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3 Saints who need to thrive for New Orleans to win in Week 13 vs. Rams

The New Orleans Saints are looking for a third-straight win, but they’ll need some big performances against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

By Jaleel Grandberry

Sep 8, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (1) reacts to sacking Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Sep 8, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (1) reacts to sacking Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) during the second half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
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The New Orleans Saints are coming off a Week 12 bye at 4-7, ready to put their two-game winning streak on the line. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi hasn’t lost yet, and the Saints will try to keep that from happening on Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Rams.

Of course, the Rams have other plans. Entering the game at 5-6, Los Angeles is in the thick of the NFC playoff race, and a tight NFC West race. The Rams are also coming off a Sunday Night Football loss, where they were dominated by the Philadelphia Eagles, so they’ll be motivated to get a win.

New Orleans will need a few specific players to really deliver in order to hand Los Angeles a second-straight loss.

Saints need Alontae Taylor to thrive against the Rams

Despite having six losses already, Los Angeles still has Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and Sean McVay. That means the passing game is dangerous, so New Orleans’ secondary needs to be on it’s best game. This especially applies to Alontae Taylor, who has struggled in recent weeks.

Taylor has bounced from the inside to outside, so he is doing a lot for the Saints. Still, in the last two weeks, he has been targeted 18 times, giving up 12 catches for 268 yards and two touchdowns. A performance like that against the Rams could result in a loss for New Orleans.

Alvin Kamara needs to thrive against Rams

Alvin Kamara always needs to thrive for the Saints, but that’s especially the case on Sunday, because Los Angeles is vulnerable against the run. The Rams are allowing 144.3 rushing yards per game, which is fifth-worst in the league.

In their most recent game against Philadelphia, Saquon Barkley went off for 255 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. The Eagles also had 17 additional runs for 61 yards. The Saints would be foolish to not try to replicate that.

Saints need Taliese Fuaga to thrive in Week 13

The New Orleans Saints have a promising rookie in Taliese Fuaga, but so do the Rams with Jared Verse. The rookie defender was drafted a few spots after Fuaga with the 19th-overall pick, and he has already been making his name known. On the season, Verse has 49 tackles, 11 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles.

It should be a phenomenal matchup between the two rookies, but the Saints need Fuaga to win, because a dominant day from an edge defender could single-handily decide the game.

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