It is officially the month of November, which means we are getting deeper into this crazy NFL season. Most teams have already played half of their regular season games, making the importance of every matchup ever more crucial week by week – starting with week nine.
There’s no question that a few games stand out from the rest because of the implications they pose on this season. However, the biggest one will be when the Los Angeles Rams travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints.
There’s not much more to ask for than having two elite super bowl contenders clash in a game that could be the deciding factor on who is the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
As of right now, the Rams are the only undefeated team in the league, and there’s a reason for that. Offensively, they are one of the most dynamic teams in the league. They are led by rising quarterback, Jared Goff, the best running back in the league in Todd Gurley, and a good receiving trio. They are first in the league in total yards and third in points per game. This offense is for real and can beat you in many different ways. Defensively, they are also one of the best in the league as represented by their ranking as sixth in the league in points per game. If you thought having Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh, and Michael Brockers was enough on the defensive line, now imagine adding Dante Fowler – a former third overall pick who they’ve just acquired through a trade with the Jaguars. Thus, the Rams’ defensive line is the best in the league. All around, this team is stacked and is 8-0 for a reason.
On the Saints’ side, they are currently 6-1 and are also looked at as one of the best teams in the league. After starting off 0-1, they have won their last six games. The big reason for this is because they have a tremendous offense that is considered among the league’s best. Led by Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara, Mark Ingram, and Michael Thomas, this offense ranks second in points per game. They can get it done on the ground and through the air. Defensively, they have struggled in the passing game but can stop the run effectively. They rank No. 1 in stopping the run and that will be a key factor in this game on Sunday. Gurley is the best in the league, so when you put the best running back against the best rushing defense, what are we in store for? Can they stop Todd Gurley and prevent him from running all over them as he has done unapologetically to every team this season?
Prediction:
The Saints will come out on top here. A big reason is because they are home and the Super Dome is such a tough place to play at on the road. The Saints’ defense is the best in the league in terms of stopping the run so they will contain Gurley and prevent him from taking over this game. The Rams will still see some success however, as Jared Goff will be able to expose the Saints’ defensive weakness that exists in the secondary. All in all though, it won’t be enough to top the Saints. If New Orleans can contain Gurley, they can and will win this game. The Saints will beat the Rams 27-24 in what will be a close game the entire 60 minutes. Brees will have a great game and will lead the Saints to this huge home victory and extend their win streak to seven. For the Rams, the loss won’t take away from the immense amount of potential that lays ahead. Both teams are capable of taking the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.
Regardless of outcome, this will be the game we’ll all be talking about next week.
Photo by Adrian Curiel on Unsplash
