Coming off a rough loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12, the Los Angeles Rams went on the road and earned a hard-fought 21-14 victory against the New Orleans Saints to improve to 6-6.
The NFC West title race is about as close as it can possibly get as every team is still in the hunt, though as of this moment the Seattle Seahawks sit in first after their own narrow victory against the New York Jets.
The first half was far from what head coach Sean McVay would’ve wanted as the offense stalled out on nearly every drive. Blake Corum got the opening drive touches and was able to churn out yards, but once McVay turned to Matthew Stafford and the passing game things fell apart against a well-prepared Saints secondary.
On the flip side, the defense did its job holding Derek Carr and New Orleans to a pair of field goals to make it 6-0 at halftime.
McVay and the coaching staff did well to right the ship coming out of the locker room, though, as the Rams strung together a quick scoring drive to begin the third. Kyren Williams was able to find gaps to run through, while Stafford connected with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp to extend the drive. Williams capped off the drive with a four-yard run to make it 7-6.
Touchdown machine Kyren Williams finds the end zone for the 12th time this season!
(via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/omgF1k52be
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) December 1, 2024
Matthew Stafford to a wide open Demarcus Robinson for 46!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/0afaXvoPsQ
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) December 1, 2024
Puka Nacua finds the end zone to give #RamsHouse the lead!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/awPJO8j1sE
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) December 1, 2024
Game on the line and Jared Verse makes a play!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/iRhlaB9LIP
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) December 1, 2024
L.A.’s next scoring drive was filled with explosive plays featuring Demarcus Robinson who came down with a 46-yard grab that set up his three-yard catch for a touchdown, making it 14-6.
Carr was able to respond with his own explosive pass play, finding Marquez Valdes-Scantling running down the right sideline for a 28-yard touchdown. Not to be outdone, Stafford answered with a 20-yard strike to Tutu Atwell and later finished the drive with an easy throw to Nacua who walked in for the Rams’ third touchdown of the afternoon.
The Saints had a chance to tie the game in the final minutes, but Jared Verse was able to get through and hit Carr’s arm, turning the ball over on downs. Williams sealed the game with a first down run, allowing L.A. to escape with a win.
Overall, it was a messy and disjointed victory but McVay and company won’t complain about a win this late into the regular season.
What’s next for the Rams
Unfortunately for the Rams, their next game won’t be nearly as easy as they will host the red-hot Buffalo Bills in Week 14 at SoFi Stadium.
