1. Quick Hits:
Game time temperature at SoFi Stadium on Sunday was a hazy 78 degrees with a slight 10 mph breeze blowing through the open ends of the stadium. The stadium is also covered by a translucent membrane, which allows natural light to come through it, and you can actually see blue sky from field level, but it IS an open air stadium. … The Saints wore white jerseys with gold pants and gold helmets, while the Chargers wore the powder blue jerseys with white pants and white helmets. … The Chargers won the toss and elected to receive. … Kickoff was at 1:07 p.m. PDT. … Taylor Heinicke started at quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers. … Saints tight end Treyton Welch recovered a muffed punt by Nyheim Miller-Hines at the Chargers 17-yard line but were unable to score when they were stopped on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line as Kendre Miller had no room to run. … We had our first "virtual measurement at the 8:45 mark of the third quarter after a carry by Clyde Edwards-Helaire. … After the Hawkeye technology looked at it, it was determined that Edwards-Helaire picked up the first down after a 2-yard gain. … Shoutout to linebacker Isaiah Stalbird who was seemingly everywhere on the field. Stalbird played most of the second half at inside linebacker and was credited with four tackles, one for loss of six yards and another three on special teams, with a vicious hit of Dalevon Campbell on a kick return. … Linebacker Jaylan Ford led the team with eight combined tackles, five of them solo, while rookie Fadil Diggs added four tackles, including a sack. It was a rough day for the Saints, injury-wise. The offensive line was rocked early, with center Will Clapp leaving the field after the second offensive play. Later in the quarter, starting left guard Trevor Penning also went down. Both left the field via cart. Likewise for wide receiver Bub Means, then in the third quarter newly signed tight end Mason Pline exited the field with an apparent left upper body injury. … Charlie Smyth capped off the scoring of the day for the Saints, drilling a 50-yard field goal with 10 seconds left, making the final score Chargers 27, Saints 13, with 18 of those points coming off of Saints turnovers.
2. Quarterback battle:
Some highs and lows for both the top two quarterbacks. … Spencer Rattler played most of the first half and finished seven of 11 for 53 yards, but was unable to put points on the board, despite the field position after the early muffed punt. He also carried the ball three times for 22 yards, but lost a fumble after a sack that set up a 44-yard field goal for the Chargers first score. … Tyler Shough's first NFL action was a two-minute drill (not part of the script as Coach Kellen Moore would indicate later) at the end of the first half, and he led the Saints on a nine-play, 52-yard drive that resulted in a Blake Grupe 31-yard field goal for the Saints first points of the preseason. Shough's roller coaster would go downhill in the third quarter when he telegraphed a right sideline throw to Dante Pettis and was easily read by Eric Rogers (his first of two interceptions), who made a diving catch, but still had enough time to get on his feet and scamper down the right sideline for a 43 yard pick-six. ... Undaunted, Shough was able to flush the mistake and answer immediately with a very impressive five-play 82-yard drive capped off by our play of the day. Shough finished his day 15 of 22 for 165 yards with the one touchdown and interception. Jake Haener played the final couple of drives and went five of eight for 41 yards and an interception.
3. Plays of the Day:
Pretty easy pick here. With the Saints trailing 17-3 and reeling after Shough's pick-six, Shough led the drive that put up the only touchdown of the day for the offense. We have seen wide receiver Mason Tipton make big play after big play during training camp practices the last two years. He was able on this day to shine during live action. Using that blazing speed, he blew by cornerback Nyhelm Miller-Hines and sprinted into the clear down the left sideline. Shough's throw was perfect, hitting Tipton in stride at the 10-yard line, and cruised into the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown reception. Great bounce back for Shough and even better for Tipton who translated his big-play ability to game action. Defensive end Khristian Boyd's near safety sack of Taylor Heinicke in the first quarter, which originally was called a safety, then overturned to back to the 1-yard line, that denied the Saints an early 2-0 lead, makes the list as an honorable mention. The Saints return to the practice field in Irvine Tuesday for another afternoon workout.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
Check out the game action photos from the New Orleans Saints game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL preseason.
