Rams, Saints nonetheless seeking to make playoff push

NFL: Cleveland Browns at New Orleans SaintsNov 17, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts after tight finish Taysom Hill (not pictured) scores a landing towards the Cleveland Browns through the second half at Caesars Superdome. Obligatory Credit score: Stephen Lew-Imagn Photographs

The New Orleans Saints are taking part in higher.

The Los Angeles Rams are inconsistent.

Each groups face an uphill climb to get into the playoffs and have little margin for error left as they put together to satisfy Sunday afternoon in New Orleans.

The Saints (4-7) have gained each video games they’ve performed since interim head coach Darren Rizzi was promoted from particular groups coordinator to exchange Dennis Allen, who was fired Nov. 4 after a seven-game shedding streak.

New Orleans comes out of its bye sitting in third place within the NFC South, two video games behind the Atlanta Falcons and one recreation behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“The one factor that I’ve been most pleased with is the blokes have achieved an outstanding job of protecting their give attention to that exact recreation,” Rizzi stated. “It is easy to get caught up in all of the stuff that is been happening with all of the modifications.

“The most important factor is protecting the give attention to the week and never getting caught up within the big-picture stuff. If we hold the give attention to the following opponent, that different stuff will maintain itself.”

This would be the third straight residence recreation for Rizzi as interim head coach. The Saints beat the Falcons 20-17 in his debut and adopted that with a 35-14 victory over Cleveland through which they outscored the Browns 21-0 within the fourth quarter.

A sequence of great accidents contributed to the shedding streak, however New Orleans has gotten progressively more healthy in latest weeks.

Quarterback Derek Carr improved in every of the final three contests after coming back from a three-game absence attributable to an indirect pressure. The return of middle Erik McCoy from groin surgical procedure after a seven-game absence was a lift towards the Browns, although he sat out a part of the second half because of soreness and missed observe on Wednesday. Guard Lucas Patrick (calf) additionally sat out observe.

New Orleans tight finish Foster Moreau (shoulder) and operating again Jamaal Williams (groin) had been restricted in observe on Wednesday.

The Saints’ signing of veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Oct. 22 with prime receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed injured has given Carr a much-needed big-play risk. Previously two video games, Valdes-Scantling has three landing receptions and has averaged 39.2 yards on 5 catches.

The Rams are coming off a 37-20 residence loss towards the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night time, their second defeat in three video games after a three-game successful streak. They’re tied with the San Francisco 49ers for final place within the NFC West, however they’re only one recreation behind the first-place Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals and have one recreation remaining towards every of the three rivals.

“It is nonetheless vast open,” Los Angeles security Kamren Curl stated. “We’re all nonetheless stacked on one another. We play all people once more, so I really feel like when it comes to the division race, we have nonetheless acquired our destiny in our arms.”

Rams coach Sean McVay known as the loss to the Eagles “a humbling night time” after his workforce struggled on each side of the ball. The protection allowed Saquon Barkley to hurry for a career-high and franchise-record 255 yards in addition to two touchdowns, and Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked 5 occasions.

Rams vast receiver Demarcus Robinson, who had a landing catch towards the Eagles, was arrested on suspicion of DUI early Monday morning, however McVay stated Wednesday that Robinson can be accessible Sunday.

Los Angeles left deal with Alaric Jackson (foot) missed observe Wednesday, however proper deal with Rob Havenstein (ankle), who missed the previous three video games, practiced totally. Tight finish Tyler Higbee (knee) and cornerback Charles Woods (ankle) had been restricted in observe.

–Area Degree Media

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *