Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints second half live thread

The Los Angeles Rams lead the New Orleans Saints by a score of 6-3 at the half in Week 2.

The Rams got off to a great start after S Eric Weddle took Saints TE Jared Cook’s soul on the game’s opening drive. As a result, S John Johnson III, per usual, took the football from the Saints. Despite a beautiful 57-yard dime from QB Jared Goff to WR Brandin Cooks, they were unable to convert from close to the goal line, instead settling for a field goal. Not a horrible start, however.

The Saints got bad news early in the game, after it was announced that Saints QB Drew Brees was questionable for return with a thumb injury (courtesy of DT Aaron Donald). Backup QB Teddy Bridgewater took over following their first series, and Brees has yet to return.

Unfortunately, Donald also hit the locker room early in the second quarter and was ruled questionable with a back injury. He did return midway through the second quarter.

With 7 minutes to play in the second quarter the Rams scored on a 20-yard screen to WR Robert Woods, but the play was called back for an illegal block in the back on OL Joseph Noteboom.

Goff held the ball for about 9 minutes late in the 4th quarter - with about 6 minutes remaining - and it was stripped. Luckily for the Rams, the refs blew the play dead (negating a touchdown return by Saints EDGE Cameron Jordan), and the Saints tooks over on their own 13. The Rams once again left points off the board.

The Rams’ defense came up huge on 4th and short with 2:39 left to play in the half, stuffing Saints RB Alvin Kamara near the midfield line. They were able to put together a drive, and despite getting inside the 5-yard line, were once again unable to punch it in from short.

So it’s 6-3 at halftime, just like we all expected.

Scoring Recap

• Rams get on the board first with a Greg Zuerlein 24-yard field goal. John Johnson III picked off Drew Brees on the Saints’ opening drive, but the Rams failed to punch it in from from the New Orleans 3-yard line.
• Saints’ kicker Will Lutz ties the game (3-3) with 11:06 remaining in the second quarter.
• The Rams once against stall offensively and settle for a 23-yard field goal (Zuerlein) with 0:03 remaining the first half.

Stay tuned. We’ve got ourselves a game here.