'We Sure Make It Interesting!' Rams vs. Saints Live In-Game Updates, L.A. Wins 30-22
This season’s slate of Thursday Night Football games has been underwhelming, to say the least. From six-possession blowouts to its list of non-playoff participants, the first game on each week’s schedule has rarely lived up to expectations.
That wasn't the case on Thursday, with L.A. hanging on to register a 30-22 win that greatly includes the Rams' playoff chances.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
“We sure make it interesting, don’t we?” coach Sean McVay said after surviving a late Saints comeback. “But I love the resilience of this group. They just continue to show up. I thought there was a lot of really good stuff throughout the course of this game.”
How did "the course of this game'' unfold? Follow along with or chronological look!
Week 16’s opener between the New Orleans Saints (7-7) and Los Angeles Rams (7-7) is packed with playoff implications. The Saints have a little more breathing room given the meager status of the NFC South, but the Rams will be tasked with going 2-1 in a three-game stretch that includes the San Francisco 49ers.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) celebrates in the first half in a game against the Cleveland Browns at SoFi Stadium.
Yannick Peterhans-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles, who hosts Thursday’s contest, is seemingly as close to the playoffs as it is to elimination. Expect its biggest stars to do their part in getting over .500. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald only has six sacks on the year, but he’s still easily the best player on this side of the ball and has a lucrative matchup against a shaky New Orleans offensive line.
On offense, quarterback Matthew Stafford will be relieved to have tackle Rob Havenstein and receiver Tutu Atwell back in the fold, but faces a tough task in the Saints' defense that ranks third in success rate. Can receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua step up? Both look healthy, though Kupp wasn’t happy about playing on SoFi Stadium’s turf twice in less than a week.
Running back Kyren Williams seems poised for another big day after hitting 1,000 scrimmage yards for the season on Sunday. The Rams’ ability to earn the right to run the ball by beating defenses downfield could pay dividends.
Ultimately, Los Angeles has more star power than a strikingly average Saints team, and with home-field advantage tilting in its favor, falling short would be more than disappointing – it could put a figurative end to its playoff hopes.
WHAT: Los Angeles Rams (7-7) vs. New Orleans Saints (7-7)
WHERE: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA (70,240)
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023, 5:15 p.m. (PT)
TELEVISION: Amazon Prime Video
RADIO: ESPNLA 710 AM, Tu Liga 1330 AM
ODDS: Rams -4.5 (+100), -200 Moneyline, Total: 45.5 (o -118/u -110)
Follow along for live updates!
FIRST QUARTER
Saints First Drive: New Orleans received the opening kickoff.
Running back Alvin Kamara started things off with a two-yard rush. Three Chris Olave receptions -- for 11, nine, and 16 yards, respectively -- threatened the Rams' defense. They held firm, forcing a punt.
Rams First Drive: Williams' first rush of the night went for seven yards. Their first chunk gain came in the hands of tight end Tyler Higbee, who found 22 yards and a new set of downs.
On third down, Stafford hit Nacua for a catch and run of 17 yards. Back-to-back double-digit gains to receivers Demarcus Robinson and Kupp brought them to New Orleans' 13-yard line.
On fourth-and-goal, Nacua caught a hitch route for a touchdown.
The Rams lead 7-0 with 2:28 remaining in the first quarter.
Saints Second Drive: Receiver Rashid Shaheed saw the first first down of the drive. Olave saw the second one, bringing an end to the first quarter.
The Rams lead 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
New Orleans' drive stalled out, and on a fourth-down dropback, tackle Kobie Turner came up with a sack.
Rams Second Drive: Nacua opened the drive with a 28-yard catch. Los Angeles quickly moved into the red zone.
A Lucas Havrisik field goal would extend the lead to double digits.
The Rams lead 10-0 with 10:23 remaining in the second quarter.
Saints Third Drive: Olave's 14-yard catch opened the drive. However, a holding call two plays later would set back the drive to an unrecoverable extent.
Los Angeles will take over at its own 32-yard line.
Rams Third Drive: A nice out-of-structure play from Stafford moved the chains. Kupp appeared to be hurt but remained on the field.
Stafford would turn to Kupp on third down, though. it fell incomplete. Havrisik's proceeding field goal was wide left.
Saints Fourth Drive: The Saints struck back with a deep bomb to Shaheed, resulting in a 45-yard score.
The Rams lead 10-7 with 2:28 remaining in the second quarter.
Rams Fourth Drive: The Rams were unable to answer back, giving New Orleans a shot before the end of the half.
Saints Fifth Drive: Olave found 19 yards on the first play of the drive, but failed to convert on fourth down on the ensuing set of downs.
Rams Fifth Drive: A Stafford trickshot kickstarted the drive and two completions brought the Rams to the red zone.
Williams bounced around for seven yards. On the next play, Los Angeles went into empty and hit Robinson to extend the lead.
The Rams lead 17-7 with 21 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Saints Sixth Drive: After an incompletion, Carr kneeled out the half.
The Rams lead 17-7 at halftime.
HALFTIME
THIRD QUARTER
Rams Sixth Drive: Nacua made a circus catch to open the half and Los Angeles was quick to get to the line of scrimmage. Tyler Higbee saw the resulting catch for four yards.
Williams' first rush of the half resulted in a breif stoppage and a trip to the medical tent.
After an incompletion to Nacua, Williams returned to the field. A quick Kupp catch brought Los Angeles to the 11-yard line. Yet, the Rams had to settle for another field goal.
The Rams lead 20-7 with 11:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Saints Seventh Drive: New Orleans' first drive of the half ended in disaster.
Safety Jordan Fuller caught an easy interception and returned it to the Saints' 41-yard line.
Rams Seventh Drive: A Nacua rush started the drive, followed by a Kupp catch and a 10-yard run from Williams.
The back -- the Rams' first 1,000-yard rusher since Todd Gurley -- finished the drive with a score.
The Rams lead 27-7 with 5:42 remaining in the third quarter.
Saints Eighth Drive: Once again, New Orleans looked to Olave early in the drive -- this time for 28 yards.
The drive would stall out and, once again, failed to convert on fourth down.
Rams Eighth Drive: Running back Ronnie Rivers got the first few snaps of the drive, with some success. He saw rushes of five, -1, and 10 yards before the quarter ended.
The Rams lead 27-7 at the end of the third quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
Havrisik would open the quarter's scoring with another field goal.
The Rams lead 30-7 with 12:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Saints Ninth Drive: In the Saints' first trip to the red zone, Juwan Johnson scored their second touchdown of the night.
They went down the field in 12 plays for their most complete drive of the night.
The Rams lead 30-14 with 6:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Rams Ninth Drive: Stafford returned to Nacua, who has six 100-yard games as a rookie -- the second-most in the Super Bowl era.
Williams returned to the field to hit the century mark himself, but it was called back for holding. He wouldn't get there, at least on this drive.
New Orleans tipped the punt, helping their field position in an attempt for a miracle comeback.
Saints Tenth Drive: This one just got a little more interesting. New Orelans took advantage of the field position with a deep shot to receiver A.T. Perry. That was followed by a successful two-point conversion.
The onside kick was unsuccessful, recovered by Nacua.
The Rams lead 30-22 with 3:53 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Rams Tenth Drive: Nacua earned a crucial first down on a jet sweep, burning more clock.
Williams got to 100 yards before the two-minute warning.
A Stafford kneel would end it.
The Rams win 30-22 to advance to 8-7.
