NEW ORLEANS — The Los Angeles Rams (5-6) are in jeopardy of falling out of the playoff race and will need a clutch road win against an improving New Orleans Saints (4-7) team that has won back-to-back games after losing seven-straight. It will take a full team effort to get it done down south.
Remember the rule of five. The game is over if the Los Angeles Rams win that key statistical battle. For those who don’t remember it, it has to do with sacks and turnovers. If the Rams have three sacks and give up two, they are plus one. They are plus three if they get four turnovers and give up only one. That would give them a plus-four for the day. They want to get to a plus-five ratio every game. On average, teams that reach the rule of five scenarios win 91 percent of their NFL games.
The Rams are responding from one of their ugliest losses of the season in a 38-20 whomping by the Philadelphia Eagles at home last Sunday night. The defense was unable to keep up with the high-octane run game of the Eagles while the offense struggled in multiple areas.
Third down conversions and red zone execution will be the main priorities against one of the worst defenses in the NFL. The Saints are next to worst in average yards allowed per at 390.8 yards per game and third worst in pass defense with 256.6 yards allowed through the air.
If Matthew Stafford is able to continue his hot streak of 12 touchdown passes and four interceptions in his last five games, there is enough pieces around him to pick apart a Saints defense that will be without their top cornerback in Alontae Taylor with three interceptions and three pass deflections.
One Rams receiver was involved in an off-the-field incident following the loss to the Eagles, but is scheduled to suit up for gameday in Louisiana. Veteran Demarcus Robinson was arrested on a possible DUI while driving over 100mph on the highway early Monday morning.
Head coach Sean McVay said the league has been notified, but not repercussions have been enforced onto him just yet and seemingly will play this weekend. Regardless of the incident, the fact that he will play this weekend is a major plus for the Rams’ pass attack.
The Rams started the season 0-3 on the road, but have won their last two away from home, the latest being a big win over the New England Patriots and previously over their divisional rival, Seattle Seahawks. Another road win would keep their playoff hopes alive for at least one more week.
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START OF FIRST QUARTER:
TIMEOUT: Saints call their first timeout of the half.
SCORE UPDATE No. 1: Blake Grupe hits a 54-yard field goal. Saints lead, 3-0.
PENALTY: Rams called for offensive holding.
PENALTY: Rams called for defensive holding.
TIMEOUT: Saints call their second timeout of the half.
PENALTY: Saints flagged for an ineligible man downfield.
PENALTY: Saints called for a low block.
END OF FIRST QUARTER: Saints lead, 3-0.
START OF SECOND QUARTER:
TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Blake Grupe misses a 36-yard field goal. The Rams take over at their own 18-yard line.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Matthew Stafford throws an incomplete pass. Saints take over at their own 25-yard line.
TWO MINUTE WARNING:
TIMEOUT: Saints call their third and final timeout of the half.
TIMEOUT: Rams call their first timeout of the half.
SCORE UPDATE No. 2: Blake Grupe hits a 54-yard field goal. Saints lead, 6-0.
END OF FIRST HALF: Saints lead Rams, 6-0.
The Rams could not have struggled more offensively than they did in the first 30 minutes. Shutout in the first half with just six first downs, half of the number that the Saints have achieved. They ran just 23 plays in the first half and generated 93 yards of total offense.
The Saints opened and closed their first half offensive drives with field goals and take a slim 6-0 lead into the second half. Their pass defense came into the game as one of the worst in the league, but has been playing like one of the best.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has just 23 yards passing yards with the leading receiver being veteran Cooper Kupp with 10 yards. Stafford was sacked just one time in the half showing that his protection was good, but the abilty to stretch drives was not.
The Rams could really have three points on the board, but decided to go for it on fourth and four on the Saints’ 25-yard line. They instead went for it for the second time on that drive and were unsuccessful. The Saints also missed a short 36-yard field goal and should be up by two scores.
The only positive for the Rams has been there running game, which still has not been very impressive. Running back Kyren Williams has 42 rushing yards on six carries while rookie back Blake Corum has five carries and 32 yards on the ground. These two must succeed in the second half to win.
Defensively, the Rams did their job holding the Saints out of the end zone with one red zone stop and only six first half points against an offense that combined for 55 points over their past two games. They will have to continue their success in the second half with an abysmal offense performance.
START OF THIRD QUARTER:
SCORE UPDATE No. 3: Kyren Williams finds the end zone on a four-yard touchdown run. Rams lead, 7-6.
TIMEOUT: Rams call their first timeout of the half.
PENALTY: Rams flagged for fair catch interference.
END OF THIRD QUARTER: Rams lead, 7-6.
START OF FOURTH QUARTER:
SCORE UPDATE No. 4: Matthew Stafford finds Demarcus Robinson for a three-yard touchdown pass. Rams lead, 14-6.
SCORE UPDATE No. 5: Derek Carr finds Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Two-point conversion is successful. Rams and Saints are tied, 14-14.
TIMEOUT: Saints call their first timeout of the half.
PENALTY: Saints flagged for a neutral zone infraction.
PENALTY: Saints called for defensive pass interference.
SCORE UPDATE No. 6: Matthew Stafford connects with Puka Nacua for a seven-yard touchdown. Rams lead, 21-14.
TWO MINUTE WARNING:
TIMEOUT: Rams call their second timeout of the half.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS: Derek Carr throws an incompletion on fourth down. Rams take over at their nine-yard line.
TIMEOUT: Saints call their second timeout of the half.
FINAL SCORE: Rams defeat the Saints, 21-14.
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