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New Orleans Saints: Rams trump them as Super Bowl favorites

By Erik Lambert

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 4: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball and leaps over Lamarcus Joyner #20 of the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Rams 45-35. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 4: Alvin Kamara #41 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball and leaps over Lamarcus Joyner #20 of the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 4, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints defeated the Rams 45-35. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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The New Orleans Saints have done everything in their power to show the rest of the NFL that they are the class of the league and Super Bowl favorites.

Their only loss of 2018 came on opening day. They’ve been undefeated since then and have beaten their last five opponents by a 208 to 93 margin. They are absolutely crushing their competition with both sides of the ball clicking on all cylinders. It’s starting to feel like it did back in 2009. The offense is rolling and suddenly the defense is alive again, getting after the quarterback and forcing turnovers.

One would think they are the favorites to go all the way across the media landscape right? Nope. Adam Schein of NFL.com likes the Saints, but they’re not his favorite. That honor is reserved for the Los Angeles Rams. His faith in that team is driven by their star power foursome of Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Jared Goff, and Sean McVay.

He tried to offer a reason for why they still rank ahead of the Saints despite New Orleans being the only team to beat them, but it came off as somewhat weak.

"“I know New Orleans beat L.A. head to head, so why are the Saints below the Rams on this list? Well, for one thing, that game did occur in NOLA. Also, I’m counting on the Rams cleaning some stuff up from that loss: no ill-fated fake field goals, no missed field goals and no bad picks from Mr. Goff. But make no mistake: The Saints are superb and ooze confidence. That’s the coach. And the quarterback.I see the Rams and Saints on a collision course to Championship Sunday.”"

New Orleans Saints have no reason to fear the Rams hype

Facts are facts. The Saints beat the mighty Rams once already and did so convincingly. They’re also playing better football since that victory. Their offense has scored more points and their defense has allowed fewer. Barring some unforeseen happening in December, it’s likely they will hold home field advantage when the playoffs come around in January. This means L.A. would have to back into the dome.

None of this is to say that the Rams can’t beat the Saints. They can. However, to say they’re still Super Bowl favorites in the NFC after losing to New Orleans already in a head-to-head? It’s hard to follow that logic. They should stick at #2 in the rankings where they belong until such time as the Saints fall back to earth or L.A. beats them in a rematch. That’s how this is supposed to work.

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