The New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders face off Sunday in a tilt that, let's face it, is for nothing but pride, the love of the game and tape evaluation.
So which side loves the game more in Week 17? It'll be the 5th start for Spencer Rattler, who is still trying to get into the win column as an NFL quarterback. In the end the conversation could be more about which side hurt their draft pick, but that's not what the players on the field will be talking about.
THE GAME | Raiders (3-12) at Saints (5-10)
- When: Noon, Sunday, Dec. 29
- Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Series history: tied 7-7-1
- Last meeting: 2022, Saints 24, Raiders 0
- Betting: Saints +1.5; over/under 37.5
- TV: Fox
- Listen: WWL AM-870; FM-105.3 & the Audacy app; Play-by-play: Mike Hoss; color commentary: Deuce McAllister; Sideline: Jeff Nowak
- Pregame: First Take with Steve Geller & Jeff Nowak, 8-10 a.m.; Countdown to Kickoff with Steve Geller and Bobby Hebert, 10 a.m.-noon
With all that in mind, here are the three things I'm watching most closely when the Saints (5-10) host the Raiders (3-12) this week.
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SENDOFF DAY?
There's no playoff implications here, so I won't waste any time trying to convince you that the difference between a win and a loss means a whole lot. Still, the overall result of this season could signal the type of change for the Saints we haven't seen in a long time.
Who will the head coach be next season? Unknown.
Will there be a philosophical shift within the building? Unknown.
Is this finally the year the Saints shed some veteran contracts with an eye on leaning more heavily into a rebuild? Unknown.
No, that's not helpful, but that's exactly why I'm pointing it out, because it's really the first time I've been unable to answer that question going into the offseason. Last time the Saints had a coaching change the goal was continuity and continuing the established culture. That won't be the case this time around because, well, how could it be?
When asked this week, Cam Jordan couldn't even say whether he knew he'd be back next season, though he did say he'd like to continue playing.
All that is to say, as frustrating as this season has been, if you're in the building or watching at home, make sure to appreciate this game as if it's the last for beloved players like Cam, Demario Davis and Tyrann Mathieu.
All three players are under contract for next season and the Saints have cap limitations as to what they can do with contracts, but it could be the last time they step out on the Superdome turf in a Saints jersey. Don't take it for granted.
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GROWTH MINDSET?
It's a term that we've heard Klint Kubiak say a lot this season, but we haven't always seen the result of it on the field. That's particularly true when it comes to Spencer Rattler's four starts, outside of a wacky 2nd quarter against the Bucs when the Saints took down multiple turnovers and scored on a punt return to put up 27 points. The offense was shut out the rest of that game, as they have been in 10 of the other 13 quarters with Rattler in the role of starter.
What exactly changes? That's what I'm looking for. OC Klint Kubiak said this week he wants his QB to understand that "the ball is on fire." When the rush is coming, it needs to go. There have been moments where that went better than others, but 17 sacks in four starts tells the story, as do the three lost fumbles.
Does Rattler look composed like he did in the second half against the Commanders, or do we see another performance with a 5th round rookie looking very much like a 5th round rookie.
As far as excuses for the record goes, there's a fair one in that all four losses have come against likely playoff teams (Bucs, Chargers, Broncos and Packers). The Raiders represent the first matchup where the rosters seemed competitive on both sides of the field. I won't go so far as to say now or never, but for the Saints to go into this offseason with any form of confidence that the kid could develop into something long-term, they probably need to see a type of day and performance with a glimmer of that hope.
I don't anticipate that will come against a desperate Bucs team in Week 18. Get it done in front of the home fans this week and the conversation changes -- at least for now.
l'd also like to see some young players step up around Spencer, but that's been the case for a while now.
RUN. THE. BALL.
As much as I put the onus on Rattler above, just like was the case in Green Bay, his best friend will be the run game.
I don't anticipate that this will be a Raiders offense capable of putting the Saints in a scoreboard hole early in the game -- if it is, sheesh, that'll be difficult for this coaching staff to explain. There should be no reason for the Saints to get out of their offensive plan.
I want to see Kendre Miller come out of this game with 15-plus carries. I don't mind Mims being worked in as the third-down back, but it's the early down runs that have to be better. The few drives against the Packers that it felt like the Saints offense had at least a hope of getting into the red zone all included effective runs.
One way to make sure this game goes badly is to ask Rattler to play hero ball with a patchwork OL and backups at WR and RB. Run the ball, control the clock, win a game. Give fans something to cheer for and, more importantly, some hope. It's impossible to do that unless you score points.
LAGNIAPPE
I asked Darren Rizzi if there's a chance we see kicker Charlie Smyth down the stretch. He said likely no, in large part because -- as I understood it -- Blake Grupe has had an impressive season that shouldn't be undermined by an evaluation experiment. That's more than fair, even if I disagree that it necessarily would be. Grupe's season has been excellent, other than a pair out tough misses outdoors in New York and a couple flubs earlier in the year. He's knocked through more 50-yard kicks than anyone in Saints history. Last week in Green Bay he was only in for one snap on the opening kickoff, then wasn't asked to do anything the rest of the day. I expect he'll be busy this weekend. ... There's really only one player on the roster that I think this team should be funneling reps to for nothing more than an evaluation, and that's Isaiah Foskey. I'd be surprised if it happens in full this week, but your second round pick has 55 total defensive snaps this season and he's been healthy all year. I'd like to see that total double over the final two games.
