured Aaron Rodgers, who was out with a broken collarbone.

Which brings up another pretty remarkable run as far as Monday nights go, especially at home. The Packers are 10-2 in their last dozen Monday night games at Lambeau Field dating back to the 2008 season opener, which was Rodgers’ first start as an NFL QB.

The only losses in that stretch involved Rodgers’ collarbone – the Lions game in ’17 mentioned above, and the 2013 contest against the Bears, when Rodgers’ first collarbone was broken by a Shea McClellin sack in the opening game.

The last time the Packers lost a Monday night home game with their preferred starting QB able to play was way back in 2005 with Brett Favre under center, a three-point loss to the Vikings in a dismal 4-12 season that was Mike Sherman’s last as head coach.