Drew Brees continues to play at an MVP pace and has many weapons in an offence that ranks second in points scored with an average of 33.4.
Could this be a NFC conference finals preview? It sure could be. The Rams and Saints are the class on the conference and two of the best teams in the league.
NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
---|---|---|---|
Opening 30 Oct 12:34pm | LAR | -1.5 -110 | O +60 -110 |
Closing 2 Nov 4:03am | LAR | -2.5 -115 | O +60 -105 |
These two teams have met twice in the last two years, with the Saints winning 49-21 in 2016, and the Rams returning the favour last year in Los Angeles knocking off the Saints 26-20. Head-to-head the home team in the series is 6-0 against the spread (ATS) in their last six meetings, and the Rams are 6-2 ATS in the last eight games against the Saints. Of note, the over is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these two clubs in New Orleans, but it’s never been this high of a total. Last year’s number was chalked at 54 points, where the two teams went under.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are the only undefeated team left in the NFL, a perfect 8-0 (4-4 ATS) and coming off their biggest test to date, a 29-27 decision over the Packers at home. Running back Todd Gurley continues to show the football world why he’s an MVP candidate. Gurley set a new Rams record with 15 touchdowns through the first eight games of the season. He also had 195 total yards in the win. This weekend’s matchup against the Saints is much tougher. But there is some good news for the club before heading to the Mardi Gras City.
The Rams are expecting star receiver Cooper Kupp to return to the lineup. He’s been out for the last couple weeks with a sprained MCL. This can only help an offence that is second in total offence (452.6), and third in points scored (33.0 points per game). Of note, the Rams were busy at the trade deadline, acquiring linebacker Dante Fowler from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a third and fifth round picks. The former first round pick (2013) didn’t live up to expectations in Northern Florida, he’ll get a great chance with a great team before he heads to unrestricted free agency this offseason.
New Orleans Saints
After starting the season with a hiccup against the Bucs, the Saints have put together a six-game winning streak entering this game. They are 6-1 (5-2 ATS) on the season, but in the middle of the toughest part of their schedule. They started this five-game climb with wins against the Ravens and Vikings, play the Rams this week, and then face the Bengals and Eagles. Depending on what they do here, this could determine the season. Drew Brees continues to play at an MVP pace and has many weapons in an offence that ranks second in points scored with an average of 33.4. He has thrown 14 touchdowns passes to eight different target, but a favourite has to be receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas already has 58 receptions in seven games (averaging just over eight catches per game).
Outside of all this offence from both teams, one of the best matchups will be on the defensive side of the ball. The Saints defence ranks number one against the rush, allowing opposition running backs just 74.1 yards per game. They will be tested when the leagues number one running back Todd Gurley comes to town Sunday afternoon. Gurley averages 100 yards per game this year.
Weather

temp | 77 |
condition | dome |
wind | Southeast 16mph |
Injuries
Johnny Hekker (P)
C.J. Anderson (RB)
Blake Countess (DB)
Greg Zuerlein (K)
Blake Countess (DB)
Andrew Whitworth (T)
Samson Ebukam (LB)
Justin Davis (RB)
Dominique Hatfield (CB)
John Sullivan (C)
Vonn Bell (S)
Josh Hill (TE)
Keith Kirkwood (WR)
Ryan Ramczyk (T)
Benjamin Watson (TE)
Andrus Peat (T)
Sheldon Rankins (DT)
Simmie Cobbs Jr. (WR)
Alex Okafor (DE)
Will Holden (G)
Injuries
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Johnny Hekker (P) | Prob Sun | Illness - 26 / 01 / 19 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
Hekker is nursing an illness but is likely to be available against the Patriots in the 2019 Super Bowl. |
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C.J. Anderson (RB) | Prob Sun | Illness - 24 / 01 / 19 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
Anderson is ailing from an illness but is expected to be fine for the 2019 Super Bowl against the Patriots. |
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Blake Countess (DB) | Prob Sun | Foot - 23 / 01 / 19 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
Countess has a foot injury but it is likely he will play in the 2019 Super Bowl against the Patriots. |
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Greg Zuerlein (K) | Prob Sun | Foot - 23 / 01 / 19 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
Zuerlein is dealing with a left foot strain but is expected to suit against the Patriots in the 2019 Super Bowl. |
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Blake Countess (DB) | Prob Sat | Concussion - 30 / 12 / 18 | 4-0 | 2-2 | + - |
Countess left the previous game due to a concussion but is likely to be cleared in time for the NFC divisional round against the Cowboys. |
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Andrew Whitworth (T) | Prob Sat | Knee - 30 / 12 / 18 | 4-0 | 2-2 | + - |
Whitworth exited the last game due to a left knee injury but is expected to participate in the NFC divisional round against the Cowboys. |
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Samson Ebukam (LB) | Prob Sun | Illness - 19 / 12 / 18 | 4-1 | 3-2 | + - |
Ebukam is ailing from an illness but is slated to play Sunday against the Cardinals. |
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Justin Davis (RB) | Ques Sun | Shoulder - 16 / 12 / 18 | 4-2 | 3-3 | + - |
Davis exited the previous game due to a shoulder injury and it is unknown if he will face the Cardinals on Sunday. |
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Dominique Hatfield (CB) | I-R | Ankle - 09 / 12 / 18 | 5-2 | 3-4 | + - |
Hatfield sustained a left ankle injury and is on the injured reserve list. |
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John Sullivan (C) | day-to-day | Concussion - 09 / 12 / 18 | 5-2 | 3-4 | + - |
Sullivan left the previous game to be evaluated for a concussion and it is unclear if he will return. |
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vonn Bell (S) | day-to-day | Elbow - 20 / 01 / 19 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Bell exited Sunday's game due to a left elbow injury and it is unknown if he will return. |
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Josh Hill (TE) | day-to-day | Concussion - 20 / 01 / 19 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Hill left Sunday's game due to a concussion and will not return. |
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Keith Kirkwood (WR) | Out Sun | Calf - 16 / 01 / 19 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Kirkwood has a calf injury and will not play against the Rams in the NFC championship game. |
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Ryan Ramczyk (T) | Prob Sun | Shoulder - 16 / 01 / 19 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Ramczyk is dealing with a shoulder injury but is projected to be available against the Rams in the NFC championship game. |
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Benjamin Watson (TE) | Out Sun | Appendix - 16 / 01 / 19 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Watson is ailing from appendicitis and will not be able to suit up for the NFC championship game against the Rams. |
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Andrus Peat (T) | Prob Sun | Hand - 14 / 01 / 19 | 0-1 | 0-1 | + - |
Peat is expected to line up against the Rams in the NFC championship game despite a broken hand. |
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Sheldon Rankins (DT) | I-R | Achilles - 13 / 01 / 19 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
Rankins has been placed on the injured reserve list after undergoing surgery to fix a torn left Achilles tendon. |
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Simmie Cobbs Jr. (WR) | I-R | Knee - 10 / 01 / 19 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
Cobbs Jr. has landed on the injured reserve list due to a knee injury. |
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Alex Okafor (DE) | Prob Sun | Knee - 02 / 01 / 19 | 0-2 | 1-1 | + - |
Okafor is nursing a hyperextended knee but it is anticipated that he will play against the Eagles in the NFC divisional round. |
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Will Holden (G) | Ques Sun | Shoulder - 22 / 12 / 18 | 0-4 | 2-2 | + - |
Holden has a shoulder injury and it is unknown if he will play against the Rams on Sunday. |
Rams vs. Saints Prediction
-
LOS ANGELES RAMS
30 -
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
37
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 30 Oct 12:34pm LAR -1.5 -110 O +60 -110 Closing 2 Nov 4:03am LAR -2.5 -115 O +60 -105 -
Weather
temp 77 condition dome wind Southeast 16mph -
Injuries
Johnny Hekker (P)
Prob Sun Illness - 26 / 01 / 19C.J. Anderson (RB)
Prob Sun Illness - 24 / 01 / 19Blake Countess (DB)
Prob Sun Foot - 23 / 01 / 19Greg Zuerlein (K)
Prob Sun Foot - 23 / 01 / 19Blake Countess (DB)
Prob Sat Concussion - 30 / 12 / 18Andrew Whitworth (T)
Prob Sat Knee - 30 / 12 / 18Samson Ebukam (LB)
Prob Sun Illness - 19 / 12 / 18Justin Davis (RB)
Ques Sun Shoulder - 16 / 12 / 18Dominique Hatfield (CB)
I-R Ankle - 09 / 12 / 18John Sullivan (C)
day-to-day Concussion - 09 / 12 / 18Vonn Bell (S)
day-to-day Elbow - 20 / 01 / 19Josh Hill (TE)
day-to-day Concussion - 20 / 01 / 19Keith Kirkwood (WR)
Out Sun Calf - 16 / 01 / 19Ryan Ramczyk (T)
Prob Sun Shoulder - 16 / 01 / 19Benjamin Watson (TE)
Out Sun Appendix - 16 / 01 / 19Andrus Peat (T)
Prob Sun Hand - 14 / 01 / 19Sheldon Rankins (DT)
I-R Achilles - 13 / 01 / 19Simmie Cobbs Jr. (WR)
I-R Knee - 10 / 01 / 19Alex Okafor (DE)
Prob Sun Knee - 02 / 01 / 19Will Holden (G)
Ques Sun Shoulder - 22 / 12 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Johnny Hekker (P) Prob Sun Illness - 26 / 01 / 19 1-0 0-1 + - Hekker is nursing an illness but is likely to be available against the Patriots in the 2019 Super Bowl.
C.J. Anderson (RB) Prob Sun Illness - 24 / 01 / 19 1-0 0-1 + - Anderson is ailing from an illness but is expected to be fine for the 2019 Super Bowl against the Patriots.
Blake Countess (DB) Prob Sun Foot - 23 / 01 / 19 1-0 0-1 + - Countess has a foot injury but it is likely he will play in the 2019 Super Bowl against the Patriots.
Greg Zuerlein (K) Prob Sun Foot - 23 / 01 / 19 1-0 0-1 + - Zuerlein is dealing with a left foot strain but is expected to suit against the Patriots in the 2019 Super Bowl.
Blake Countess (DB) Prob Sat Concussion - 30 / 12 / 18 4-0 2-2 + - Countess left the previous game due to a concussion but is likely to be cleared in time for the NFC divisional round against the Cowboys.
Andrew Whitworth (T) Prob Sat Knee - 30 / 12 / 18 4-0 2-2 + - Whitworth exited the last game due to a left knee injury but is expected to participate in the NFC divisional round against the Cowboys.
Samson Ebukam (LB) Prob Sun Illness - 19 / 12 / 18 4-1 3-2 + - Ebukam is ailing from an illness but is slated to play Sunday against the Cardinals.
Justin Davis (RB) Ques Sun Shoulder - 16 / 12 / 18 4-2 3-3 + - Davis exited the previous game due to a shoulder injury and it is unknown if he will face the Cardinals on Sunday.
Dominique Hatfield (CB) I-R Ankle - 09 / 12 / 18 5-2 3-4 + - Hatfield sustained a left ankle injury and is on the injured reserve list.
John Sullivan (C) day-to-day Concussion - 09 / 12 / 18 5-2 3-4 + - Sullivan left the previous game to be evaluated for a concussion and it is unclear if he will return.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Vonn Bell (S) day-to-day Elbow - 20 / 01 / 19 0-1 0-1 + - Bell exited Sunday's game due to a left elbow injury and it is unknown if he will return.
Josh Hill (TE) day-to-day Concussion - 20 / 01 / 19 0-1 0-1 + - Hill left Sunday's game due to a concussion and will not return.
Keith Kirkwood (WR) Out Sun Calf - 16 / 01 / 19 0-1 0-1 + - Kirkwood has a calf injury and will not play against the Rams in the NFC championship game.
Ryan Ramczyk (T) Prob Sun Shoulder - 16 / 01 / 19 0-1 0-1 + - Ramczyk is dealing with a shoulder injury but is projected to be available against the Rams in the NFC championship game.
Benjamin Watson (TE) Out Sun Appendix - 16 / 01 / 19 0-1 0-1 + - Watson is ailing from appendicitis and will not be able to suit up for the NFC championship game against the Rams.
Andrus Peat (T) Prob Sun Hand - 14 / 01 / 19 0-1 0-1 + - Peat is expected to line up against the Rams in the NFC championship game despite a broken hand.
Sheldon Rankins (DT) I-R Achilles - 13 / 01 / 19 0-2 1-1 + - Rankins has been placed on the injured reserve list after undergoing surgery to fix a torn left Achilles tendon.
Simmie Cobbs Jr. (WR) I-R Knee - 10 / 01 / 19 0-2 1-1 + - Cobbs Jr. has landed on the injured reserve list due to a knee injury.
Alex Okafor (DE) Prob Sun Knee - 02 / 01 / 19 0-2 1-1 + - Okafor is nursing a hyperextended knee but it is anticipated that he will play against the Eagles in the NFC divisional round.
Will Holden (G) Ques Sun Shoulder - 22 / 12 / 18 0-4 2-2 + - Holden has a shoulder injury and it is unknown if he will play against the Rams on Sunday.