When Drew
Brees went to the sideline holding his injured throwing hand, this NFC
championship game rematch and maybe this seasonSuper Bowl race dramatically
changed in an instant.Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams didnt waste the
opportunity created by Brees absence to beat the Saints again. And with no help
from a no-call this time.Goff passed for 283 yards and a touchdown and rushed
for another score, and the Rams stopped New Orleans from scoring an offensive
touchdown for the first time since 2016 during Los Angeles 27-9 victory Sunday
Maurice
Harris Jersey.Article continues below ...A strong performance by the Rams
defense, an impressive second half from Goffoffense, and another officiating
decision that hurt the Saints were all overshadowed by Brees departure late in
the first quarter.I told him Im hoping for the best, Goff said of his postgame
chat with Brees. Hea great player for this league, a face of the league, and
somebody we need in the league.Brees throwing hand collided with Aaron
Donaldoutstretched hand while he threw an incompletion on the Saints second
drive, and the NFLcareer leader in yards passing spent the afternoon on the
Coliseum sideline with his thumb heavily wrapped. Brees will see a hand
specialist Sunday night, he said.There is only so much you can do here as far as
a doctor seeing it on the sideline, Brees said. Hoping it is not too
significant.Teddy Bridgewater went 17 of 30 for 165 yards in solid relief, while
Alvin Kamara rushed for just 45 yards for the Saints , who seemed understandably
discombobulated without their longtime quarterback although the Rams defense
deserves plenty of credit as well.Brees absence really didnt change anything at
all for us, Rams pass rusher Dante Fowler said
James Hurst
Jersey. We were doing a good job before he got hurt. Everybody was on top of
their game.New Orleans didnt score an offensive touchdown for only the fourth
time in 13-plus seasons under coach Sean Payton
Tony Jones
Jr. Jersey, who got a lengthy contract extension before the game.It is going
to be a hard film to watch for guys, Payton said. We got whipped up front.Todd
Gurley rushed for 63 yards and scored his first touchdown of the season late in
the third quarter of this rematch of the Rams 26-23 overtime win in New Orleans
last January. That game turned on the infamous uncalled pass interference late
in regulation by Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, who had six tackles in
the rematch.Every win is a big win, but today was a very important win,
Robey-Coleman said. It was a win that basically just closed all the chatter and
the naysaying.This one also contained early refereeing drama that left the
Saints steamed New Orleans Cameron Jordan had a long fumble return for a
touchdown wiped out in the second quarter. The play initially was ruled an
incomplete pass before video review determined Goff had fumbled, but Jordanlong
return didnt count because officials had blown the play dead.Jordan was still
furious after the game, even referring to the refs as the Foot Locker and saying
certain members of the officiating crew were maybe in their prime a decade
ago.If Drew is down, iton the defense, Jordan added. I take it upon me. I dont
know how many times we hit Jared Goff, but it wasnt enough. Weve got to create
more turnovers.The Saints were hampered by 11 penalties for 87 yards, while the
Rams offense recovered from a slow start to make three straight touchdown drives
in the second half.But this matchup between two of the most prolific offenses in
NFL history was definitely not a fireworks show, between Brees absence and the
inconsistent performance of Los Angeles coach Sean McVayoffense. The Rams failed
to score a touchdown in the first half for only the third time in
McVaytenure.KUPP RUNNETH OVER EVERYBODYShortly after Brandin Cooks caught a TD
pass
Thomas
Morstead Jersey, Cooper Kupp made the play of the game with a spectacular
67-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter. Goff scored after Kupp was ruled
down at the 1 by video review.It was like something you only see in a football
movie, Cooks said with a laugh.Kupp finished with five catches for 120 yards,
while Goff surpassed 10,000 career yards passing.INJURIESBoth teams had far too
many. Along with Brees, the Saints lost left guard Andrus Peat to an ankle
injury in the second half. Linebacker A.J. Klein also went to the locker room in
the second half
Malcolm
Jenkins Jersey. Backup receiver Keith Kirkwood was ruled out with a
hamstring injury in pregame warmups.The Rams lost two offensive starters right
guard Austin Blythe injured his ankle in the first half, and tight end Tyler
Higbee incurred a chest injury early in the second half.Donald missed part of
the first half with a back injury, but the two-time Defensive Player of the Year
returned.LAST SHOWThe game was the Rams final home opener at the 96-year-old
Coliseum Theyll move into SoFi Stadium in Inglewood next season. The Rams and
Chargers unveiled the name of their multibillion-dollar complex before the
game.