One of the most eye-catching numbers this season for the Saints… Sacks Allowed:
– Weeks 1-5: 5
– Weeks 6-8: 16
– Weeks 9-14: 3

The ability to get the ball out quickly and keep those numbers reasonable (with a healthy OL) is why Jake Haener felt like the right choice this week.

— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) December 14, 2024

The New Orleans Saints chose Jake Haener to start their Week 15 game against Spencer Rattler, who started three games when Derek Carr was last out. Many did not expect this choice as Rattler had experience with this offense this season and would have been assumed to be the incumbent.

However, Haener was listed as the No. 2 quarterback throughout the season while Rattler was listed as the No. 3 emergency quarterback, so logistically that was the option that would come true on paper. Additionally, there could be a statistical precedent for Haener to start in this game against Rattler.

As WWL Radio’s Jeff Nowak notedIn the three weeks that Spencer Rattler started, opposing teams racked up a whopping 16 sacks, an average of more than five per game. However, in the weeks that Derek Carr started, they only allowed 8 sacks, half the total in three-plus games. This was one of the biggest problems for the Saints under Rattler, as he had tremendous difficulty feeling the pressure and escaping it in a timely manner, and the injuries to the Saints offensive line previously made things even more difficult.

Jake Haener may offer you the alternative of him getting the ball out quicker and escaping pressure, but of course we don’t know that since his playing time is limited to just 61 total snaps and he made three sacks in those. Regardless, since they have another option at quarterback, the Saints can try this out and see if it works and test Haener to see what he’s made of.