Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak expressed admiration for rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler’s presence on the field, but he emphasized that confidence alone isn’t enough to succeed in the NFL.
“I don’t want to overplay the swag thing,” Kubiak said when asked to elaborate on Rattler’s confidence. “It’s a nice thing to have, but at the end of the day, are you producing?”
“You can have my wet-blanket personality,” Kubiak continued in his usual calm tone. “These guys got to produce, no matter what their personality is.”
The Saints (2-3) have struggled offensively lately, averaging only 16.3 points per game in their last three matches after starting the season with an average of 45.5 points in two big wins. They are looking to end a three-game losing streak this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2).
Now, they are turning to Rattler, a fifth-round pick from South Carolina, to help them defeat the Bucs, who are coming off an overtime loss at Atlanta after losing their lead at the end of regulation.
“We want to get this taste out of our mouth,” Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans said. “Obviously last week we felt like we had that game in hand.”
Tampa Bay had a few extra days to rest after their Thursday night game in Week 5, while the Saints are on a short week after playing at Kansas City on Monday night. During that game, quarterback Derek Carr suffered an oblique injury that will keep him out this week and possibly longer.
The Buccaneers have also faced challenges due to Hurricane Milton, which hit as a Category 3 storm about 70 miles south of Tampa. The storm caused significant damage, including tearing the fabric roof of Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
