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In a much-anticipated rematch of a NFC Championship game bogged down in controversy, the Los Angeles Rams demoralized the visiting New Orleans Saints by a score of 27-9 in a game defined by injury.
The loss of Drew Brees to an injured thumb is far worse than anything said in the Saints' loss column. But while the Saints played without their star quarterback for most of the game, the Rams had a brief glimpse of the injury virus.
Head coach Sean McVay called second-year goaltender Jamil Demby in the right guard position after Austin Blythe was injured in his left ankle in the Rams' fourth offensive series. The team was also forced to do without their usual two-end rotation when Tyler Higbee left the game with what was originally a chest injury but turned out to be a lung contusion. Gerald Everett played the rest of the tight game while the Rams had put himself in the strict serve of 11 people (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR) offensively.
The instant counts for the second week are presented below and we will analyze them here, starting with the offensive.
STRATEGIST
Jared Goff looked better than last week against the Panthers, scoring 283 yards and one touchdown in 70 attempts.
backfield
When McVay called Todd Gurley's number in the red zone Sunday, the fantasy football GMs were thrilled to see the number 30 scoring his first touchdown of the season. The Rams have targeted 20 times the total of the former 10th pick of the NFL draft in 2015 against the Saints. In 45 attempts, Gurley finished with 16 carries for 63 yards and a hurried touchdown with three catches for 4 yards on four targets.
Malcolm Brown (25 shots) continued with the performance of two touchdowns last week with 6 carries for 37 yards – which should serve as a reminder to those who think Gurley has been overtaken as the main running back of the team.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Four of Rams' five offensive linemen – left tackle Andrew Whitworth, left guard Joe Noteboom, center Brian Allen and right tackle Rob Havenstein – made the 70 attempts.
Havenstein, in particular, struggled to face Saints defender Cam Jordan one-on-one.
Alternate guard Jamil Demby played 42 silent shots instead of Austin Blythe (28 shots), but mostly did his job.
If Blythe can not play Sunday night in the third week against the Browns, Demby will make his career debut against a defensive line featuring NFL bag leader Myles Garrett. It would also be the first time that a Rams offensive lineman would miss a start due to injury since McVay was hired in 2017.
TEND END
After alternating two tight ends in the first half, the Rams remained glued to Gerald Everett (50 shots) until the end of the course, after Tyler Higbee (24 snapshots) fell in the second quarter. McVay told reporters Monday night that Higbee would be "day-to-day" with a lung contusion.
RECIPIENTS
Cooper Kupp (66 shots) looked like the guy we all remembered before his knee injury ended the season, recording the bulk of his 120 yards on a 66-yard shot that was knocked down.
While he was targeted only twice in the air, Robert Woods's two catches for 33 yards (69) are relegated to the background, which earned him an important place as a blocker in the attack. McVay's tight half-receiver – especially when the Rams lost Higbee. Talk about #WeNotMe.
After playing 25 times last week in Carolina, Josh Reynolds only saw the field three times in the second week.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Even if he is not destroying the quarterback of the opposing team, it is not difficult to notice the impact of defensive player of the year, Aaron Donald (52 shots).
With Donald forming two teams, it eliminates some pressure on Michael Brockers (52 strikes) to win one-on-one confrontations.
The defense against the rush often criticized by the Rams limited Alvin Kamara and the Saints just 57 meters from the race.
linebackers
Cory Littleton (65 shots) did not leave the field once, holding him in the middle for the Rams in all the defensive subassemblies.
Clay Matthews won his second sack of the season Sunday. Not bad for a 33 year old.
SECONDARY
While the defensive line likes to rotate the bodies to stay cool, the Rams have chosen not to do so in the back of the defense. Marcus Peters and Eric Weddle both played the entire match, while Aqib Talib (60 games) sat only five times, while Troy Hill let him breathe.
John Johnson III (63 shots) continued his iconic performance of the NFC championship game against the Saints with his second career interception against Drew Brees.
Without Brees, the passing attack of the Saints was limited – but part of that can be attributed to the stability of L.A.'s veteran in high school.
Taylor Rapp (40 snapshots) blossomed into his role of "supporting dimes" in both cover and stunt situations in the "Dimes Rams" package.
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