LOS ANGELES _ The Los Angeles Rams gave up an early touchdown run and late touchdown pass. They did not force a turnover. And after sacking the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees twice on the first series, they could not unnerve the future hall of famer the rest of the game.
But the Rams defense still proved stout on Sunday, neutralizing the NFL's most productive offense en route to a 26-20 victory before an estimated crowd of 60,000 at the Coliseum.
Rams quarterback Jared Goff passed for two touchdowns and Greg Zuerlein kicked four field goals as the Rams ended the Saints' eight-game winning streak and improved to 8-3.
The Rams bounced back from last week's defeat at Minnesota to reassert themselves as a playoff contender.
They travel to Arizona next week and then return home to play another NFC division leader in the Philadelphia Eagles.
They then play consecutive road games at Seattle and Tennessee before finishing the season at home against the San Francisco 49ers.
Goff completed 28 of 43 passes for 354 yards, with one interception, his first since Week 7 against Arizona in London.
With leading receiver Robert Woods sidelined because of a shoulder injury, Sammy Watkins stepped up and caught four passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Rookie receiver Josh Reynolds caught his first touchdown pass and finished with four catches for 37 yards.
Cooper Kupp had a team-best eight catches for 116 yards.
The Saints came into the game leading the league in total offense, averaging 415.7 yards per game. They were second in passing and third in rushing and scoring, averaging 30.2 points a game.
The Rams limited the Saints to 346 yards.
Brees completed 22 of 32 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown.
Saints rookie Alvin Kamara rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown, and had 101 yards receiving and a touchdown.
The Rams won despite committing nine penalties for 90 yards.
Goff's touchdown passes and Zuerlein's 50-yard field goal gave the Rams a 17-10 halftime lead.
Zuerlein extended the lead with a 46-yard field goal late in the third quarter and a 49-yarder early in the fourth.
The Saints answered by driving to the Rams' five-yard line. A penalty nullified a short touchdown pass, and Rams cornerback Kayvon Webster broke up a pass on third down, forcing the Saints to settle for a field goal.
The Rams gave the Saints another chance when Watkins tipped a Goff pass into the hands of cornerback P.J. Williams with 8:31 left in the game.
But they broke up two passes and stopped Mark Ingram short of first down after a reception to get the ball back.
Zuerlein's final field goal with 2:27 left appeared to seal the victory.
But Brees connected with Kamara for a 15-yard touchdown with 1:45 left.
Watkins recovered an onside kick, and the Rams ran out the clock.
Just as they did the week before against the Vikings, the Rams got off to a fast start.
Goff connected with Watkins on a slant route for a 24-yard gain, with running back Todd Gurley for 11 yards and with tight end Gerald Everett for nine to get to the 19-yard line.
Watkins finished the drive by running another slant route and catching a five-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.
A Rams defense that was unable to sack Vikings quarterback Case Keenum got to Brees twice in the Saints' first possession. Aaron Donald got to him first, and Robert Quinn also added a sack.
The Rams appeared on their way to another touchdown when the Saints were penalized for defensive holding on a fourth-down pass. But linebacker Craig Robertson sacked Goff. The Rams settled for Zuerlein's field goal and a 10-0 lead.
The Saints wasted no time answering.
Kamara took a handoff, burst off right tackle and dashed down the sideline in front of the Rams' bench for a 74-yard touchdown.
Midway through the second quarter, Goff connected with rookie receiver Kupp for a 53-yard gain that gave the Rams a first-and-goal at the seven.
Two plays later, Goff dropped back, patiently waited for receivers to come open, pointed at Josh Reynolds, and then fired a pass that Reynolds hauled in for a touchdown and a 17-7 lead.
Wil Lutz kicked a 50-yard field goal with just under a minute left to pull the Saints to within seven points.
The Rams had a chance to increase the lead when Goff and Watkins hooked up for a 31-yard gain. But Cameron Jordan sacked Goff, pushing the Rams out of field-goal range.
Zuerlein's attempt from 63 yards was well short.
