NFC Championship Game 2019: Winner, Score Predictions for Rams vs. Saints
Jan 17, 2019
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Divisional Playoff at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Championship Sunday is going to be straight up offensive.
The top-four scoring offenses have made it to the NFC and AFC Championship Games, and the No. 2 and No. 3-ranked offenses in total points this season will kick things off as the New Orleans Saints host the Los Angeles Rams in the Superdome at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday with the winner headed to the Super Bowl in Atlanta.
The Rams are coming off a 30-22 victory over the Dallas Cowboys where they went run-crazy, rushing for 247 yards against a Dallas defense that allowed the fifth-fewest yards per rushing attempt this season.
The Saints are fresh off a 20-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, as head coach Sean Payton's bold play calling helped put an end to the Nick Foles playoff magic the Eagles had been riding since last year.
Now these two teams face each other for the second time this season with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
Back in Week 9, the Saints topped the Rams in a high-scoring 45-35 affair that ended with Michael Thomas recreating the Joe Horn cellphone touchdown celebration:
This game could easily become another shootout and turn into whoever has the ball last will win.
Despite all that, there are a couple of factors working in the Saints' favor.
First, they hold home-field advantage. Once the Saints got back into the game last week, the home crowd clearly rattled the Eagles offense. There were some false start penalties and Foles had to burn a timeout early in the third quarter to avoid a delay of game penalty and you can bet the crowd played a factor in that.
Also, Drew Brees is nearly unstoppable at home. In the regular season, Brees had a 21-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio in New Orleans and threw for 510 more passing yards.
Aside from his home/road splits, the 40-year-old quarterback alone is another factor that favors the Saints.
Brees has been here before, he has played in this moment, and he has delivered.
His counterpart, Jared Goff, is new to this situation. It's his first NFC Championship Game, and it comes in a hostile environment on the road. While Goff was able to rely on the running game last week, he is going to need to be more than a game manager and make some plays himself if the Rams stand a chance to beat the Saints.
In addition to the Brees vs. Goff matchup, there is also the Sean Payton vs. Sean McVay to factor in. While the league has become enamored with McVay and his offensive mind, Payton is no slouch himself and reminded everyone of that last week when he called for a fake punt down 14-0 and went for it on 4th-and-goal.
While the focus is on the offense, the X-Factor for both teams will be the defenses and which one makes more plays down the stretch.
The Rams have arguably the best defensive player in football in Aaron Donald, who can get pressure on the quarterback and can force turnovers. There is a reason why the Rams had 30 takeaways—the third-most in the NFL this season. They can pressure the quarterback and have playmakers in the secondary in Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters.
The Saints, however, showed they can come up big on defense, too, holding the Eagles to just 51 net offensive yards in the second half last week and picking off Foles twice.
Saints 31, Rams 27
New Orleans Officials to Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms: Saints Still Coming
Jan 16, 2019
New Orleans officials fired back at Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for joking Tuesday she wanted to see "anybody other than the Saints" win Super Bowl LIII when it's held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Feb. 3.
Beau Evans of The Times-Picayune provided the swift response from New Orleans as its team gets prepared to battle the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
"I'm disappointed that she felt that way, but we are still coming," New Orleans city councilman Jay Banks said. "And it's not our fault that her team [the Atlanta Falcons] sucks. I mean, if they could win, then they wouldn't have this problem."
Councilman Joe Giarrusso added: "I think I can say on behalf of the whole council, Mayor Bottoms, we expect to see you in Atlanta in just a couple of weeks."
The Saints won both matchups with the NFC South rival Falcons in 2018, including a thrilling 43-37 overtime triumph at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in September.
Bottoms responded to the backlash on Twitter by noting her comments were based on the Saints/Falcons rivalry, not an issue with NOLA:
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs will face off in the AFC title game, and it appears Bottoms is rooting for likely NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and K.C. in that contest.
Report: Andrus Peat Played in 'Serious Pain' After Undergoing Hand Surgery
Jan 14, 2019
New Orleans Saints offensive guard Andrus Peat (75) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New Orleans Saints guard Andrus Peat reportedly played through "serious pain" after undergoing surgery on a broken hand during the team's NFC Wild Card Round bye.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the news, noting Peat broke his hand during the Saints' regular-season finale against the Carolina Panthers.
Peat played every snap in Sunday's win over the Philadelphia Eagles but committed four penalties. His holding penalty took a 46-yard Alvin Kamara touchdown reception off the board. Later in the drive, the Saints settled for a field goal.
Tackle Terron Armstead is also playing with a pectoral injury, so the Saints will walk into the NFC Championship Game with the entire left side of their offensive line dealing with serious injuries. It's unlikely either Armstead or Peat will be at full strength by Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams.
That, of course, could be a major problem for Drew Brees given the presence of Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh prepared to bull rush their way to the quarterback.
The Saints tend to get the ball out of Brees' hands quickly as is, but giving him any time for downfield routes to develop will likely present a problem.
Watch Kamara, Saints Celebrate by Trolling Eagles with Meek Mill Song, Ski Masks
The Saints took off their helmets and put on their troll caps in their locker room following their 20-14 win, dancing while blasting Meek Mill's "Dreams and Nightmares" (NSFW lyrics below):
Meek's hype-up anthem, which features one of the most iconic beat switches in rap history, became the soundtrack of the Eagles' Super Bowl run a year ago. The team took the field in Super Bowl LII with "Dreams and Nightmares" blasting through the speakers and used the song as the soundtrack to their postgame celebration after defeating the New England Patriots.
Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara upped the troll ante by donning ski masks for their session with the media.
The Eagles began wearing ski masks last month as they attempted to "steal" a playoff berth. The ski masks replaced the dog masks the team wore a year ago.
As an act of pure trollage, the Saints' celebration to "Dreams and Nightmares" is iconic. Meek runs the Philly rap game at the moment and is arguably the most popular rapper from the city since Will Smith was gettin' jiggy wit it on the airwaves.
The Saints just better hope they hold home-field advantage next weekend. Otherwise, troll karma dictates the Los Angeles Rams will have to play "Choppa Style" in the Saints' visiting locker room celebrating their NFC championship.
Saints' Sheldon Rankins Reportedly Will Undergo Surgery for Torn Achilles
Jan 13, 2019
New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins' injury-plagued, young career hit another snag Sunday when he was carted off the field with a leg injury that was reportedly diagnosed as a torn Achilles that will require surgery.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported the news after the 24-year-old went down in the second defensive drive of the NFC Divisional Round battle against the Philadelphia Eagles. Rankins was ruled out by the Saints, per Mike Triplett of ESPN.
On Monday, Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate reported an MRI confirmed the tear and that Rankins will have surgery this week.
Rankins' debut campaign got off to a delayed start in 2016, as a broken fibula suffered during the preseason caused him to miss New Orleans' first seven games.
The No. 12 overall selection in the 2016 NFL draft out of Louisville returned in Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers, and he showed flashes of brilliance by putting up 20 tackles and 4.0 sacks in nine contests.
He followed that up by starting all 16 games last season and finishing with 26 tackles and 2.0 sacks.
In 2018, Rankins registered 40 tackles and eight sacks.
Oh man, they're bringing the cart onto the field for Saints DT Sheldon Rankins, who has been one of the best players on their team this year.
Rankins shot up draft boards due to excellent junior and senior seasons with the Cardinals that saw him average 56 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks per year as a lineman capable of playing either inside or outside.
Defense had been the Saints' weakness for years, which made drafting Rankins a no-brainer as he excels at both rushing the passer and stopping the run.
Now that Rankins is banged up once again, the Saints' defensive depth will be put to the test.
Tyeler Davison figures to maintain his starting spot, while playing time at Rankins' position will likely go to David Onyemata.
While the Saints tend to rely heavily on their high-octane offense to win games, they need their defense to step up in order to advance this postseason.
How the Saints D Got Its Swagger Back
Jan 11, 2019
In the middle of the celebration, there's Cameron Jordan, flexing and smiling.
To Jordan's right, one knee on the ground, Eli Apple is in the same pose, minus the smile.
Behind Apple, Vince Biegel is giving the double front biceps.
On the ground on Jordan's left, David Onyemata shows off one big left arm.
Other players get in on it, too—the scene coming together after an interception in a 48-7 win over the Eagles in mid-November. The photo of it taken by The Advocate, which would later make the rounds on social media and bulletin boards, perfectly captures what this Saints defense has become.
There's a lot of muscle on display. And a lot of joy.
While the Saints offense gets most of the bouquets, their defense has provided balance and hope this season, finishing second in the NFL with 1,283 rushing yards and 3.6 yards per carry allowed and just three sacks shy of the league lead with 49.
"When we take the field, we are going to prove we are the best on the field … and that's going against anybody," Jordan says. "All of our defensive players have the same mindset. We'll take over the run game, make a team one-dimensional, get a couple turnovers and get the ball back to Drew [Brees] and our offense and put our team in the best position to win."
And they'll do it with style, striking poses all the way.
"We always say what we need is one picture a game, when the whole defense runs out to the field after a big play, celebrating, feeding off each other," safety Vonn Bell says.
The Saints defenders now have a chance to pose for more photos at the expense of the Eagles. The teams meet again Sunday in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
These celebrations, Jordan says, are "organic" and involve considerably less preparation than the plays that inspire them. "We don't have extra time to practice anything," he says. "We're focused on trying to become a better defense."
Many defenses across the league are posing for pictures these days, but the Saints say the tradition started with them. Bell says the first photo op came after a big play against the Lions in October 2017.
"The league stole our swag with that," he says. "So we've got to come up with something new for the playoffs. We have to have something new up our sleeve."
So get your camera ready.
Remember: This is the team that finished in the bottom five in the NFL in points allowed four times from 2012 to 2016.
The Saints defense became stuck in a rut as its 2009 Super Bowl players dispersed and the haze from the Bountygate scandal, which broke in 2012, complicated any rebuilding effort. They jumped from Gregg Williams to Steve Spagnuolo to Rob Ryan before settling on Dennis Allen as their defensive coordinator in November 2015.
Before they'd promoted Allen, the team's decision-makers, coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis, had already decided to recommit to the defense.
"There had been some turnover, and we didn't do as good a job with personnel during that period," Loomis says. "We needed to fill some holes, get smart on defense and give our guys on defense more bullets."
They hired Jeff Ireland to oversee personnel and used six of their nine picks on defense in the 2015 draft. Then they used seven first- to third-round picks on defensive players from 2016 to 2018, including the 12th pick in 2016 on defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and the 11th in 2017 on cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 09: Marshon Lattimore #23 of the New Orleans Saints reacts to a play during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 9, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Lattimore was named Defensive Rookie of the Year after a five-interception first season, but it took Rankins a while longer to find his groove. He didn't become a starter until his second season, and even then he had only two sacks. Teammates had taken to calling him Chris Paul, because like the NBA guard, he specialized in assists.
Rankins re-evaluated himself after the 2017 season. On the advice of his agents, Buddy Baker and Matthew Pope, he spent a good portion of the offseason at St. Vincent Sports Performance in Indianapolis, where trainer Brandon Johnson held him accountable daily, hourly.
"We worked on a plan of attack, all of the things I wanted to improve on," Rankins says. "I watched a lot of tape of myself and was able to see things, understand why things weren't working. I felt I didn't use enough power.
"I've always been extremely confident about my athletic ability, being able to move well for my size and get around guys. But guys are great athletes in this league, so you have to be able to play that chess match and keep guys on their toes."
With more power in his game, Rankins has been crushing it, doubling his previous career high with eight sacks this season, in addition to career highs with 15 QB hits and 12 tackles for loss. And the interior chaos he has created has been a primary reason for the improvement in the Saints defense.
"Ranks has been unreal this year," Saints defensive end Alex Okafor says. "Everybody saw glimpses last year, but he put it all together this year. I haven't seen a D-tackle play the way he played."
Three players who came to the Saints in 2018—weakside linebacker Demario Davis, defensive end Marcus Davenport and Apple—also have had impacts.
Last March, Davis was coming off a 135-tackle season but was seen as expendable by the Jets and was about to change teams for the third time in three seasons.
Davis had been a middle linebacker for most of his career, but the Saints thought he could be better on the weak side and signed him to a three-year, $24 million contract. With impact on multiple levels, he has been one of the best free-agent acquisitions in football. He was the only player this season to have at least 110 tackles, five sacks and 10 quarterback hits.
Davis also was elected a team captain by teammates before ever playing a down.
"That shows you've done something more than prove you can cover a running back in the flat or come downhill in the run game," Rankins says. "It shows you are touching people on a different level. He's a hell of a player, hell of a man."
The Saints wanted a pass-rusher in the draft, but they didn't have much hope of getting the one they were excited about with the 27th pick in the first round. So they packaged that pick with their 2019 first-rounder to get the 14th pick, which they used on defensive end Marcus Davenport.
Coaches weren't counting on an immediate impact from Davenport, a raw player coming out of Texas-San Antonio. But since being drafted, he has put on about 20 pounds and has made a number of flashy plays. Pro Football Focus named him to its all-rookie team, citing 28 quarterback pressures and just one missed tackle.
"We like the arc he's on," Loomis says.
Early in the season, the Saints struggled with pass defense. In October, they traded fourth- and seventh-round picks to the Giants for Apple, who had been the 10th overall selection in 2016. Opponents have thrown at Apple more than Lattimore, and Apple has been streaky, but he also has been an upgrade.
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 17: Eli Apple #25 of the New Orleans Saints intercepts a pass against Devin Funchess #17 of the Carolina Panthers at the end of the second quarter during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2018 in Charlotte, No
"He's been the biggest improvement over last year," says Hall of Fame coach and NBC analyst Tony Dungy.
Apple has fit in with the Saints defensive backs in part because they come from the same place. Apple, Bell, Lattimore and safety Kurt Coleman are all Ohio State alums. "We know each other and how each other plays," Bell says. "That helps."
In a divisional playoff game against the Vikings last January, the Saints had a one-point lead with 10 seconds left. That's when safety Marcus Williams put his head down and completely missed a tackle on Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs, allowing him to run 61 yards for a game-winning touchdown as time expired. The Minneapolis Miracle, they called it.
When the 2018 season began, the Saints defense played as if it was still feeling Miracle-whipped. In what was easily their worst performance of the season, the Saints allowed Ryan Fitzpatrick to pass for 417 yards and four touchdowns in a 48-40 Bucs win in Week 1. Bucs receiver Mike Evans had 147 yards with Lattimore covering him.
It looked like Diggs and the Vikings might have taken more than that game from the Saints. They had taken their confidence and passion.
Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen told Dungy the Saints were not practicing well early in the year. Lattimore and some of the defensive backs, he said, had been taking it easy.
The defense started playing with more of an edge against the Giants in the Week 4. Since then, the defense has been remarkable. And it's because of its effort.
"You see guys hustling, more tenacious than the opposing offense," Jordan says. "That's something we take pride in."
It started with Jordan.
"Cameron Jordan is the lynchpin, the leader," Dungy says. "Yeah, he's a talented guy, but he plays hard on every play, run and pass. He's chasing down running plays across the field. When your best player does that, it rubs off on everyone. That effort and energy they play with is more important than the X's and O's."
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 30: Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints defends during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 30, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Im
That should not minimize what Allen, the former head coach of the Raiders and a current candidate for the Dolphins head coaching position, has done. After the initial rough patch, Allen simplified the game plans, according to players.
Wherever there is an NFL logo, Allen is respected. His staff is pretty good, too. It includes former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, who handles linebackers; former 15-year NFL cornerback Aaron Glenn, the secondary coach; and fireball defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen.
Their work is evident in the way the Saints play the run. They held Saquon Barkley to 44 yards, Todd Gurley to 68 and Ezekiel Elliott to 75.
"It starts with our front four," linebacker A.J. Klein says. "They control the line of scrimmage and make our job as linebackers easier. Coach Ryan coaches those guys hard and they are very detailed. The linebackers have been playing great as well. And the back end in the run game, having a loaded box, everyone has been tackling well."
Says Loomis: "Our run defense has been spectacular. It's probably as good as I can ever remember it being."
The pass defense is a little problematic. The team has given up 300 yards or more passing just twice in its past eight games, but overall it allowed more passing yards than all but three teams.
Part of this can be attributed to the fact that opponents haven't been able to run on the Saints. Part of it can be attributed to forcing opponents to keep up with Brees and the Saints offense. And part of it can be attributed to the slow start.
But for the Saints to get where they want to go, they are going to have to keep enemy quarterbacks in check. They know this.
"Nothing," Jordan says, "is taken for granted with this defense."
This defense has created a ruckus around New Orleans in places other than the Superdome.
On many Thursdays during the season, the boys have a night out. About 15 to 20 defenders share a meal along with some lies and laughs, usually in the French Quarter. GW Fins, Doris Metropolitan, Delmonico, Chophouse New Orleans and Desi Vega's are among the places that have been rocked by Jordan and friends.
Jordan, who knows his way around town, picks the place. Former Saints running back Fred McAfee, who is the team's director of player development, often assists with the reservations.
"We're cracking jokes, having good conversations, enjoying some good food," Rankins says. "We go into a restaurant and take it over. Something silly is always happening."
That sometimes includes tableside dancing. "We've got a dancing team," Rankins says. "If there is room to do it, it will happen."
Says Jordan, "You throw some music on, you are going to have guys dancing and gassing each other up."
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 17: Cameron Jordan #94 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
One way or another, they demand attention.
The Saints defense has only one Pro Bowl player, Jordan, though they believe Davis and Rankins should have made the team, too.
Dungy says Allen has convinced his defenders that they are the players who should be carrying the Saints. The defenders have taken it to heart.
But the Saints defense isn't about stars. It's about teamwork and discipline and doing little things correctly.
Other defenses have been praised more. The Saints defense has even been obscured by its own offense. And they are OK with that.
"We realize other teams are going to be talked about more and other defenses will be talked about more," Jordan says. "I don't really care about the outside opinion of if we are overlooked."
The Saints defenders are pleased with themselves, regardless of if anyone else is.
Rankins: "Man for man, we stack up with anybody."
Bell: "I think we compare with anybody in the NFL."
Okafor: "I think our defense is second to none. We can play as well as any of those defenses in the playoffs, and we expect to do that."
The Saints held the Eagles to seven points in November. But the Eagles have a different quarterback now—the reigning Super Bowl MVP.
"We have to be able to make Nick Foles uncomfortable in the pocket," Jordan says. "He has extreme poise in the pocket. We have to do what we have to do to try to eliminate his confidence."
And if the Saints get past the Eagles, a rematch with either the Cowboys (whom the Saints lost to 13-10 in November) or the Rams (whom the Saints beat 45-35 in November) awaits.
"We want another shot at the Cowboys offense," Okafor says. "We didn't play as well as we wanted to that Thursday night. To get a shot to redeem ourselves in the playoffs at home would be huge for us."
Regardless of the opponent, the Saints defenders believe the postseason will be about them, celebrating big plays in end zones as flashes pop.
"We always gonna make a play," Bell says. "Always gonna make a picture."
Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @danpompei.
The New Orleans Saints might just be the best team in the entire NFL. They tied for the best record in the regular season at 13-3. The Saints also beat the Los Angeles Rams, the team with which they share that record...
Sean Payton Tells Saints 'Win 3 F--king Games' to Get Lombardi, $225K Bonus
Jan 9, 2019
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks to media after an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018. The Panthers won 33-14. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
According to New Orleans attorney Jon DeTrinis, Payton entered the Saints' locker room on Tuesday with four armed guards and the Lombardi Trophy on top of $225,000 in cash while saying: "Y'all want this? Win three f--king games."
DeTrinis noted the amount of money represented the Super Bowl bonus each player receives if the Saints do, in fact, win the next three games.
Mike Triplett of ESPN confirmed the story, pointing out running back Mark Ingram said the team enjoyed the display.
New Orleans is well-positioned to earn those Super Bowl bonuses with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as the NFC's top seed. The team also doesn't have to worry about a Chicago Bears defense that led the league in points allowed after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated Chicago in the NFC Wild Card Round.
Philadelphia is the next obstacle in the Saints' way, as the two teams will square off in Sunday's divisional-round matchup.
If Drew Brees and Co. win that one, they will play the winner of the showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams for the NFC's spot in Super Bowl LIII. The Saints will be well aware of what would be on the line then after Payton's display.
