There might not be a matchup between two teams with more star talent than Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams. Ranging from head coaches Sean Payton and Sean McVay (and Rams defensive shot-caller Wade Phillips) to quarterbacks Drew Brees and Jared Goff, and defensive superstars Cameron Jordan and Aaron Donald, each team is stacked with talent.
Some of those big-name players will line up against one another, creating battles worthy of the highlight reel. Other pairings won’t feature the most-hyped players, but they’re still critically important. Here are six opportunities for each team to make a difference.
Saints CB P.J. Williams vs. Rams WR Cooper Kupp
Kupp has been lethal in his two games against the Saints; last year in the regular season, he caught 5 of the 6 passes sent his way to gain 89 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown lob. In his first game against the Saints, he went off for 8 catches on 11 targets, gaining 116 yards. An ACL tear kept him out of the NFC championship game, and the Rams offense sorely missed his presence.
As a slot receiver, he’ll be lined up often against Williams, rather than top corners Marshon Lattimore and Eli Apple. Williams was the best option out of a rough group of slot specialists the Saints had on hand this year, and he was a sieve against the Houston Texans in Week 1. Williams is a strong downhill tackler but makes too many mistakes in coverage, both by misplaying his own assignments and botching communicated adjustments to teammates. He has to play at a high level for the Saints to escape from L.A. with a win.
Saints RT Ryan Ramczyk vs. Rams DE Dante Fowler
Ramczyk put himself on the league’s radar with a terrific Week 1 game against Texans cornerstone J.J. Watt. He combined meticulous note-taking from film study with his physical gifts to shut down the Hall of Fame-bound pass rusher, giving Watt his first game without a quarterback sack, hit, or even a tackle in 105 career appearances.
Fowler was having his own impressive debut, sacking Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton twice and hitting him three other times. But he did that damage from the right end spot, rushing against the Panthers’ left tackle. In his first game against the Saints, Fowler was lined up at left end against Ramczyk, and it’s likely that they’ll go with that strategy after he had success the first time around in the NFC title game.
Saints DE Cameron Jordan vs. Rams LT Andrew Whitworth
The Saints have seen the Rams frequently in recent years, and they’ve often made an unusual choice to send Jordan, their best pass rusher, against Whitworth, L.A.’s best offensive lineman. It’s unusual in the sense that Jordan almost always rushes from the left end spot, giving an uncommon look against Whitworth from the other side. But it’s worked out, and they’ll probably go with that strategy again on Sunday.
And it’s getting to a point where Jordan may have the better of Whitworth, thanks as much to their comparable skills sets as the natural decline Whitworth is experiencing as an aging, 37-year old left tackle. Whitworth also has to account for an inexperienced left guard in his second career start, which could give Jordan and the Saints an edge in some creative stunts and blitz designs.
Saints C Erik McCoy vs. Rams DT Aaron Donald
McCoy held up well in his first day on the job against Houston. He didn’t have any hiccups in snapping the ball to Drew Brees, communicated well with guards Larry Warford and Andrus Peat, and pulled off some impressive blocks in space. But the change in degree of difficulty from the Texans’ interior line to Aaron Donald — the reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year — can’t be understated.
The Saints were able to mitigate Donald’s impact in two meetings last year, but he abused since-retired center Max Unger in the NFC championship game. Unger gave the Saints several years of high-level play, but injuries limited his abilities near the end of the year, and he was a clear liability against Donald at the end of it. On paper, McCoy might be an upgrade over Unger. He’ll have the toughest job in the NFL on Sunday when Donald lines up against him.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara vs. Rams LB Cory Littleton
Expect the Rams defensive coaches to make containing Kamara a team effort. You can also expect Kamara to have some success against them, anyway. Last week, he and Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (who played against this same Rams defense) were the only two players in the NFL with 90-plus rushing yards and 70-plus receiving yards, exposing multiple areas of weakness in L.A.’s defense.
Look for Littleton to run point in the Rams’ efforts at bottling up Kamara. He’s making the most of his time in a contract year, having started his year by leading the Rams in tackles (14) while making plays in pass defense (one interception, two breakups) and as a turnover machine (forcing one fumble, and recovering another). His dynamic style of play could match up well with Kamara’s own unique set of skills.
Saints TE Jared Cook vs. Rams S Eric Weddle
Cook was too much for the Rams to handle when he played them last year, catching 9 passes to gain 180 yards in the Oakland Raiders’ 2018 season-opener. Now, he’s with the Saints, and already making an impact. His presence demanded double-coverage by the Texans a week ago, creating scoring opportunities for teammates like Tre’Quan Smith. The Rams will have a tough decision to make in following that strategy or risking more big plays against him.
One key addition they’ve made is safety Eric Weddle, who is one of the NFL’s smartest and most-dynamic players. He appreciates the skills crafted by Cook and Saints quarterback Drew Brees over their decades of NFL experience. The Rams will need everything he’s got to keep Cook from gashing them again.
