Rams put on a show worthy of Shohei Ohtani in win over Saints
🏈 Rams 30, Saints 22 — FINAL
The Rams put on a show for new Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani.
And they once again showed the rest of the NFL that they could be one of the NFL’s most dangerous teams down the stretch, if not a home run to make the playoffs.
With Ohtani watching from Rams owner Stan Kroenke’s suite, the Rams’ 30-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium tightened the Rams’ grip on a possible postseason berth.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford continued his extraordinary play, receivers Puka Nacua and Demarcus Robinson caught touchdown passes and Kyren Williams eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing this season as the Rams improved their record to 8-7 and held the No. 7 seed for the NFC playoffs.
Safety Jordan Fuller intercepted a pass and linebacker Ernest Jones IV, rookie lineman Kobie Turner had sacks for a defense that helped the Rams win for the fifth time in six games.
Rams hold on to defeat Saints 30-22
🏈 Rams 30, Saints 22 — FINAL
Matthew Stafford passes for 328 yards and Kyren Williams ran for 104 yards as the Rams overcame a botched punt and two fourth-quarter touchdowns by the New Orleans Saints to win and stay control of their playoff destiny.
Saints quarterback Derek Carr completed 27 of 40 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception.
After partially blocking punt, Saints score quick touchdown
🏈 Rams 30, Saints 22 — 3:52 left in the fourth quarter
The Saints aren’t giving up.
Derek Carr connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass to receiver A.T. Perry before Carr found receiver Chis Olave on a successful two-point conversion pass to make it a one-score game.
The touchdown came two plays after J.T. Gray partially blocked a Rams punt, forcing the ball out of bounds only eight yards away at the Rams’ 35-yard line. The Saints have to burn two timeouts before the Rams punt, but they wasted no time finding the end zone.
The Rams did recover the onside kick after the Perry touchdown.
Derek Carr connects with Juwan Johnson for Saints TD
🏈 Rams 30, Saints 14 — 6:33 left in the fourth quarter
Saints quarterback Derek Carr connected on a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Juwan Johnson to cut into the Rams’ lead.
The 12-play, 75-yard drive took 6:11 off the clock and featured Carr connecting on 10 of 10 pass attempts. Carr has completed 25 of 38 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception tonight. The Saints have two timeouts left.
Rams extend field goal on another Lucas Havrisik field goal
🏈 Rams 30, Saints 7 — 12:44 left in the fourth down
Lucas Havrisik kicked a 32-yard field goal — his third field goal of the game — to extend the Rams’ lead.
After another stop on defense, the Rams drove into the New Orleans red zone on a nine-play, 56-yard drive. A 29-yard reception by Puka Nacua fueled the drive. The rookie receiver has caught eight passes for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Rams in command after Kyren Williams TD run
🏈 Rams 27, Saints 7 — 5:42 left in the third quarter
Kyren Williams scored on a 10-yard touchdown run to give the Rams a commanding lead late in the third quarter.
Coming off a 21-yard interception return from Jordan Fuller, the Matthew Stafford-led Rams offense churned out 41 yards in five plays, with a pair of 10-yard runs by Williams fueling the end-zone march.
Williams has 90 yards in 16 carries. He has 901 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in his last eight games.
Stafford has completed 20 of 29 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns tonight.
Jordan Fuller picks off Derek Carr
🏈 Rams 20, Saints 7 — 7:52 left in the third quarter
The Rams’ defense comes up big again, this time with safety Jordan Fuller picking off Saints quarterback Derek Carr.
Fuller returned the interception 21 yards to give the Rams the ball at the New Orleans 41. In addition, running back Kyren Williams is out of the medical tent and back in the game for the Rams.
Rams tack on another field goal after drive stalls at goal line
🏈 Rams 20, Saints 7 — 11:10 left in the third quarter
Lucas Havrisik kicked a 22-yard field goal, but it was a disappointing end to a 10-play, 72-yard Rams drive that seemed destined for the end zone.
On third and two from the New Orleans three-yard line, Matthew Stafford held onto the ball a split second too long and more or less spiked a pass into his offensive line.
Earlier in the drive, Puka Nacua made a stunning, 41-yard catch, pinning the ball against his body and head despite Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor getting a hand in between the ball and the rookie receiver’s body. Nacua managed to hold on to the ball just long enough for it to be ruled a catch.
Rams running back Kyren Williams went into the sideline medical tent after sustaining an injury when he his helmet was ripped off at the end of an eight-yard run. Williams walked off the field and entered the tent under his own power.
Demarcus Robinson TD extends Rams’ lead just before halftime
🏈 Rams 17, Saints 7 — HALFTIME
Matthew Stafford fired a four-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson with 21 seconds left in the second quarter to extend the Rams’ lead.
It was Robinson’s fourth touchdown in the last four games. Robinson has six catches for 82 yards.
The Rams got the ball after Derek Carr’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete. They drove 42 yards in five plays for the touchdown.
Stafford has completed 11 of 22 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns.
Puka Nacua has five catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. Kyren Williams has rushed for 47 yards in 10 carries.
Derek Carr touchdown pass cuts into Rams’ lead
🏈 Rams 10, Saints 7 — 2:28 left in the second quarter
Derek Carr went into the game with zero touchdown passes and seven interceptions in games against the Rams.
But those were in games with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Carr broke that streak with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed.
The Saints got their opportunity after Lucas Havrisik missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt.
Carr has completed nine of 14 passes for 140 yards.
Rams extend lead on Lucas Havrisik field goal
🏈 Rams 10, Saints 0 — 10:23 left in the second quarter
The Rams drove to the Saints’ nine-yard line, but had to settle for Lucas Havrisik’s 21-yard field goal.
Rams rookie defensive tackle Kobie Turner set up the drive when he sacked Derek Carr for a nine-yard loss on fourth down from the Rams’ 38-yard line.
Matthew Stafford started the drive with a 28-yard pass to Puka Nacua, and the Rams moved down the field behind running back Kyren Williams and a Stafford pass to Cooper Kupp.
On first-and-goal from the nine, Williams rushed for three and then four yards, but Stafford’s third-down pass to Kupp in the end zone fell incomplete.
Stafford has completed seven of 10 passes for 107 yards. Nacua has three catches for 47 yards.
Williams has rushed for 40 yards in nine carries.
Rams take early lead on Puka Nacua’s fourth-down TD catch
🏈 Rams 7, Saints 0 — 2:28 left in the first quarter
Matthew Stafford tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to receiver Puka Nacua to give the Rams the lead.
It was a departure of sorts for the Rams, who have struggled of late to score touchdowns on their opening drives.
Stafford completed five of seven passes for 68 yards during the 14-play, 95-yard drive that consumed nearly eight minutes.
Nacua, tight end Tyler Higbee and receivers Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson had receptions during the drive.
Running back Kyren Williams rushed for 29 yards in six carries.
Linebacker Ernest Jones IV set up the drive when he broke up a pass and recorded a six-yard sack on consecutive snaps.
Raheem Morris says he’s focused on helping the Rams, not job vacancies
Raheem Morris was the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was interim coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Will 2024 be the year that Morris, the Rams defensive coordinator, gets another shot?
The Carolina Panthers and the Chargers are searching for new coaches. After the season, several other teams will almost certainly be doing the same.
Morris said Tuesday he remained focused on the Rams (7-7), who play the New Orleans Saints (7-7) on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium in a game with NFC playoff implications.
Shohei Ohtani in the house for Rams vs. Saints at SoFi Stadium
Shohei Ohtani, fresh off signing a 10-year, $700-million dollar contract with the Dodgers, was on the field at SoFi Stadium before the start of Thursday’s game between the Rams and New Orleans Saints.
Taking a time out from his Yoshinobu Yamamoto recruiting efforts, Ohtani received a Rams jersey complete with his No. 17 on it. Wait, what number will Puka Nacua be wearing tonight?
Ohtani is no Taylor Swift, but he’ll probably get some TV time during the game broadcast, especially if he’s hanging out in the owner’s box.
NFL Week 16 picks: Will Rams or Saints improve playoff hopes? Ravens-49ers a whopper
The Times’ NFL writer, Sam Farmer, examines this week’s matchups. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Last week’s record 10-6 (.625); season 134-90 (.598). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 5-11 (.313); season 107-112-5 (.489). TV channels are for Los Angeles area. All times Pacific.
New Orleans (7-7) at RAMS (7-7)
Tonight, 5:15
TV: Channel 11 (Fox), Amazon Prime Video
Line: Rams by 4 1/2. O/U: 46 1/2.
A playoff berth is in the hands of the Rams, who are reborn with a solid running game and a super-sharp Matthew Stafford. A worry for them is Saints tight end Jimmy Graham in the red zone.
Prediction: Rams 27, Saints 20
Cincinnati (8-6) at Pittsburgh (7-7)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
TV: Channel 4 (NBC)
Line: Bengals by 1 1/2. O/U: 37.
Jake Browning has played really well, and even though Ja’Marr Chase is banged up, it doesn’t take a ton of scoring to top Pittsburgh. The Steelers are struggling on offense and have lost three in a row.
Prediction: Bengals 21, Steelers 14
Rams need to keep faith in Kyren Williams if hope not to fumble playoff chances
The gesture was small but significant, recognizing a perfect moment for Kyren Williams in an imperfect performance by the Rams’ second-year running back — and by the Rams as a whole.
Williams, who fumbled twice in the first half Sunday against the Washington Commanders, steadied himself in the second half, when the Rams needed him most.
After he ran the ball up the middle for a two-point conversion early in the third quarter he earned a smile and congratulations from coach Sean McVay, who draped his arm around Williams’ shoulders in a show of support that was clearly visible on the giant video screen at SoFi Stadium.
McVay didn’t have to stick with Williams after he fumbled on a run inside the 10-yard line early in the second quarter, but Williams bounced back to carry the ball one yard for the Rams’ first touchdown and his eighth this season.
Rams vs. Saints inactives
Here are the players who will not be suiting up for the Rams and New Orleans Saints on Thursday night:
SAINTS
Cornerback Cameron Dantzler Sr.
Quarterback Jake Haener
Defensive end Isaiah Foskey
Running back Kendre Miller
Right tackle Ryan Ramczyk
Linebacker Monty Rice
Sean McVay admits his play-calling could be fatal
As the Rams prepare for their game Thursday night against the New Orleans Saints, players are busy recalibrating their bodies during the quick turnaround.
Coach Sean McVay said right tackle Rob Havenstein and receiver Tutu Atwell, who were sidelined against the Washington Commanders because of injuries, would be ready to play against the Saints.
McVay also is cramming to game plan as his team attempts to maintain its hold on the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs.
McVay acknowledged Monday that he must improve his play-calling inside the 10-yard line.
Short week, tall order for playoff-hungry Rams in pressure-cooker against Saints
The math is simple.
If the Rams win their three remaining games, they are in the playoffs.
The Rams (7-7), who hold the No. 7 seed in the NFC, play the New Orleans Saints (7-7) on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. It is the final home game for a Rams team that to this point has exceeded most NFL observers’ expectations.
But coach Sean McVay and his players still have to close the deal against the Saints, the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers.
“Every game is like a playoff game now, right?” defensive lineman Aaron Donald said. “We ain’t got much room for no losses. ... Can’t afford to lose any more games. So that’s what makes it fun.”
Rams-Saints matchups: How to watch, start time and prediction
Breaking down how the Rams (7-7) and New Orleans Saints (7-7) match up heading into their game Thursday at 5:15 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox and Amazon Prime Video.
When Rams have the ball
The Rams offense has been rolling behind quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Kyren Williams. In the last four games, Stafford has passed for 12 touchdowns, with one interception.
Last Sunday, he passed for two touchdowns in a 28-20 victory over the Washington Commanders. Stafford is benefiting from solid play by Williams and the offensive line.