Since receiving the New Orleans Saints’ interim head coaching job Nov. 4, Darren Rizzi has proved adept at handling complex game-management situations in a league that is glaringly absent of that skill set. And, in a white-knickle ending against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, he also separated himself from other interim coaches in showing he is not afraid to eschew personal safety and cushy football platitudes to make a call of faith in a team on the heels of a tremendous upset.
This 20–19 defeat at the hands of the Commanders still moved the Saints to nine in the loss column, but the staggering number of levers Rizzi had to pull in order to keep the game remotely close was eye opening, not to mention that horrid officiating cost the Saints at least three points and possibly six due to confusing penalties or a kicker being allowed to attempt a field goal with the clock having been dead for more than five seconds. In a game without Taysom Hill, Derek Carr and, for a portion, Alvin Kamara, Rizzi made a fortuitous quarterback change that sparked his offense. Rizzi made that decision, he said after the game, based on his knowledge of fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler’s preparation during the week, having been given a full menu of plays and instructed to be ready. Rizzi’s timeout usage at the end of the game, which began at the 2:36 mark in the fourth quarter and allowed the Saints to be backstopped by the two-minute warning, gave the Saints more than just a prayer against the Commanders on their final drive, as well as a critical “fourth” timeout that allowed the Saints to run a balanced play set with a handful of gashing runs that took pressure off Rattler.
