2019 NFC Championship Playoff Preview: Los Angeles At New Orleans

The top two seeds in the NFC will meet in the NFC Championship Game. The Los Angeles Rams will travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints. These two teams met earlier this year back in Week 9 when the Saints beat the Rams 45-35. Both teams are hungry and ready. Drew Brees is on his quest for title number two. Sean McVay is on the cusp of reaching the Super Bowl in just his second year as a head coach. This is a good one. Here’s 3 reasons why each team can win the 2019 NFC Championship Playoff!

Los Angeles Rams At New Orleans Saints (NO -3.5): Sunday, January 20th, 2019 – 3:05 ET (FOX)

WHY THE LOS ANGELES RAMS WILL WIN!

1: Sean McVay Is Too Smart

Sean McVay is the boy genius. He has gotten his butler, plumper, Starbucks barista, and massage therapist head coaching jobs this offseason. McVay is too good. Robert Woods is having a career year. Brandin Cooks is a big deep threat. Week after week after week, McVay puts up points are hammers teams when they’re down.

2: The Rams Rushing Attack Is Real

273 yards rushing. 273. C.J. Anderson is the best running back in football? Even his back up, Todd Gurley is good? This Rams team showed last week that they aren’t about the LA glamor. They are a punch you in the mouth football team anytime they want. The Rams use that staple Shanahan zone running system. Pulling offensive lineman, cut back lanes, and getting offensive linemen to the second level is what it’s all about.

The Rams rushing attack sets up everything for their offense. Jared Goff put up big numbers in Week 9 against this same defense. Forget the crowd noise. The Rams will put up points.

3: Sand Bagging Rams Are Motivated

The secondary is the biggest (or is supposed to be on paper) strength. Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib are as good as it gets on the outside. LA even has really nasty safeties with John Johnson and Lamarcus Joyner. Nickel Roby-Coleman is great in the slot.

Talib is really the difference maker. With Talib on the field, the Rams passer rating against is 64.3. When Talib was injured as was not on the field, the Rams passer rating against is 105.2. Marcus Peters can’t do it by himself. The Talib and Peters combo is what makes this secondary special. Aqib Talib did not play the first time around and Brees predictably torched them.

The Rams are not giving up 45 points again. The reason why that truly is the case is because the Rams have players that only show up for prime time. Playoff Suh is back. He’s been a bum all year but look out. Ndamukong Suh had his best game as a Ram against the Cowboys. That’s because those guys know the prize and recognition is near. Suh has been awful all year but he showed out last week and was even better than Aaron Donald actually. Don’t let me forget about Aaron Donald. He recorded 7 pressures the last time these two met and the Saints guard tandom stinks.

Marcus Peters is also motivated. He’s quietly been a disaster all year as well. Peters does not like Sean Payton… At all… If KC Peters is back, look out.

WHY THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS WILL WIN!

1: Sean McVay Isn’t Out Smarting Sean Payton

Sean Payton is no slouch of a coach. He comes from that Bill Parcells tree and is one of the best coaches in the NFL. His offense will put up points and find match ups to succeed. Michael Thomas beasted and feasted on Marcus Peters last time going for 7 catches on 9 targets and 146 yards.

2: Drew Brees Destiny Year

The Saints were my Super Bowl pick before the year so I’m sticking with it. This just feels like the year that Drew Brees gets number two. The first one came back in 2009. Do you know what’s weird? New Orleans also last a prime time game to Dallas in 2009 before winning it all. Sounds a lot like this year.

The Saints are just flat out loaded. The Saints have the better team. Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara are superstars. Ted Ginn Jr. has come back late in the season to provide a deep threat. Mark Ingram still figures to provide that extra punch. The Saints are at home in the best home field in the NFL. Sean Payton brought the Lombardi Trophy in the locker room already and gave an emotional pep talk. It’s the Saints year.

3: Home Field Advantage

The tough game is out of the way. The dragon has been slayed. The Nick Foles magic turned to dust. The Saints were down 14-0 to Philadelphia and stormed back to win 20-14. They got the playoff jitters out of the way. Let’s check on the Rams? Well, they basically had a bye. They blew past the Cowboys with no issues. They ran for 273 yards in what was an easy win. This might sound stupid but I have a theory that every team that wins the Super Bowl has to pull one game out of their ass. Every team needs to go through that game that they had no business winning. The Saints needed to convert long third down after third down, 4th down fake punt, and 4th down red zone conversations to beat Philly. That means everything.

Remember the days when Drew Brees had to throw for 600 yards per game just to win? That isn’t the case anymore. New Orleans is a middle of the pack defense on the year. At home, that defense always plays up another level. What we do know what we’re getting out of the Saints is they will stop the run. Number 2 against the run allowing 80.2 yards per game. Banking on a big Todd Gurley game? Well, the Saints are stingy on the ground.

Oh yeah, I also haven’t gotten into what this point is all about. New Orleans is not losing at home. Not in that dome. It’s been over since the moment the Saints clinched home field. It’s the best home field advantage in any sport.

Saints, Saints, and more Saints. That’s the pick. They don’t lose in the dome. It’s Drew Brees’ year to win another title. New Orleans has drafted better than almost anyone in recent years. Too many weapons with Kamara and Thomas. This Saints defense can play too. Saints.

Saints defeat Rams 31-27