Rams will get taste of playoff-like football against Saints

There’s a tiebreaker opportunity Thursday night against one of the teams the Rams are fighting for the remaining two NFC playoff spots, but there isn’t much time to prepare.

With two games remaining, the winner of this prime-time matchup, who is tied with the Rams for the NFC playoff lead, advances to a tiebreaker.

When the Rams (7-7) and the New Orleans Saints (7-7) square off at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night, these are the stakes that will be at play. Even though it’s just December, the Rams are already playing with stakes that seem like they belong in January.

“Every game’s like a playoff game now, right?” defensive tackle Aaron Donald asked Tuesday. “We ain’t got much room for no losses. Obviously, go week to week, but every game’s a big game. That’s what makes it fun, that’s what makes it exciting.”

The Rams, Saints, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks are currently tied for the final two NFC wild-card spots. As things stand currently via tiebreakers, the Vikings are in sixth place and the Rams are in seventh.

But a win over New Orleans on Thursday would give the Rams head-to-head tiebreakers over the Saints and Seahawks, as well as a one-game edge in the win column with two games left to play.

That’s a far way from where oddsmakers had the Rams positioned with an over/under win total of 6.5 during the preseason. The Rams have already exceeded that total, and if they defeat the Saints, they will have the opportunity to accomplish something more fulfilling.

Defense coordinator Raheem Morris stated, “It’s been satisfying, it’s been enjoyable to be relevant.” “You want to take advantage of these opportunities in December when you are, in a sense, in the mix and prepared to carry them out.”

This is made worse by the Rams’ short preparation week. Playing two football games in five days presents enough of a physical challenge, but the Rams are unfamiliar with the Saints.

It’s one thing to prepare for a division rival on short rest, but learning a new opponent with a fraction of the usual practice time presents its own challenges.

“It’s just a jampacked week of trying to learn everything you can about the New Orleans Saints,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said at a rapid clip as he tried to move on from his weekly press conference as quickly as possible. “A lot of times it’s a race to Sunday, anyways. We’re just shortening it by a few days.”

The Saints’ defense is the biggest area of concern for the Rams. Limiting opponents to 185.4 passing yards per game, New Orleans has a menacing pass rush led by end Carl Granderson and complemented by one of the NFL’s best blitzing linebackers, Demario Davis

The offense has been more of a mixed bag, but running back Alvin Kamara has provided a boost since returning from a three-game suspension with 1,076 yards of total offense and six touchdowns.

Coach Sean McVay stated, “This is a team that knows how to play winning football in the month of December. They have a lot of guys that have played in a lot of big-time games.” “So, on Thursday night at home, we have a great challenge and what a cool opportunity that our guys have earned.”

A chance that might present itself as a larger one in January.

Stafford remarked, “Obviously, we’re not immune to realizing what the implications are.” However, we have to quickly prepare ourselves psychologically and physically for another football game. That is our current course of action.

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