NEW ORLEANS — The Saints and Los Angeles Rams have had remarkably similar trajectories this season, to the point where the numbers seem almost uncanny.
After 11 games in the regular season, both teams were each 10-1. Then, they both struggled down the stretch in the same way. The two went 3-2 in the final five games, and the incredibly important home field advantage that the Saints now enjoy came down to their first face off.
In that Week 9 shoot out, the Saints won 45-35 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome; but even then, that scoreline was still 35-35 with just seven minutes left back in November.
These teams were even.
And, of course, the four major personnel changes since that regular season match up are even, too. Heading into Sunday’s NFC championship game, two changes will benefit the Saints and two will benefit the Rams.
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been injured and will remain out on Sunday. On the flip side, Saints speedy receiver Ted Ginn, Jr. is back. Ginn is the vertical stretcher for the Saints who did not play in the first game and absolutely makes a difference for the black and gold.
Kupp, however, did play in the first match up. Even though he doesn't have the same numbers as receivers Brandin Cooks or Robert Woods, in the eight games Kupp did play, Rams quarterback Jared Goff averaged 330 passing yards. In the nine games without Kupp, he only averaged 248 yard passing.
That helps the Saints, but to the Rams advantage, LA's star corner back Aqib Talib is back while Saints shutdown defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is out.
Mike Thomas may have killed the Rams in their first game, but Talib is back, a five-time pro bowler who will give them a better chance against Thomas.
Rankins was the Saints' most athletic and effective run-stopper in the interior of their defensive line.
That hurts New Orleans because the reality of this new Rams offense is a nearly unheard of run game with Todd Gurley.
In their last three games, the Rams have run the ball more than 40 times a game. For context, the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins team, with Larry Csonka, Eugene “Mercury” Morris, and Jim Kiick, also averaged 44 rushes a game.
With similar season records, a close first match up, and an arguable split down the middle with personnel changes, Sunday's game at 2:05 p.m. will be what true football fans have been waiting for.