Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints: Five Saints to watch

The Los Angeles Rams head down to the bayou to face the New Orleans Saints. In a battle of the two best teams in the NFC, both teams flex explosive offenses with improving defenses. As the Rams come into town, the last time the Rams went to the Superdome, QB Jared Goff had a strong first half in his rookie season. What a difference a couple of seasons and a new head coach has made for the Rams.

The following are some Saints players who will have a big impact on Sunday’s contest.

QB Drew Brees

For the Saints, Drew Brees is the face of the franchise. Breaking Peyton Manning’s career yards record earlier this season, Brees continues to show why he is quietly one of the best to ever do it with a 77.4% (not a mistake) completion percentage while boasting a 14-1 TD to INT ratio. Brees is pinpoint accurate and will definitely be a point of emphasis for the Rams defense who look to slow him down just enough like the defense did last week with Aaron Rodgers.

CB Marshon Lattimore

The AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last season and Pro Bowler has not enjoyed similar success this season. After helping revitalize the Saints defense last season with five interceptions, halfway through the 2018 season, Lattimore has failed to intercept a pass while seeing his PFF grade slip to 66.6 (45th cornerback). Lattimore will get his chance against Rams WR Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, and hopefully Cooper Kupp.

WR Michael Thomas

The stud wide receiver for the Saints, Michael Thomas continues to impress with 58 receptions and 669 yards entering the contest. Thomas is Brees’s favorite target out wide with 64 targets for the season (he catches everything!). Thomas will look to go against Rams CB Marcus Peters and Troy Hill. It could be a key matchup to watch that may ultimately determine the victor.

DL Cameron Jordan

With fellow pass rusher Marcus Davenport out (four sacks so far this year), Jordan will continue to serve as the best pass rusher for the Saints. For the season Jordan has five sacks and will look to help slow down RB Todd Gurley and QB Jared Goff along with the rest of the Rams offense.

RB Alvin Kamara

Kamara burst onto the scene last year as an explosive weapon for the Saints. While some projected a sophomore slump, Kamara has only continued to excel in both the run and pass game. For the season, Kamara has 408 rushing yards (seven touchdowns) and 393 receiving yards (two more touchdowns). Although Mark Ingram II coming back may reduce some carries for Kamara, Kamara remains to be an explosive option and trustworthy safety net for the Saints offense (has 61 targets this seasons already).