New Orleans Saints key ingredients to victory against Los Angeles Rams | 2023 NFL Week 16
Obviously, in the last two games—victories over Carolina and the New York Giants—the New Orleans Saints looked for and discovered a few things that worked. When the New Orleans Saints (7-7) play the Rams (7-7) at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Thursday night, the challenge will be more difficult.
Here are some ideas on how New Orleans can keep up the momentum and win three straight games:
1. DUCK DONALD:
The Rams defensive end Aaron Donald, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Pro, will be a necessary component of any offensive success for New Orleans.
For the past three games, the Saints’ offensive line has been a strength. During that time, the offense has averaged 24 points and totaled 10 touchdowns, including touchdowns on nine out of ten red zone visits.
With six sacks so far this season, Donald is the most disruptive defensive New Orleans will encounter. Despite Donald having two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit, the Saints managed to win 27–20 last season.
The interior linemen (left guard James Hurst, center Erik McCoy and right guard Cesar Ruiz) need a peak performance to contain him again.
2. KEEP SIZZLING: The red zone efficiency needs to continue. Two things to note: The touchdowns almost have been evenly
split in the red zone over the previous three games (five passing, four rushing) and the run game has been a catalyst as the
offensive line and backs have imposed their will on opponents. Quarterback Derek Carr actually threw another touchdown just
outside the red zone, a 23-yarder to tight end Juwan Johnson, so he and the receiving corps appear to have found a stride in the tight windows. Jimmy Graham’s presence has been monumental.
3. ROLL WITH IT: Carr is healthy and coming off his best game as a Saint – 23 for 28 for 218 yards and three touchdowns,
with no interceptions. It was the kind of performance that made him want to get back on the field as soon as possible, and
Thursday is as soon as possible. Carr hasn’t had a full complement of offensive weapons for a while, but New Orleans might welcome back receiver Chris Olave this week, after he missed Sunday’s game nursing an ankle injury.
Having Olave on the field with Rashid Shaheed would open up things a bit more offensively for New Orleans, but it’s also notable that 10 receivers combined for the 23 catches against New York.
4. BACK ON TRACK? It’s probably premature to declare the Saints’ run defense fixed after holding the Giants to 60 yards on 16 carries, but it was a more-than-welcome sight to see after eight consecutive opponents had rushed for at least 113 yards. It needs to be some replica of that Thursday, because the Rams’ Kyren Williams has rushed for 953 yards (fourth-most in the league) and eight touchdowns on 186 carries in just 10 games, including 655 yards in the last five games (131 per game). Saints linebacker Demario Davis almost single-handedly took New York’s Saquon Barkley (nine carries for 14 yards) out of Sunday’s game. Davis will have to be that guy again against the downhill-running Williams.
5. MEET AT THE QUARTERBACK: The advantage of New Orleans’ defense against Matthew Stafford of the Rams at quarterback is this: There’s a fair notion of where he’ll be when he drops back since he’s not as mobile as other quarterbacks they’ve seen this season. The bad news is this: Stafford has one of the greatest arms in the league and can get rid of things quickly. With nine interceptions, he has completed 278 of 453 throws for 3,320 yards and 21 touchdowns. However, he has been sacked 25 times, and the Saints, who have racked up 11 sacks in the previous two games, believe they have settled into a rhythm.. Davis (6.5 sacks) and defensive end Carl Granderson (7.5) have gotten to the quarterback most often, but a push up the middle from Bryan Bresee and Tanoh Kpassagnon (3.5 sacks each), to generate pressure in Stafford’s face, will be critical.
Read more on sportupdates.co.uk
Leave a Reply