The L.A. Rams survive a late surge by the New Orleans Saints to win 30-22
Los Angeles Rams #9 Matthew Stafford (QB) is rolling out to his right looking downfield for an open receiver. Photo by Jevone Moore.
INGLEWOOD, CA - The Los Angeles (8-7) continue their playoff push by beating the New Orleans Saints (7-8), 30-22, with Kyren Williams rushing for 104 yards and one touchdown, breaking the 1,000-yard mark in his career since Todd Gurley did it in 2018.
Matthew Stafford is playing his best football since the bye week, throwing for 328 yards and three touchdowns, and wide receivers Puka Nacua had nine catches for 164 yards and one touchdown, and Demarcus Robinson has six catches for 82 yards and one touchdown.
"We earned the opportunity to be at this point, in my opinion," Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said afterward. "We've had stakes since the bye, so I'm just proud of the way these guys have put their heads down, gone to work, and shown up."
Los Angeles Rams #23 Kyen Williams (RB) ran for 104-yards and one touchdown to go over 1,000-yards rushing. Photo by Jevone Moore.
Stafford used the running game to get started with Kyren Williams. Demarcus Robinson and Cooper Kupp made some big catches, capped off a 95-yard drive, and on 4th and two at the Saints 2-yard line, Puka Nacua scored on a 2-yard touchdown catch to give Los Angeles a lead 7-0.
The Rams increased their lead to 10-0 in the second quarter with a 21-yard field goal by Lucas Havrisik. The Saints would trail 10-7 after Derek Carr threw a 45-yard touchdown to Rashid Shaheed with 2:28 before halftime.
The Rams lead at halftime by ten points, 17-7, thanks to an amazing catch by Robinson in the back of the endzone for a 4-yard touchdown.
The Saints trailed the Rams in the third quarter 20-7 after Havrisik kicked a 22-yard field goal. Kyren Willams added to the Rams score 27-7 after scoring on a 10-yard touchdown run.
New Orleans Saints #4 Derek Carr (QB) is about to throw a 35-yard touchdown pass to his wide receiver A.T. Perry. Photo by Jevone Moore.
Jordan Fuller, the safety for the Rams, had their only turnover of the game by intercepting Derek Carr's pass intended for his tight-end Juwan Johnson at their 28-yard line.
The Rams led 30-7 in the fourth quarter when Havrisik would kick a 32-yard field goal. Carr led their offense to their second touchdown to trail 30-14 after going 75 yards on 12 plays and threw a 5-yard touchdown to his tight-end Juwan Johnson.
But the game got interesting late in the fourth quarter when Carr led New Orleans to another touchdown passing, throwing a 35-yard touchdown to A.T. Perry, and the two-point conversion by Chris Olave made the score 30-22 with 3:53 left in the game.
The Rams would run out the clock to secure their win heading into the Christmas break before heading to New York to take on the Giants next Sunday.
Carr finished the game by completing 27 of his 40 passes for 319 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.