NEW ORLEANS _ The Los Angeles Rams had a clear goal as they spent the offseason adding stars to a team that made the playoffs in 2017 and had young quarterback Jared Goff under salary control.
They wanted to reach the Super Bowl.
Coach Sean McVay and his team were one step away Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
And they came through, Greg Zuerlein kicking a 57-yard field goal in overtime to give the Rams a 26-23 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship game.
The Rams advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2001 season.
On Feb. 3 at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, they will play the winner of Sunday's AFC championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots.
In a deafening environment, the Rams overcame an early 13-0 deficit to tie the score, 20-20, on a Zuerlein field goal with about five minutes left. They did it again to tie the score with another Zuerlein field goal with 15 seconds remaining, sending the game to overtime.
And safety John Johnson's interception set up Zuerlein's game winner, silencing the crowd and starting the Rams' celebration.
Goff completed 25 of 40 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.
C.J. Anderson ran for 44 yards in 16 carries on a day that Todd Gurley rushed for only four yards in 10 carries.
Brees completed 26 of 40 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception.
The Rams lost to the Saints, 45-35, on Nov. 4, but after coming back from a 21-point deficit, they felt they could win a rematch.
The Saints built a 13-0 first quarter lead before the Rams came back to pull to within three points on a Zuerlein field goal and a short touchdown run by Gurley.
The Rams went three and out to start the second half, and Brees and running backs Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram took turns making plays as the Saints drove to the Rams' two-yard line. A pass by Brees and a pass by Taysom Hill fell incomplete before Brees passed to Hill for a touchdown and a 20-10 lead.
Goff answered with a 75-yard drive that included several passes to Brandin Cooks, Josh Reynolds' 16-yard gain on a reverse, and Goff's short touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee.
The Rams had the ball early in the fourth quarter but could not take advantage. They got it back with 10:55 left and came through, tight end Gerald Everett and receiver Josh Reynolds making catches that moved the ball to the seven-yard line. But the Rams were forced to settle for Zuerlein's game-tying field goal with about five minutes left.
Brees' 43-yard pass to receiver Ted Ginn set up Wil Lutz's 31-yard field goal with 1:41 left. But Goff answered and Zuerlein forced overtime with a 48-yard field goal.
The Saints won the toss in overtime, but Rams linebacker Dante Fowler hit Brees as he was throwing a second down pass, and Johnson intercepted a fluttering pass as he fell on his back. Five plays later Zuerlein won the game with his fourth field goal.
The Rams fell behind 13-0 in the first quarter but pulled to within three points by halftime on a field goal by Zuerlein and short touchdown run by Gurley.
The Rams got pressure on Brees on the first play, forcing him to throw away a pass but he got going immediately after.
Brees completed passes to Ted Ginn, Kamara and Thomas as the Saints moved to the Rams' 19-yard line. But tight end Dan Arnold dropped a pass in the back of the end zone, forcing the Saints to settle for a field goal and a 3-0 lead.
The Rams put themselves in a hole by committing an illegal-block penalty of the kickoff return. With the crowd roaring, linebacker Demario Davis dropped Gurley for a four-yard loss. On the next play, Goff's third-down pass tipped off Gurley's hands and into Davis' arms for an interception at the Rams' 16-yard line.
The Rams stopped the Saints again, forcing another field goal that gave the Saints a 6-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession, the Rams went three and out _ and this time the Saints made the Rams pay.
Brees found tight end Josh Hill for 24 yards, and also completed passes to Thomas and Kamara. The Rams stopped the Saints on a third-and-four at the Rams' 12-yard line, but Brees drew defensive lineman Michael Brockers offside with a snap count. On the next play, he rolled right and fired a touchdown pass to tight end Garrett Griffin for a 13-0 lead.
It appeared as if it would get worse for the Rams when they lined up to punt on the ensuing possession. But punter Johnny Hekker connected with Sam Shields for a first down, and the Rams' offense finally got moving.
Goff connected with tight ends Higbee and Gerald Everett, and Anderson carried the ball several times as the Rams moved to the Saints' 18. But on third down, Gurley could not hang on to a Goff pass, and Zuerlein kicked a field goal to cut the deficit to 13-3 with 9:49 left in the first half.
Two sacks by Ndamukong Suh helped force a punt that gave the Rams the ball with two minutes left.
Goff connected with Josh Reynolds twice and then connected with Cooks for passes of 17 and 36 yards, setting up Gurley's six-yard touchdown run that cut the margin to three points.
