The playoffs don’t start for another four weeks, but Thursday night’s matchup between the Rams and Saints is virtually a postseason game for both teams. It’s a game with huge playoff implications, with the loser falling way behind in the race for a postseason spot.
This is the 6th meeting between the Rams and Saints since 2017, with the Rams looking to avoid back-to-back losses to the Saints. Los Angeles is favored as the home team on Thursday night, so the oddsmakers are expecting the Rams to win.
Here’s a look at eight key stats to know for this marquee matchup.
1
Rams are 5-2 in Thursday games under Sean McVay
Since McVay arrived in 2017, the Rams have been one of the best teams in the league when playing on Thursday night. They’re an impressive 5-2 in Thursday games, and that includes a Week 1 loss to the Bills last year when neither team was on a short week. The Rams’ only other loss on a Thursday was in 2019 when they fell to the Seahawks, 30-29, on the road.
In Thursday home games on a short week, the Rams are a perfect 3-0 under McVay. That’s certainly worth something.
2
Saints have lost both of their Thursday games under Dennis Allen
As good as the Rams have been in Thursday night games, the Saints have not had success in such games under head coach Dennis Allen. The Saints have lost both of their Thursday night games under Allen the last two years: a 42-34 loss to the Cardinals in 2022 and a 31-24 loss to the Jaguars in Week 7 this year.
The defense was bad in both games, while the offense did enough to win, totaling 704 yards passing in those two contests.
3
Rams are 3-2 vs. Saints since 2017
The Rams and Saints have developed a little bit of a rivalry over the last six years. They’ve squared off five times since McVay became head coach in 2017, and the Rams are 3-2 in those games — including the 2018 NFC Championship Game that went into overtime.
The Saints won last year’s meeting in New Orleans, a game in which Matthew Stafford got injured, but the Rams have won both of their home games against the Saints since 2017.
4
Rams have scored 3rd-most points in NFL since Week 12
Since Week 12, the Rams have been on a tear offensively. They’ve scored 37 points, 36 points, 31 points and 28 points in their last four games, a total of 132 points. Only the 49ers and Dolphins have scored more than the Rams in that span, with Los Angeles’ plus-42 point differential also ranking as the third-best since Week 12.
The Saints aren’t far behind, also putting together a solid stretch in their last four. They rank 10th in total points (95) and sixth in point differential (plus-26) since Week 12.
5
Matthew Stafford is just 3-6 all-time vs. Saints
Stafford has faced the Saints eight times in the regular season and once in the playoffs during his career. He's just 3-5 against them in the regular season, including an 0-1 record with the Rams (though he left that game early), and 0-1 in the playoffs against New Orleans.
His numbers haven't been particularly impressive in those games, either. Across his nine starts against the Saints, Stafford has 19 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions, though he is averaging 285 yards per game -- even despite leaving last year's meeting after only 38 plays.
6
Saints pass defense ranks 6th in NFL
The Saints' run defense is not good, ranking 27th in yards per carry allowed, but the pass defense is one of the best in football -- albeit, partly thanks to the fact that they've faced some bad quarterbacks.
The Saints have allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards in the NFL, and they're allowing only the fifth-fewest net yards per pass attempt (5.3) in the league. Their 16 touchdown passes allowed ranks sixth-best and their 14 interceptions are the fifth-most.
7
Saints have 4th-best third-down defense in the league
The Rams' 10th-ranked third-down offense will be tested by one of the NFL's best third-down defenses. The Saints are allowing opponents to convert on third down only 34.9% of the time this season, the fourth-best rate in the NFL. Last week, the Giants went 2-for-16 on third down against the Saints, a dominant showing by New Orleans against a terrible offense.
The Rams have consistently moved the chains on third down and extended drives by converting in big spots, but the Saints defense is going to be a real test.
8
Rams and Saints are 2 of just 5 teams to score 24-plus points in last 3 weeks
The Rams and Saints have both been putting up a bunch of points in the last three weeks. They're just two of five times in the NFL that have scored at least 24 points in each of the last three weeks, joining the 49ers, Dolphins and Bengals in that group.
Granted, the Saints only topped 300 yards once in those three games and had just 207 total yards in their 28-6 win over the Panthers in Week 14, but scoring has come easy for these teams since Week 13.
