The New Orleans Saints are playing better.
The Los Angeles Rams are inconsistent.
Both teams face an uphill battle to get into the playoffs and have little margin for error as they prepare to meet Sunday afternoon in New Orleans.
The Saints (4-7) have won both games since interim coach Darren Rizzi was promoted to special teams coordinator to replace Dennis Allen, who was fired Nov. 4 after a seven-game losing streak.
New Orleans is sitting in third place in the NFC South, two games behind the Atlanta Falcons and one game behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“The thing I’m most proud of is that the boys did a great job focusing on this game,” said Rizzi. “It’s easy to get caught up in all the things that have been going on and all the changes.
“The biggest thing is to keep the focus on the week and not get caught up in the big picture stuff. If we end up focusing on the next opponent, those other things will take care of themselves.”
This will be Rizzi’s third consecutive home game as interim coach. The Saints beat the Falcons 20-17 in his first game and followed that up with a 35-14 victory over Cleveland where they outscored the Browns 21-0 in the fourth quarter.
A series of notable injuries contributed to the loss, but New Orleans has been steadily getting healthier in recent weeks.
Quarterback Derek Carr has improved in each of the last three contests after returning from a three-game absence from an oblique strain. Erik McCoy’s return from groin surgery after sitting out seven games was a boost against the Browns, though he sat out part of the second half due to soreness and missed practice on Wednesday. Guard Lucas Patrick (calf) also sat and practiced.
New Orleans tight ends Foster Moreau (shoulder) and Jamaal Williams (groin) were limited to practice Wednesday.
The Saints signed veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on Oct. 22 with top receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed injured gave Carr a much-needed big play threat. In the past two games, Valdes-Scantling has three touchdown receptions and is averaging 39.2 yards on five catches.
The Rams are coming off a 37-20 home loss against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night, their second loss in three games after a three-game winning streak. They are tied with the San Francisco 49ers for last place in the NFC West, but are one game behind the first-place Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals and have one game remaining against one of their three opponents.
“It’s still wide open,” said Kamren Curl of Los Angeles security. “We’re all still tied to each other. We’re playing everybody again, so I feel like in terms of the divisional race, our fate is in our own hands.”
Rams coach Sean McVay called the loss to the Eagles a “humbling night” after his team struggled on both sides of the ball. The defense allowed Saquon Barkley to rush for a career-high and franchise-record 255 yards and two touchdowns, while Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked five times.
Rams receiver Demarcus Robinson, who caught a touchdown against the Eagles, was arrested on suspicion of DUI early Monday, but McVay said Wednesday that Robinson would be available Sunday.
Los Angeles left tackle Alaric Jackson (foot) missed practice Wednesday, but Rob Havenstein (ankle), who missed the last three games, practiced in full. Tight end Tyler Higbee (knee) and cornerback Charles Woods (ankle) were limited in practice.
–Field Level Media
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