Los Angeles Rams (5-6) will face off against the New Orleans Saints (4-7) on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. EST, broadcast on Fox. The betting odds from BetMGM favor the Rams by 2.5 points. When looking at their performances against the spread, Los Angeles stands at 4-7 while New Orleans has a record of 5-6. Historically, the Rams have the upper hand in the series with a record of 44-35, having defeated the Saints 30-22 in their last encounter on December 21, 2023.
In their previous games, the Rams were defeated by the Eagles in a score of 37-20, while the Saints enjoyed a bye week after a solid victory over the Browns, winning 35-14 on November 17. An analysis of the Rams’ overall performance shows them ranked 17th in offense, 26th in rushing, 9th in passing, and 20th in scoring. Conversely, their defense is struggling, holding the 26th overall rank and allowing significant yardage in both rushing (28th) and scoring (26th). The Saints have shown more strength on offense, being ranked 11th overall and 9th in rushing, but their defense is weaker, coming in at 31st overall.
When examining individual players to watch, Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp deserves attention. Since returning from an ankle injury, he has amassed 37 receptions totaling 401 yards, along with four touchdowns over the past five games. Notably, Kupp has achieved two 100-yard games against New Orleans previously and is on the cusp of breaking a record for the most catches in the first 100 games of an NFL career.
For the Saints, tight end Taysom Hill is a key player after an impressive game against the Browns, where he rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Hill’s multifaceted role as a quarterback, tight end, and special teams player makes him a dynamic threat on the field.
A significant matchup to watch will be the Saints’ running game, spearheaded by Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, against the Rams’ defensive front. After allowing a staggering 314 rushing yards to the Eagles in their last game, the Rams must tighten their defense. The Saints have demonstrated a powerful running attack recently, accumulating impressive yardage over their past three games.
In terms of injuries, the Rams hope to welcome back right tackle Rob Havenstein after he missed three games due to an ankle issue, which severely impacted their offensive line stability. Tight end Tyler Higbee has returned to practice but is unlikely to make his season debut yet following his knee injury from last season. The Saints must contend with center Erik McCoy’s groin injury, which has limited his participation, alongside guard Lucas Patrick’s continued absence due to a calf injury.
Throughout their recent matchups, the home team has dominated, winning the last nine regular-season encounters. Rams head coach Sean McVay will be facing a third different head coach from New Orleans since 2019, underscoring the shifting dynamics in coaching.
Statistically, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had a productive outing last week with 243 yards and two touchdowns, while maintaining a high level of performance in recent games. He needs just 200 passing yards to reach 3,000 for the 12th time in his career. Running back Kyren Williams continues to contribute significantly, having scored nine rushing touchdowns this season and finding success against New Orleans previously. Meanwhile, Kupp has maintained his scoring streak and wide receiver Puka Nacua continues to be impactful with his receiving capabilities.
Defensively, players like linebacker Byron Young and Jared Verse are making their mark, consistently contributing sacks. On the Saints side, quarterback Derek Carr is coming off a strong performance, with a completion rate above 77%. Alvin Kamara leads in receiving yards among running backs, and Taysom Hill aims for his third consecutive season with notable yardage.
Finally, from a fantasy perspective, coach Rizzi emphasizes keeping Taysom Hill actively involved in the offense, which typically brings out the best results for the Saints during the games when he contributes significantly.