New Orleans To Host Los Angeles With Trip To Super Bowl LIII At Stake
On Sunday New Orleans who is a member of the NFC South will host the Los Angeles Rams who are a member of the NFC West with a trip to Super Bowl LIII on the line.
New Orleans and Los Angeles both come into the NFC Championship with a record of 13-3.
As for New Orleans previous game, they defeated the defending super bowl champions in the Divisional Round to get to this point.
After spotting the Philadelphia Eagles a two-touchdown lead, the New Orleans Saints reeled off 20 consecutive points to win 20-14 Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and advance to the NFC championship game vs. the Los Angeles Rams. “according to https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/game-recap-new-orleans-saints-20-philadelphia-eagles-14
The Saints (14-3) will play host to the Rams (14-3) Sunday, Jan. 20. It will be the Saints' first appearance in the NFC championship game since 2010 and the third time in franchise history. “according to https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/game-recap-new-orleans-saints-20-philadelphia-eagles-14
The comeback was sparked by a successful fake punt by Taysom Hill, an incredible performance by receiver Michael Thomas and a smothering effort by the defense. The game turned on an 11-play, 92-yard drive that ate up 11 minutes, 29 seconds in the third quarter. It was the longest playoff drive since 2007. New Orleans overcame two holding penalties and a false start. “according to https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/game-recap-new-orleans-saints-20-philadelphia-eagles-14
The Saints scored on a 2-yard pass from quarterback Drew Brees to Thomas, who had 12 catches for 171 yards. The Saints added a 39-yard Wil Lutz field goal but a missed attempt from 52 yards with 2:58 gave the Eagles (9-8) a last chance at victory. But cornerback Marshomn Lattimore intercepted Nick Foles for the second time to ice the game. “according to https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/game-recap-new-orleans-saints-20-philadelphia-eagles-14
After starting the game 8 of 9 for 113 yards with a touchdown pass and a 1-yard TD run, Foles finished 18 of 31 for 201 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions as the Saints defense smothered the Philadelphia offense. Brees did the reverse, as he recovered from a 2 of 6 for 30 yards start in the first quarter to finish 28 of 38 for 301 yards and two touchdowns (first was 2-yard pass to Keith Kirkwood in second quarter). “according to https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/game-recap-new-orleans-saints-20-philadelphia-eagles-14
The Saints dominated time of possession, 37:50 to 22:10 and had 25 first downs to the Eagles' 15 and outgained them 420 yards to 250. New Orleans won in spite of 11 penalties for 84 yards. “according to https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/game-recap-new-orleans-saints-20-philadelphia-eagles-14
This will be the second time the Saints will play the Rams this season as they defeated the NFC West champs 45-35 on Nov. 4 at the Superdome. The Rams advanced with a 30-22 divisional win over the Dallas Cowboys. “according to https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/game-recap-new-orleans-saints-20-philadelphia-eagles-14
The Saints lost star defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins to a lower left leg injury but otherwise came out of the game relatively healthy. “according to https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/game-recap-new-orleans-saints-20-philadelphia-eagles-14
Like New Orleans, The Los Angeles Rams defeated an opponent in the Divisional Round as they beat Dallas.
Heading into Saturday’s Divisional round matchup between the Rams and Cowboys, one of the main storylines was how would Los Angeles’ run defense hold up against Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
The Rams flipped that notion on its head Saturday night, using a punishing ground attack to control the ball and the clock en route to a 20-7 victory over the Cowboys. With the win, the Rams will play next weekend for the opportunity to play in Super Bowl LIII. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
In the first half alone, the Rams won time of possession 20:12 to 9:48 — illustrating just how well the offense was humming with the two-headed monster of Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
Los Angeles did not punt at all in the first half, with the offense scoring on its first four drives. Starting with the ball, L.A. got into the red zone, but had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein to take an early 3-0 lead. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
The Cowboys answered with a touchdown of their own — with the help of a Rams self-inflicted wound. After running back Ezekiel Elliott converted a 4th-and-1 with a five-yard carry, cornerback Marcus Peters was flagged for unnecessary roughness, giving Dallas 15 yards for free. On the next play, quarterback Dak Prescott hit wide receiver Amari Cooper over the middle for a 29-yard touchdown, giving Dallas a 7-3 lead. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
The Rams cut into that with another Zuerlein field goal from inside the red zone — this one after L.A. could not get into the end zone on 3rd-and-goal from the five. The 16-play drive, however, did take 7:23 off the clock, likely wearing down the Dallas defense. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
After the Los Angeles defense forced a punt, the offense went right to work and this time finished a red-zone possession with a trip to the end zone. Quarterback Jared Goff completed three consecutive passes to wideout Brandin Cooks, wideout Robert Woods, and tight end Tyler Higbee to move L.A. deep into Dallas territory. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
From there, it was all about the run. Anderson took a 14-yard run up the middle, getting down to the one-yard line. Going no huddle, L.A. let Anderson finish it off, giving him a carry on the next play that he took into the end zone for a touchdown. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
With a 13-7 lead, the Rams defense forced a three-and-out, getting the offense the ball back at the home team’s 36. Anderson started off the possession with a pair of runs for six and seven yards, respectively. And while the offense had 3rd-and-14, Dallas bailed the unit out with an illegal hands to the face penalty, setting L.A. up with a first down at midfield. Goff then completed a 15-yard pass to Cooks before Gurley burst through the middle for a 35-yard touchdown run, putting Los Angeles up 20-7. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
That score held through halftime — though Zuerlein did attempt a 63-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter. The kick had the distance, but ended up wide right. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
In the second half, Los Angeles’ defense started things off with a three-and-out, getting the offense the ball back within a minute of the of the third quarter beginning. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
In the second half, Los Angeles’ defense started things off with a three-and-out, getting the offense the ball back within a minute of the of the third quarter beginning. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
The Rams’ offense was able to get into Dallas territory once again, with a 21-yard reception by Cooks and a 18-yard run by Gurley the key plays on the possession. Zuerlein nailed a 44-yard field goal to give Los Angeles a 23-7 lead. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
While the Rams had been in control for much of the game to that point, the Cowboys were able to get back on the board on their next possession. Dallas converted another 4th-and-1 opportunity with a run from Elliott. And while a hold induced by Aaron Donald put the Cowboys in 1st-and-20, Prescott was able to evade pressure in the backfield to hit wide receiver Michael Gallup with a 44-yard pass to set the Cowboys up with 1st-and-goal at the L.A. two. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
Elliott was able to get the visitors in the end zone a couple plays later. And then Prescott hit Cooper in the end zone for a two-point conversion, cutting Los Angeles’ lead to 23-15. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
After the Rams had to punt for the first time all game, Dallas had an opportunity to put points on the board in L.A. territory. But Los Angeles’ defense stuffed Elliott on 4th-and-1 at the home team’s 35 to get a turnover on downs at the start of the fourth quarter. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
Anderson once again powered the Rams down into the red zone, though Cooks also ran a critical jet sweep five yards on 3rd-and-2 deep in Dallas territory. Goff tried to QB sneak it into the end zone on 3rd-and-goal from the Cowboys’ one, but was stopped short. But it was no matter, as Anderson took in a fourth-down carry for his second touchdown of the game. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
With Anderson’s yards on that drive, the Rams had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the postseason for the first time in franchise history.”according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
While Dallas quickly entered L.A. territory and kept their drive alive with a two-yard Prescott run on 4th-and-1, the visitors drive took a lot of time off the clock. But they were able to get another fourth-down conversion with a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone by Aqib Talib. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
Two plays later, Prescott was able to run it into the end zone on a sprint-option. With the extra point, the Rams led 30-22 with 2:11 left in the contest. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
The Cowboys elected to kick it deep, setting the Rams up at their own 25-yard line after a touchback. Dallas had all three timeouts, and used one after a short Gurley run. Anderson then carried for two yards, setting up 3rd-and-7 at the two-minute warning. That’s when Goff faked left, rolled to his right, and then ran it for 11 yards for a key first down at the L.A. 39. Plus the QB stayed in bounds, inducing Dallas to take its second timeout.”according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
Anderson took the next carry for five yards, forcing the Cowboys to use their final timeout. Anderson then took another carry six yards, getting a first down to put the game away. “according to https://www.therams.com/news/game-recap-rams-defeat-cowboys-advance-to-nfc-championship-game
Kick-off is set for 3:05pm from Mercedes -Benz Superdome. The game will be televised on Fox.