NEW ORLEANS SAINT AT ARIZONA CARDINALS
SATURDAY, AUG. 10, 2024 ● STATE FARM STADIUM
SAINTS POSTGAME NOTES
- New Orleans moves to 1-0 in the preseason after its opening victory against the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The Saints return to action Sunday, Aug. 18 when they play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CST. The game will be aired nationally on FOX (WVUE FOX-8 in the New Orleans area).
- The victory was New Orleans' second straight victory to open a preseason. It is the first time New Orleans has won its opening preseason contest in back-to-back seasons since the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.
- The win improved the Saints preseason record against Cardinals to 6-1.
- New Orleans converted its two fourth-down attempts to extend drives, while the defense stopped the Cardinals offense on three fourth-down tries.
- The New Orleans offensive line surrendered only one sack, while the Saints defense recorded four quarterback takedowns.
- Quarterback Derek Carr got the start and completed two of six passes for 12 yards in short work.
- Second-year quarterback Jake Haener relieved Carr for the rest of the first half and finished 9-of-13 for 107 yards with a long completion of 58 yards to wide receiver A.T. Perry.
- Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, a Phoenix native, played the entire second half and finished nine-of-17 for 70 yards. He led the 12-play, 56-yard game-winning drive for New Orleans that ended with a 37-yard field goal by rookie kicker Charlie Smyth. He also added a third quarter four-yard rushing touchdown.
- Running back Jamaal Williams was effective in the first half for the Black and Gold, totaling six carries for 20 yards while adding one grab.
- Running back Jordan Mims led the Saints with 38 rushing yards on 10 carries.
- Perry led the Saints in receiving with four receptions for 85 yards (22.3 avg), including the 58-yard grab from Haener.
- Rookie tight end Dallin Holker was effective in his NFL debut for New Orleans, adding three grabs for 24 yards.
- Making his Saints debut, linebacker Willie Gay posted five tackles (three solo) and one stop for loss.
- Linebacker Monty Rice led the defensive unit with seven solo stops.
- Free agent acquisition linebacker Khaleke Hudson recorded six stops and a half-sack in his Black and Gold debut.
- Linebacker Anfernee Orji added six tackles (three solo).
- Defensive end Carl Granderson in limited action added one solo stop and split a sack with defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd in the first quarter.
- Rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry posted three solo stops and one pass breakup tonight in his Saints debut.
- Punter Lou Hedley punted four times for 187 yards with three punts downed inside the 20-yard line, for a 41.8 net. Rookie Matthew Hayball punted three times for 159 yards (53.0 gross avg.), including a game-long 61-yard boot.
- Saints kickers Blake Grupe and Smyth finished a perfect three-of-three on field-goal attempts and Grupe made the only PAT. Smyth made the game-winning 37-yard field goal to put the Saints ahead 16-14 late in the fourth quarter.
Check out the game action shots from the New Orleans Saints game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.