The game was marked by a strong defensive performance from the Chargers, highlighted by rookie cornerback Eric Rogers, who intercepted two passes—including a 43-yard pick-six off Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. Rogers’ second interception came in the fourth quarter, but he later exited with a leg injury. Head coach Jim Harbaugh praised Rogers, calling his pick-six “as good a play as I’ve ever seen.”
Offensively, Chargers quarterback Trey Lance led the team with 55 passing yards and a team-high 48 rushing yards, including a five-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Cameron Dicker contributed with field goals from 44 and 40 yards, while Raheim Sanders added an 11-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth.
For the Saints, rookie Tyler Shough had a promising debut, finishing 15-of-22 for 165 yards with a 54-yard touchdown pass to Mason Tipton and one interception. Shough showed resilience, rebounding from the pick-six to engineer a scoring drive. Spencer Rattler started for New Orleans, completing 7-of-11 passes for 53 yards and adding 22 rushing yards, but lost a fumble on a strip-sack by Caleb Murphy. Jake Haener played late, going 5-of-8 with an interception.
The Saints struggled with protection and penalties, allowing five sacks and committing seven infractions for 56 yards. Their ground game was limited to just 30 yards. Defensively, New Orleans saw positive contributions from Khristian Boyd, Fadil Diggs, and Chris Rumph, each recording a sack. However, several key players—including Will Clapp, Trevor Penning, and Bub Means—exited with injuries, raising depth concerns moving forward.
The Chargers, who are playing an extra preseason game after opening the year in the Hall of Fame Game, continue to manage a growing list of injuries, most notably the loss of left tackle Rashawn Slater to a season-ending knee injury earlier in camp.
First-year Saints head coach Kellen Moore, making his preseason debut, will use this performance to further evaluate the ongoing quarterback competition and roster depth. The Saints return home to face Jacksonville in Week 2 of the preseason, while the Chargers will play the Rams, also at SoFi Stadium.
For a full breakdown and game photos, see Saints vs. Chargers Game Action and additional analysis at Saints Wire.