Saints (7-7) at Rams (7-7)

Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood

TV: Prime Video

Spread (BetMGM):

Rams by 4

Saints’ keys to victory: The Saints ran the ball effectively against the Giants in Week 15 and will need to do so again in order to beat the Rams. Whether that’s primarily with RB Alvin Kamara or a mixture of him and RB Jamaal Williams, running the ball, burning the clock and keeping it out of QB Matthew Stafford’s hands is a great way to limit Los Angeles’ offense. Stafford can be susceptible to costly turnovers, especially under pressure, so the Saints pass rush has to be effective against a Rams offensive line that’s weakest at left tackle.

Rams’ keys to victory: RB Kyren Williams has been LA’s most valuable offensive player outside of Stafford all season, and there’s no reason to stop feeding him. New Orleans’ run defense ranks in the bottom half of the league in yards per carry allowed, which makes this a great opportunity for Williams to have another big game. Defensively, getting Kamara on the ground after the catch and on rushing plays is critical.

Matchup to watch: Saints CB Alontae Taylor vs. Rams WR Cooper Kupp. Kupp looks healthier every week, and he’s now had back-to-back strong performances as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. This is a mismatch that favors the Rams, and one Stafford will likely take advantage of.

Who wins? The Saints are not as good as their 24-6 win over the Giants suggests, and the Rams are better than their record indicates. Los Angeles will be better prepared as the home team on a short week, and the offense will be too much for the Saints.

Rams, 24-17