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Saints Sloppy Loss to Rams = Overreaction Sunday

Speculation abounds after a Saints game, especially this bad of a loss. Sit back. Relax. Have a cold one. We're here to help.
Overreaction Sunday
Overreaction Sunday | On SI Saints - Doug Joubert

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The day after a Saints game is always an interesting time Conjecture abounds about a player, or a call, or a scheme, or a coach. That's why we're here. Our job is to wade through the tomfoolery to ensure you are not ensnared in its tenacles of confusion.

Overreaction #1: Saints QB2 Situation is Bad

Saints quarterback Zach Wilso
Aug 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Zach Wilson (4) takes the snap against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Admittedly, it ain't lookin' good. Neither Zach Wilson nor Spencer Rattler did much good Saturday. Truth be told, nobody did much good in that game. Both quarterbacks were under constant pressure, couldn't find open receivers (there weren't many), and just could not find a rhythm. Of course, as soon as any type of rhythm WAS found, a penalty would crop up, halting any semblance of progress.

How did we grade the Saints performance Saturday? Find our report card here.

The August 15th loss to Jacksonville was a truer test of the QBs on the Saints roster than the Rams' disaster, because it didn't have the factors that fed into this preseason game in L.A., which we'll talk about in our third overreaction.

Overreaction #2: Get Rid of the Coach

Saints head coach Kellen Moor
Aug 22, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore reacts against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There will always be people like this.

There were people in New England who were ready to cut ties with Bill Belichick after his first year as the Patriots head coach. He had previously coached Cleveland to 36-wins in his five seasons there leading to his firing, then, after assistant coaching for a while, took the head job with NE and had the Pats go 5-11 in his first year there.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from Saturday's Rams game.

Now, we're not saying Kellen Moore is the next Belichick. Yet. What we are saying is to show some patience here, people. The guy just got here.

Overreaction #3: There Was No Effort Saturday

It may look like that, but what we think you're seeing is not a lack of effort. These guys are wanting to make a roster and make the kind of money we only dream of. They are not going to give a lackluster attempt.

What you are seeing is tired legs and bodies. These are men who had a joint practice less than 10-days earlier against Jacksonville, then a game against that same team a week ago, then a joint boxing match against the Cowboys four days before the Rams game, then another joint practice (this one with the Rams) two days before playing those Rams on Saturday, then the actual game. The 1st string took their fair share of snaps in all three joint sessions, but the 2s and 3s also took snaps in all three.

Football is a game of physicality that is not matched in any other team sport. You can only get beat-on a certain number of times before your body says, "Time for a break, man." Combine that with playing a very good Rams team, and you get Saturday's results.

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Doug Joubert
DOUG JOUBERT

Doug has been around Saints football since its inception. He was in Tulane Stadium when John Gilliam ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown in 1967. Though he was in attendance for the Tom Dempsey field goal in 1970, he left early, something he regrets to this day. He covered the Saints at their training camp in Ruston, Louisiana in 1985 while he was working in Monroe, Louisiana as an award-winning radio sportscaster. He was the host of the New Orleans Saints Pre-Game and Post-Game show on Sports 1280, WQUE in the early 1990s. Doug is also the publisher of the Tulane site for On SI.