NFC Championship Game Preview

The last time the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans played against each other, it was like a pinball machine as the final score totaled 80 points, with the Saints winning the game 45-35 back in Week Nine at the Superdome.
They will go at it once again on Sunday afternoon in New Orleans in the NFC Championship Game.
These two teams know each other and both can score points with the best of them, evidenced the Rams are the number two scoring team in the NFL and the Saints are third best, trailing only the Kansas City Chiefs in scoring in the 2018 season.
The Rams have quarterback Jared Goff (4,688 passing yards with 32 TD passes and 12 interceptions) along with running backs Todd Gurley (1,251 rushing yards in 14 games with a 4.9 ypc average and 17 rushing TD, 21 total TD) and C.J. Anderson, who has been stellar after being signed when Gurley missed the final two games of the regular season with injuries.
Wide receivers Robert Woods (86 receptions, 1,219 yards, six TD) and Brandin Cooks (80, 1,204 and five TD) are dual threats in the Rams passing attack.
The Saints have quarterback Drew Brees and all he did was shatter his own NFL record for completion percentage (74.4 percent) this past season while throwing 32 TD passes and only five picks.

Goff and Brees tangle again for a trip to the Super Bowl

Running back Alvin Kamara does it all for New Orleans (881 rushing yards along with 81 receptions for 701 yards and scored 18 touchdowns) while Mark Ingram ran for 645 yards (4.7 ypc average) and scored seven touchdowns. Wide receiver Michael Thomas caught 125 passes for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns this season and had a big game in the Saints win over the Rams in November.
Defensively, both teams get after opposing quarterbacks. The Rams had 41 sacks with All-Pro defensive end Aaron Donald leading the league with 20 1/2 sacks. New Orleans registered 49 takedowns as Cameron Jordan had twelve to lead the team.
The Rams had 18 interceptions and the Saints picked off 12 passes. The Saints allowed just 80 yards rushing per game while the Rams offense rushed for 139 yards per game, so something has to give. Meanwhile, the Rams give up 122 yards rushing per game while the Saints gain 127 yards per game on the ground.
Turnovers will be a key to the game and both teams protect the ball fairly well. The Rams (12 INT, eight fumbles lost) had 20 turnovers while the Saints turned it over 16 times (seven INT and nine lost fumbles) during the regular season.
This game should be another close one and the Saints have one of the best home field advantages in pro football. If the Rams can keep Brees under pressure and run the football effectively like they did against Dallas last week (273 rushing yards) they can win this game. However, Brees and the Saints can smell another Super Bowl and it's not likely they will lose at home.


                           PREDICTION -  New Orleans 31, Los Angeles Rams 24