Expectations were obviously high for the Saints to start with. But they have exceeded them so far by proving they can win with different styles during a brutal three-game stretch (come-from-behind slugfests at Baltimore and at Minnesota, then a 45-35 track meet at home against the Rams). It helps that Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas are putting together one of the best “triplets” seasons in NFL history. — Mike Triplett
NEW ORLEANS — When the time came to dial up a big play for Michael Thomas, the Saints’ leading receiver answered the call.
He even had a flip phone planted in the padding of each goal post, just in case.
Thomas caught a late 72-yard touchdown reception and then celebrated with a cellphone in a throwback to another famous New Orleans play, and the streaking Saints handed the Los Angeles Rams their first loss of the season with a 45-35 victory on Sunday.
“I loved the celebration myself, and I think it was the perfect time when I did it,” Thomas said. “We love our fans and we always want to bring them back great memories.”
Drew Brees passed for 346 yards and four touchdowns in New Orleans’ seventh straight win, and Thomas finished with a club-record 211 yards receiving. But what happened after the last of his 12 receptions stole the show in a wild shootout between two of the NFL’s best offenses.
Best thing about being half way into the season is you still have time to
go eat at Desi Vega’s and have a drink before the game, and a celebration
dinner after the game !!
Ben Watson and family had a happy announcement to make, but he had to wait for the right moment.
The deal was the next time the New Orleans Saints tight end scored a touchdown, he would celebrate by letting the world in on a secret the Watson family had been holding on to for a while.
So when Watson hauled in a touchdown in the second quarter of the Saints’ 45-35 win, he did what he always did, holding five fingers up in the air to represent his five kids. But he also added to it. He slid the football under his uniform, between his jersey and his abdomen, then held up two more fingers than usual.
The Watson family is expecting twins.
Ben Watson TD and baby announcement
New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson (82) tucks the ball inside his shirt after scoring on a 13-yard pass from Bress and then holds up seven fingers signaling he and his wife, Kirsten are expecting twins against the Los Angeles Rams at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La. Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Horn also had a message for NFL analyst Michael Strahan, who was critical of both Horn and Thomas’ end-zone antics during the FOX Sports broadcast Sunday.
“Michael Strahan got four touchdowns scored on his ass, that’s why he didn’t like it,” Horn quipped, in reference to his nine-catch, 133-yard, four-touchdown night against the Giants. “That’s why he’s being negative.”
Point spread: NO -2 | Matchup quality: 91.3 (of 100)
Lindsey Thiry’s pick: The Rams have won eight consecutive games, but the Saints in the Superdome are undoubtedly their biggest test yet, especially on offense. Defense could be the difference in this one. The Rams have the edge in that department after adding edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. at the trade deadline and with Aaron Donald’s league-leading 10 sacks. But it might not be enough against Drew Brees, who gets the ball out fast. Saints 28, Rams 24
Mike Triplett’s pick: This is the latest in the season that two teams averaging 33 points or more have faced each other, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Rams have the edge on defense led by Donald, and while they added firepower this week by trading for Fowler, the Saints lost firepower when rookie DE Marcus Davenport suffered a toe injury. However, the home-field advantage helps the Saints, and there might not be a more battle-tested team in the NFL right now after they had to grind out come-from-behind victories at Baltimore and Minnesota in their past two outings. Saints 29, Rams 27
FPI win projection: NO, 49.8 percent. With a pregame matchup quality of 91.3, this is the second-best matchup of the season according to FPI, trailing only the Chiefs-Rams matchup in Week 11. This game is also projected to be incredibly close, as only the Falcons-Redskins game noted earlier has a smaller spread in our data set, according to FPI.
What to watch for in fantasy: Among quarterbacks who have made five-plus starts this season, Jared Goff leads the way with an average of 9.58 yards per attempt. Meanwhile, the Saints are allowing 8.70 yards per pass attempt, third most in the league. Read more.
Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints (-2)
This is the biggest game of NFL Week 9, bar none. The Saints haven’t lost since Week 1, and the Rams are undefeated.
New Orleans has gotten much better defensively the past few weeks, and it will have to really be on point to upset the Rams at home. One issue that could be problematic is the loss of rookie pass rusher Marcus Davenport, who’s out multiple weeks with a toe injury.
However, the Saints have been absolutely shutting down opposing running backs and could be in line to serve up a portion of humble pie to one Todd Gurley. Even if that doesn’t happen, the New Orleans offense has enough juice to make this a game and potentially knock the Rams off their pedestal.
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