Los Angeles Rams vs New Orleans Saints Preview and Predictions Picks
Scheduled Mercedes-Benz Superdome New Orleans
The Los Angeles Rams almost saw their perfect record go by the boards last weekend, but they will face perhaps a more daunting challenge this weekend in what could be a battle for supremacy in the NFC. The lone undefeated team at the midway point of the season, the Rams will square off against another surging team when they visit Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon.
Los Angeles will be facing an elite quarterback for the second time in as many weeks, having squeezed out a 29-27 victory (as a -7.5 point home favorite at intertops) over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. "You're looking at another week where a guy, first ballot Hall of Famer, all-time leading passer, completing 77 percent of his balls," Rams head coach Sean McVay said of the prospect of facing Brees. New Orleans owns the league's second-longest winning streak -- behind only Los Angeles -- with six consecutive victories after knocking off Minnesota 30-20 in a rematch of last season's NFC playoff game. "When we're able to execute at a high level, I don't think there's anybody on the field that can stop us," Saints defensive end Cam Jordan said. "We have to be able to do that for all 60 minutes though."
TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Rams -1.5. O/U: 59.5
ABOUT THE RAMS (8-0): Todd Gurley has been unstoppable for Los Angeles, rushing for 800 yards and 11 touchdowns -- both league highs -- and posted 31 catches for 351 yards and four scores after accounting for 195 yards from scrimmage against Green Bay. Quarterback Jared Goff has 17 TD passes versus five interceptions and will get one of his top targets back in Cooper Kupp, who has a team-best five touchdown receptions despite missing the past two games with a sprained knee. Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald has registered an NFL-high 10 sacks for a unit that acquired pass-rushing linebacker Dante Fowler from Jacksonville at this week's trade deadline. "We feel like he's going to help us, specifically from a rush perspective," McVay said of the former No. 3 overall draft pick.
ABOUT THE SAINTS (6-1): After squeezing out a one-point win at Baltimore when the Ravens missed a tying extra point, New Orleans relied on its defense to avenge last season's loss at Minnesota with an interception return for a score and a fumble return that set up a TD. Brees tossed his first interception last week but has 14 touchdown passes and sports a league-leading 77.4 completion percentage and gaudy 118.2 passer rating. Alvin Kamara's workload has been reduced with the return of fellow running back Mark Ingram from a four-game suspension, but he had a rushing and receiving score last week to boost his season total to nine touchdowns. Kamara is expected to play despite missing practice Thursday due to illness, but rookie defensive end Marcus Davenport did not practice for a second straight day.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Saints WR Michael Thomas has 14 receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns in two games versus Los Angeles.
2. Gurley joined Jim Brown and Priest Holmes as the only players with at least 15 TDs through the first eight games.
3. Brees has thrown for 1,045 yards with eight touchdowns and zero interceptions in his last three at home.
PREDICTION: Saints 30, Rams 27
Green Bay Packers vs New England Patriots Preview and Predictions Picks
Scheduled Gillette Stadium Foxborough
Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers often are mentioned in the conversation as the best quarterbacks in the game, but the former NFL Most Valuable Players rarely share the same field. That will change on Sunday night as Brady and Rodgers will square off for only the second time in their stellar careers when the Green Bay Packers pay a visit to the streaking New England Patriots.
Brady and Rodgers are the only active players in the league to have won multiple MVP awards, among the many reasons for the hype surrounding Sunday's matchup. "If you want to study how to play quarterback, you need to watch that game Sunday night because you're going to see all the little things," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "From pure quarterback play, I think this is definitely one you want to watch." Rodgers came up short in his bid to hand the Los Angeles Rams their first loss a week ago and now must fly to the opposite coast to face Brady and a New England squad that has won five straight and is unbeaten at home. "The challenge from my standpoint is knowing we have to be incredibly productive as an offense," Brady said. I know we can't turn it over, I know we're going to have to possess the ball. I know we're going to have to score in the red area."
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Patriots -5.5. O/U: 56.5
ABOUT THE PACKERS (3-3-1): Green Bay has been fairly one-dimensional on offense as Rodgers is third in the league with an average of 326.1 yards while throwing for 13 touchdowns against only one interception. Although injuries have hindered two of Rodgers' top receivers, Davante Adams has six touchdown catches on the season and has amassed 24 receptions for 405 yards and three scores over the past three games. A cluttered backfield was thinned out this week with the trade of Ty Montgomery, leaving Aaron Jones poised the lead the ground game after posting season highs with 86 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries against the Rams. The Packers are No. 5 against the pass (221.7 yards per game) but traded starting safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to Washington this week.
ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (6-2): Running back Sony Michel was limited in practice again Thursday after sitting out last week's game due to a knee injury and one of the surprise replacements was wideout Cordarrelle Patterson, who had 10 carries for 38 yards. Tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has not scored since the season opener, did not practice Thursday and was held to three catches in each of his last two games. Brady threw for 324 yards in last week's 25-6 victory at Buffalo (as a -13.5 point favorite at intertops), connecting with Julian Edelman nine times for 104 yards (both season highs) and running back James White 10 times for 79 yards, hiking his team-leading totals to 55 catches, 459 yards and six receiving touchdowns. New England is vulnerable to the pass, allowing 277.3 yards per game to rank 27th in the league.
EXTRA POINTS
1. New England seeks its 10 consecutive home win against a Green Bay squad that is 0-3 on the road.
2. Rodgers has a 100-plus passer rating in his last three overall and has at least two TD passes in five of his last six versus AFC foes.
3. Brady has eight TD passes and zero interceptions in his past three at home versus Green Bay.
PREDICTION: Patriots 33, Packers 30