The Los Angeles Rams showed that they could put together a complete game on American soil. A couple weeks after soundly defeating the Jaguars in London, L.A. returned from their bye and crushed the hopeless Saints 34-10. The Rams are continuing to keep pace in the NFC West with a 6-2 record, tied with the Seahawks for first in the division.
Let’s dive into the good, the bad and the ugly from the home win over New Orleans.
The Good
Rams firing on all cylinders after playing another complete game
Can you believe that it took the Rams eight games to notch their first conference win? Wins over the Ravens and the entire AFC South will do that.
Los Angeles carried over their success from the Jaguars win and used it to obliterate a painfully bad Saints team. The Rams jumped out to a 20-10 lead in the first half, and that was the closest New Orleans got all game, except when the scoreboard read all zeroes. Don’t look now, but the team has the second-best point differential in the NFC, behind Seattle.
It goes without saying that this has been an incredibly strange NFL season, coupled with the fact that there are no truly great teams out there. All 32 teams have two losses, and anyone has a chance at the Lombardi Trophy this season, excluding crappy teams like the poor Saints.
L.A. might be the best of the bunch in the NFC right now, and that’s despite losing to the reigning champion Eagles earlier this year. The Packers are frauds, the Lions are vulnerable, the Commanders are finished and who the heck knows about the Seahawks and 49ers’ long-term outlooks.
This might be the Rams’ best chance to take command and win the franchise’s third Super Bowl.
Matthew Stafford continued boosting his MVP chances
Stat Padford my fanny.
In the last two games, Matthew Stafford has thrown 9 touchdown passes, and his 21 passing scores are already one more than he had in 16 games in 2024.
I can guarantee that absolutely no one had Stafford making a run at MVP this season. No writer on this site was anywhere close to predicting it. Shame on us!
Fellow MVP hopefuls like Patrick Mahomes and Jonathan Taylor both lost on Sunday. Currently, Stafford is standing above them, and if he maintains his red-hot play, no voter in their right mind will deny him.
Stafford’s supporting cast was top-tier all around
Puka Nacua made his glorious return—and got injured once again, but thankfully isn’t too serious. Nacua caught 7 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. Davante Adams tacked on 2 more receiving scores, bringing his yearly total to 8. In fact, Adams has caught 5 of Stafford’s 9 touchdown passes in the previous two games.
Amazingly, the tight ends got in on the action, as Terrance Ferguson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen and Colby Parkinson combined for 10 catches for 114 yards and 1 touchdown. Could it be that Sean McVay actually remembered they exist this week?
Additionally, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum added 172 rushing yards and a score to round out an efficient afternoon for L.A.
A balanced Rams offensive attack will work wonders for them late in the season, only making them that much more dangerous in the NFC.
Defense maintained its excellent play
The defense managed only 1 sack versus the Saints, but it’s not like it really mattered. Chris Shula’s unit showed up against a team playing a rookie in his first career start.
Los Angeles allowed 57 rushing yards, forced two turnovers and held the Saints to 1-of-3 in the red zone and 2-of-9 on third down.
New Orleans was a horrible opponent, but at least the Rams took care of business against a weaker team. The Packers were double-digit underdogs over the Panthers at home and lost on a last-second field goal. L.A. did what a perceived contender like Green Bay couldn’t, and their defense was a big reason why.
Also, a huge thank you to the D for giving my sucky fantasy team hope this week. At least until Dak Prescott inevitably takes it away tonight on MNF.
The Bad
None
The Rams played their second straight complete game and played well in all phases. Gold stars all around this week … except for the player in the next section, and the NFL’s “6-7” commercial, if that were an option.
The Ugly
Joshua Karty (SIGH) … again
How many times is this guy going to be in this section?! I should just rename this section after him since he’s got frequent flyer miles here.
On a day when the Jaguars’ Cam Little kicked an NFL-record 68-yard field goal, Joshua Karty did not capitalize on the kicker’s success train.
Karty missed an extra point on L.A.’s second touchdown of the game and also missed a 39-yard field goal late in the second quarter. He’s missed an NFL-leading eight kicks—five field goals and three extra points. Additionally, the kicker has missed as many field goals as he did all of last season. None of that was ever going to matter against the woeful Saints, but it will eventually.
Simply put, if the Rams lose a close one down the stretch or in the playoffs, it’ll likely be Karty’s fault. Fans already know he cannot be trusted in key situations. Why the front office continues subjecting the fanbase to this pitiful display every week is anyone’s guess.
Lucas Havrisik reunion anybody?
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