SAINTS 27, RAMS 20

NEW ORLEANS — Andy Dalton passed for three touchdowns, Mathew Stafford left the field to be evaluated for a concussion in the second half and New Orleans defeated reeling Los Angeles.

Stafford’s departure from the game came two days after he’d been cleared to return from the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Stafford was effective in the first half, after which the Rams led 14-10, and he left the game having completed 11 of 18 passes for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 62-yarder to Tutu Atwell.

He appeared to hit his head on the Superdome turf during a third-quarter possession and was subsequently sacked by blitzing linebacker Demario Davis and defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon to end the last drive he played before walking down the tunnel toward the locker room.

He was replaced by Bryce Perkins, who led the Rams to a field goal on his first series, but struggled thereafter.

The defending champion Rams (3-7), who’ve now lost four in a row, didn’t pull within a touchdown until Matt Gay’s 58-yard field goal with 6 seconds remaining and the Saints recovered a subsequent onside kick.

Dalton’s performance validated a decision by the Saints (4-7) to stick with him after the club’s worst offensive performances of the season during a two-game skid that spanned Weeks 9 and 10.