Rams use second-half scoring surge to earn road win over Saints

NEW ORLEANS —  They ran three plays in the first quarter.

They were shut out in the first half.

Rams 21, Saints 14, end of the fourth quarter

The Saints started on their 30-yard line and strugn together a long drive that included a fourth-down conversion at the Rams’ 36-yard line.

Taysom Hill ran the ball for two yards on fourth-and-one, slamming his helmlet into a teammates helmet and leaving the game after getting treated on the field.

Alvin Kamara and Derek Carr delivered runs accounting for 21 yards, setting up second-and-seven at the Rams’ 13 as the two-minute warning was triggered.

The teams held two timeouts apiece.

Karama ran for three yards, setting up third-and-four. He carried the ball again for one yard.

The Rams called timeout with 1:09 left.

On fourth-and-three at the Rams’ 9, Carr rolled right and Jared Verse deflected his pass and the Saints turned the ball over on downs.

The Rams took over at their nine-yard line and ran out the clock.

Rams 21, Saints 14, 8:54 left in the fourth quarter

The Rams started at their 44-yard line after a Jordan Whittington 43-yard kickoff return.

Matthew Stafford passed to Tutu Atwell for 20 yards.

Stafford relied on a mix of Blake Corum runs and passes to Puka Nacua to march steadily up field.

On third-and-five at the New Orleans 20, Stafford’s pass to Nacua was incomplete but the Saints were called for pass interference.

After one more incomplete pass, Stafford connected with Nacua for a seven-yard touchdown. The Rams hit the extra point and reclaimed the lead.

Rams 14, Saints 14, 11:53 left in the fourth quarter

The Saints started on their 30-yard line.

The Saints carried the ball three times of 25 yards and Derek Carr passed for 21 yards, setting up third-and-five at the Rams’ 28.

Carr passed to Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 28-yard touchdown. Carr completed a two-point conversion to tie the game.

Rams 14, Saints 6, 14:57 left in the fourth quarter

Matthew Stafford tossed a four-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson to extend the Rams’ lead.

Stafford and Robinson also combined for a 46-yard pass to set up the touchdown.

The Rams got the ball with just more than two minutes left in the third quarter.

Stafford connected with receiver Tutu Atwell for a 19-yard gain, and Kyren Williams ran for 14 yards before Stafford found Robinson open along the left sideline.

Stafford has completed 12 of 19 passes for 156 yards.

Williams has rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown in 14 carries.

Rams 7, Saints 6, 8:50 left in the third quarter

Kyren Williams rushed for a four-yard touchdown to cap an 11-play, 70-yard drive.

Matthew Stafford completed third-down passes of 17 and eight yards to receiver Puka Nacua to key the drive.

Williams has rushed for 79 yards in 13 carries.

Stafford has completed seven of 14 passes for 56 yards.

Saints 6, Rams 0, halftime

Blake Grupe kicked a 54-yard field goal with two seconds left in the second quarter to extend the Saints’ lead.

The kick ended an 11-play drive that quarterback Derek Carr engineered with less than two minutes left.

The Saints dominated possession in the first quarter, holding the ball for nearly 14 minutes and limiting the Rams to three plays while taking a 3-0 lead.

The Rams had a chance to gain momentum after Grupe missed a 36-yard field-goal attempt on the first play of the second quarter.

With rookie running back Blake Corum carrying the ball five times for 32 yards, the Rams drove to the Saints’ 25-yards line. But on fourth and four, Matthew Stafford’s pass to Cooper Kupp fell incomplete.

The Rams got the ball back with about six minutes left in the first half, and running back Kyren Williams carried the ball on five consecutive plays to move the ball to the Saints’ 49. But the Saints sacked Stafford for an eight-yard loss. Stafford’s third-down pass for receiver Puka Nacua was incomplete, forcing the Rams to punt.

Stafford has completed only four of 10 passes for 23 yards.

Carr has completed 15 of 23 passes for 83 yards. Running back Alvin Kamara has rushed for 80 yards in 12 carries.

Saints 3, Rams 0, 1:50 left in the second quarter

Kyren Williams ran for 39 yards during the first five plays of the drive. Matthew Stafford was then sacked for a loss of eight yards. Stafford passed to Williams ran nine yards, but his pass intended for Puka Nacua on third-and-nine sailed long and off target.

The Rams punted to the Saints’ 13-yard line.

Saints 3, Rams 0, 6:18 left in the second quarter

The Rams defense increased its pressure on the Saints, limiting them to a six-play, 16-yard drive.

Derek Carr tossed two incomplete passes during the drive and the Saints punted to the Chargers’ 12-yard line.

Saints 3, Rams 0, 9:10 left in the second quarter

After barely touching the ball in the first quarter, the Rams mounted a 12-play, 49-yard drive that ended with a turnover on downs.

Blake Corum opened with a pair of long runs, but pass options were limited for Matthew Stafford. He twisted his ankle while trying to avoid a tackle during the drive, but stayed in the game.

The Rams went for it on fourth-and-four at the Saints’ 25, but Stafford’s pass intended for Cooper Kupp sailed long and out of reach.

Saints 3, Rams 0, 15:00 left in the second quarter

The Saints mounted a 14-play, 57 yard drive. Two red zone penalties on New Orleans forced them to settle for a field-goal attempt. Blake Grupe’s 36-yard field goal to open the second quarter was wide left.

Saints 3, Rams 0, 8:48 left in the first quarter

Blake Grupe kicked a 54-yard field goal to cap the opening drive.

Running back Alvin Kamara rushed for 23 yards in four carries during the 12-play drive.

The Rams appeared to score a touchdown when Kobie Turner hit Saints quarterback Derek Carr, and Braden Fiske picked up the ball and returned to the end zone. But the play was reviewed and officials determined Carr’s arm was moving forward so it was an incomplete pass.

Jared Verse was not always this way.

Not in high school in Pennsylvania. Not at his first college stop at Albany.

The Rams knew what was coming — and could not stop it — when Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley embarrassed them last week with a career-best performance.

But at least the way the Eagles utilized Barkley was predictable. On Sunday, there is no way to anticipate exactly how the New Orleans Saints will deploy Taysom Hill.

After the Rams hired Sean McVay in 2017, general manager Les Snead was eager to see the 30-year-old’s coaching process at work.

During McVay’s first seven seasons, Snead often observed McVay in the coach’s office, busily scheming plays. Reading motivational books. Meeting with coaches, players and team executives.

Rams receiver Demarcus Robinson, who was arrested this week on suspicion of driving under the influence, will not be suspended by the team and will play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, coach Sean McVay said Wednesday.

Robinson was arrested early Monday after California Highway Patrol officers observed him allegedly speeding at more than 100 mph on the 101 Freeway in Woodland Hills. He was cited at the scene and released.

The Rams made the playoffs five times in coach Sean McVay’s first seven seasons, qualifying three times by winning the NFC West and twice when finishing second.

With six games left, including division matchups against the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, the Rams are in postseason contention thanks in part to a division devoid of a dominant team.

Rams rookie edge rusher Jared Verse produced a viral moment, but he could not enjoy it.

Last Sunday, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Verse ran over 6-foot-8, 366-pound Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Sean Mailata.

Verse, however, tripped and fell and quarterback Jalen Hurts escaped his grasp.

“On my social media, like I see I keep getting tagged,” Verse said. “But from my team it was like, ‘You gotta make that play.’”

Verse, who has 4 ? sacks, was not surprised that he was able to use leverage and power to knock Mailata onto his back.

But he lamented not finishing the play with a sack.

“If I had stayed on the edge, I’d have been able to transition,” Verse said. “It would have been a highlight play.”

After their embarrassing 37-20 defeat by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Rams had plenty of issues to correct before playing the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome.

Improving third-down efficiency was a priority.

The Rams converted none of their eight-third downs against the Eagles. For the season, they have converted only 31.7%, which ranks second-to-last in the NFL.

“Third and long for anybody is not easy,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “It’s just been especially hard for us as of late and really this whole year, but even the third and ‘manageables’ haven’t been to the clip that we’re accustomed to.

“We have to get that fixed and we have to get it fixed fast.”

Said coach Sean McVay: “That has been an area that is not nearly good enough. Our guys know that. We know that and we’re working our tails off to try to be able to get that better.”

Rams offensive tackle Rob Havenstein (79) blocks during a game against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 29.

(Kamil Krzaczynski / Associated Press)

Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein will return to the lineup on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints after sitting out three games because of an ankle injury.

Havenstein, a 10th-year pro, said it was frustrating to watch while the offense struggled in last Sunday’s 37-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium.

“It’s hard to be on the sideline and be able to kind of walk around thinking, ‘Man, if I just did this or that, I could be out there,’” Havenstein said.

Havenstein rejoins a line that could have yet another iteration if left tackle Alaric Jackson is unable to play.

Jackson did not practice this week because of a foot injury. He is listed as questionable, but coach Sean McVay said he expected Jackson to play. If he cannot, veteran Joe Noteboom would start at left tackle.

Rookie Beaux Limmer is the center, second-year pro Steve Avila left guard and veteran Kevin Dotson the right guard.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford looks forward to Havenstein’s return and the experience and leadership Havenstein brings to the huddle.

“He’s played in big-time games in tough environments against good players,” said Stafford, who is in his fourth season with the Rams. “Obviously, a talented football player, and has been a really good player since I’ve been here and a staple really long before that.”

The Rams are 5-6 and coming off an embarrassing defeat by the Philadelphia Eagles. And yet they remain in the race to possibly win the NFC West and make the playoffs for the sixth time in eight seasons under coach Sean McVay.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford played his first NFL game at New Orleans in 2009. The last time the 16th-year pro visited the Superdome, in 2022, he left with a season-ending spinal bruise. Stafford has passed for 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions in a Rams offense that failed to convert any third downs in the 37-20 defeat by the Eagles.