Our offense vs their defense: Los Angeles Rams
The New Orleans Saints are in the midst of a two-game winning streak ever since they fired former Head Coach Dennis Allen. They have looked like a completely new team on both sides of the ball, but especially on the offensive end. This week, the Saints host the Los Angeles Rams and will try to avenge their 30-22 loss from last season.
This week, the Saints offense faces a Rams defense that hasnât been all that good this year. Theyâre surrendering 25.1 points per game, which ranks 26th in the NFL, while the Saints have averaged 27.5 PPG since firing Dennis Allen.
Despite the high PPG allowed, the Rams defense has been solid at defending the pass. They rank 18th in the league in passing yards per game allowed, giving up about 217 yards per contest. Their CB trio consists of Darious Williams, Cobie Durant and Ahkello Witherspoon. None of them have been particularly poor in coverage this year, but none have shined either. Williams has probably been their worst corner, allowing 297 yards and a 77.8 completion percentage on the year. Witherspoon has also allowed a 70+ percent completion percentage, but heâs given up just 195 yards in coverage. Finally, Durant has been their best CB, surrendering 287 yards, but only a 57.5% completion percentage.
As we all know, the Saints are without many of their top options at receiver, including Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Marquez Valdez-Scantling has provided a big boost to the passing offense since signing, but itâs only a matter of time before those big plays stop happening so often. Behind him, weâll see a lot of work from the tight ends, Taysom Hill and some Cedric Wilson/Mason Tipton sprinkled in.
Where the Rams have really struggled defensively is stopping the run. Theyâre currently giving up over 144 yards per game, which ranks 29th in the league, and just this past Sunday, they allowed Saquon Barkley to rush for 255 yards against them. Do I expect the Saints to run for 200+? No, but Alvin Kamara should have a pretty good day on the ground.
The Saints will need to be prepared for the Rams pass rush. Theyâre averaging 2.5 sacks per game, but Derek Carr and the Saints offensive line have been much better at avoiding sacks this season. Carr has played eight games this season and has been sacked seven times, and heâs never been sacked more than once in a game. It was a big issue with Spencer Rattler, but after last year, Carr has learned how to avoid a bunch of sacks.
The recipe for the Saints offense is going to be running the football early and often. Whether thatâs with Alvin Kamara or Taysom Hill (or both), I donât know, but establishing the run early will be paramount, because they can then run the play action passes, they love to do and hopefully open things up for MVS downfield.
If the Saints can win this game, theyâll be 5-7 on the year and will still be very much alive in the NFC South race. The Bucs get the Panthers, who have actually been playing well, and the Falcons get a tough draw with the Chargers. If the Bucs win and the Falcons lose, the Saints would be just one game back of first place in the South. Who wouldâve thought that four weeks ago?
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