The Los Angeles Rams needed an authoritative win over the New Orleans Saints Thursday evening, and they got it.
In front of a home crowd that included the much-hyped presence of Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani, the Rams smashed the Saints 30–22. Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford delivered a pair of touchdowns through the air, while wide receiver Puka Nacua was his usual excellent self, tallying nine receptions for 164 yards and a score.
The question now is where the two teams go from here. Here's a look at the game’s implications for both the Rams (8–7) and New Orleans (7–8):
FOR THE RAMS
Los Angeles takes sole possession of the No. 6 playoff seed for the time being. If the season ended Thursday night, the Rams would face the Detroit Lions in a wild-card game at Ford Field.
Per NFL.com, the Rams have a 70% chance to make the playoffs after defeating New Orleans.
Remaining games for Los Angeles include the New York Giants on New Year's Eve and the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 7.
FOR THE SAINTS
The Saints are far from done in a mediocre NFC South, but are now a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7–7) for first place. The Buccaneers have the head-to-head tiebreaker for the time being heading into their rematch in Tampa on New Year's Eve.
New Orleans has a 22% chance to make the playoffs after losing to the Rams, per NFL.com.
Remaining games for New Orleans include that matchup against the Bucs and the Atlanta Falcons on Jan. 7.
NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE
1. San Francisco 49ers (11–3)
2. Dallas Cowboys (10–4)
3. Detroit Lions (10–4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7–7)
5. Philadelphia Eagles (10–4)
6. Los Angeles Rams (8–7)
7. Minnesota Vikings (7–7)
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8. Seattle Seahawks (7–7)
9. New Orleans Saints (7–8)
10. Atlanta Falcons (6–8)
11. Green Bay Packers (6–8)
12. New York Giants (5–9)
13. Chicago Bears (5–9)
ELIMINATED
14. Washington Commanders (4–10)
15. Arizona Cardinals (3–11)
16. Carolina Panthers (2–12)
