Saints bench Rattler, start Shough for Week 8 vs Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints replaced starter Spencer Rattler with rookie Tyler Shough in the third quarter of their Week 8 game and fell 32-23 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday at Caesars Superdome, dropping to 1-7 on the season. Head coach Kellen Moore said he made the change while trailing by 14 points to try to spark an offense that has struggled through the first half of the season.

Rattler, who had started every game this year, completed 15 of 21 passes for 136 yards and was charged with an interception and a lost fumble before being pulled with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter. Shough finished 17 of 30 for 128 yards and also threw an interception after entering the game. Moore said the decision was driven by a need to "create something on offense" and to give the unit a different look. He added he did not want to be "flip-flopping" and planned to make a decision on the Week 9 starter within 48 hours so the chosen quarterback could receive full practice reps.

Rattler acknowledged the setback but pledged to remain a leader. "I've been through adversity before. I'm going to be a good teammate, have good body language, still be a leader," he said after the game. Moore...