Playoff implications are at stake when the New Orleans Saints head to SoFi Stadium to take on the Los Angeles Rams. Both teams are currently 7-7 and are deadlocked with other clubs vying for the final two playoff spots. However, the Rams hold the seventh seed in the NFC playoff picture. As for New Orleans, they can set themselves up for either a wild card spot or the NFC South title. But it starts this Thursday with a much-needed victory over Los Angeles.
If they take down the Rams and win their final two games of the season, they are a lock to qualify for a playoff berth. The Rams also have the same playoff-clinching scenario but will not have an opportunity to win the NFC West. Their division rival, the Seattle Seahawks, won significantly by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15. Still, the Rams hold the tiebreaker over them due to beating them twice this season.
Rams Scouting Report
When I released the Rams’ 2023 season preview in the summer, I envisioned them as a team that would catch fire late but miss the playoffs with an 8-9 record. Fast forward to late December, and the Rams are right amid a strong playoff push and could exceed my 8-9 record expectation. They have won four of their last five games, allowing them to be in the situation they are in right now. After a season rattled with injuries in 2022, quarterback Matthew Stafford is back to his Pro Bowl-producing levels. So far, he’s thrown for 3,321 passing yards and 21 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Members of his supporting cast also have solid campaigns.
Second-year running back Kyren Williams is ranked fourth in the league in rushing with 953 yards and ten touchdowns. The former Fighting Irish tailback is coming off another considerable performance when he ran for 152 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries. Another Rams talent that the Saints will have to keep their eyes on is rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua. The former fifth-round selection out of BYU exploded onto the scene and has never looked back. Nacua is ranked sixth in receiving yards (1,163) and 12th in receptions with 87.
Defensively, the Rams are far from being one of the league’s best units, but they are not the worst. Los Angeles is ranked 19th in points allowed, 14th against the run, and 18th in total offense. Future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald is still the Rams’ top player on defense, but the surrounding talents have made significant contributions throughout the season. Linebacker Earnest Jones is having a breakout campaign in his third season with the team. He leads the Rams in tackles with 125 and has recorded 3.5 sacks.
Saints Keys to Victory
Are we indeed witnessing a significant turnaround in the Saints 2023 season? Maybe, but we’ll find out what this team is made of when they take on the Rams this Thursday. New Orleans is currently riding a two-game winning streak in which their defense only allowed 12 points. Their most recent performance against the New York Giants is the most productive they have looked on both sides of the ball this season. Quarterback Derek Carr distributed the football to multiple receivers and did not feel pressured to throw deep down the field. Defensively, it was a masterclass performance on how to rattle a rookie quarterback. The unit sacked Giants rookie starter Tommy DeVito seven times and neutralized their offense to only 250 yards.
On the offensive, Carr had his best outing of the season. He completed 23 of 28 passes for 218 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. However, this is how the Saints offense was expected to be run at the start of the season. The offense was supposed to be a rhythm-based approach with Carr at the helm and the plethora of talented weapons surrounding him. For the Saints to succeed in Thursday’s showdown, they must continue what they have done in the last two matchups, especially the performance on display against the Giants.
Offensively, Carr must continue his rhythm-based approach to running the New Orleans offense. Reports have stated that wide receiver Chris Olave is expected to play in Thursday’s game after missing the Giants matchup with an ankle injury. However, that doesn’t mean Carr should try to force-feed Olave with deep shots down the field. He needs to prioritize getting the ball into the hands of multiple pass catchers, which will allow them to control the time of possession. Footage has shown that teams can move the football methodically on a Rams defense that is formidable but is still experiencing a rebuild. Also, the offensive line’s ability to contain All-Pro DT Aaron Donald will be crucial. On defense, they will have their hands full.
The secondary will deal with stiffer competition compared to the previous weeks. Even though Nacua has emerged as the Rams’ new number-one wideout, Cooper Kupp is still a force to be reckoned with on Thursday. The cornerback duo of Paulson Adebo and Isaac Yiadom must put on their best performance of the season and not allow their techniques to grab the attention of the officials. The defense cannot allow Williams to become a factor on the ground. Last week, they reduced Saquon Barkley to only 14 yards; the group will need a repeat performance.
Score Prediction
Prime time setting, a short week to prepare, and a time zone difference all favor the Rams winning Thursday’s matchup. However, I believe the Saints will play hard and make the Rams earn their eighth victory of the season. A loss to Los Angeles does not mean the Saints playoff hopes are over, but they become slimmer by the week.
Rams 24, Saints 21
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