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Coming off the bye week and looking to extend their win streak, the New Orleans Saints welcomed a former foe, the Los Angeles Rams, to the Caesars Superdome. After shutting out the Rams in the first half, the Rams scored 21 points in the second half to secure a 21-14 victory over the Saints.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
New Orleans started the game with the football as Derek Carr and the offense went 34 yards on 12 plays and chewing six minutes of the clock before Blake Grupe came on for a 54-yard field goal to give the Saints an early 3-0 lead.
The Saints defense did a nice job in limited action early of disrupting what the Los Angeles Rams wanted to do on offense, getting after Matthew Stafford and not allowing yards after the catch.
After a few questionable penalties or lack of calls, the game remained 3-0 until late in the second quarter when Grupe missed from 36 yards out. However, the second-year kicker had a chance to redeem himself on the final drive of the first half as the Black and Gold went 51 yards in 11 plays before a second 54-yard field goal went through the uprights to send the Saints into the locker room with a 6-0 halftime lead.
Los Angeles started the second half with a six-minute scoring drive, going 68 yards on 11 plays before Kyren Williams found the endzone for the first time by either team in this game from four yards away that put the Rams ahead 7-6.
After another quick offensive drive from the Saints, Stafford and the Rams moved the ball once again, including a key strike to DeMarcus Robinson for 46 yards that put the ball inside the five-yard line. The very next play after the third quarter break, Stafford found Robinson in the endzone for the score, extending the lead to 14-6.
New Orleans answered with a six-play, 70-yard drive that took just 3:04 off the clock as Derek Carr found Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 28-yard touchdown and then connected with Dante Pettis on a ladder-climbing catch on the two point conversion that tied the game at 14-14 with 11:53 remaining.
On the next drive, Los Angeles went down the field with ease as Stafford tossed his second touchdown pass of the game when he found Puka Nacua for a seven-yard touchdown to put the Rams back in front 21-14 with 8:54 left.
The Saints answered with a nice drive of their own, but it turned sour for a moment when Taysom Hill was carted off the field after converting on fourth and one. His left cleat was taken off before being carted to the locker room. After his injury, the Saints drove inside the red zone as they approached the two minute warning, but were denied on fourth down as the Rams force a key stop with 1:05 to go. The Rams knelt out the clock to put the game away and win it 21-14.
BIG NUMBER: 21
After being shut out in the first half for the first time since 2016, the Rams scored 21 points in the second half to put their stamp on the contest in a 21-14 win.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Matthew Stafford
The former #1 pick and Super Bowl Champ completed 14-of-24 passes for 183 yards and a pair of touchdown to lead the Rams to a key win down the stretch of their season.
UP NEXT: The New Orleans Saints will head on the road to New York to battle with the Giants. Kickoff is set for Noon on Sunday, December 8.