http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...ints-klein-on-rams-we-knew-wed-see-them-again
Saints' Klein on Rams: 'We knew we'd see them again'
- By Herbie Teope
- Around The NFL Writer
METAIRIE, La. -- Week 9's matchup between the
New Orleans Saints and
Los Angeles Rams provided an unofficial preview of Sunday's NFC Championship Game.
Various media members and even fans predicted the two teams would meet again for the right to play in
Super Bowl LIII. And perhaps to no surprise, some
Saints players apparently felt the same way after New Orleans took down the previously undefeated
Rams, 45-35, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
"You could kind of feel it -- that could be the NFC Championship Game if we both handled our business," running back
Mark Ingram said. "So, we both handled our business and here we go again."
Linebacker
A.J. Klein agreed.
"We kind of had the idea that we'd see them again," Klein said. "After that game being a shootout the way it was, we got a game up on them as far as the in-conference battle. I don't want to say I foresaw this matchup happening, but we knew we'd see them again at some point."
The
Saints produced a 13-3 record in the regular season, won the NFC North and clinched the No. 1 seed in the postseason. The
Rams also finished with a 13-3 record, won the NFC West and secured the No. 2 seed.
Quarterback
Drew Brees compared the 2018 season to 2009, when the
Saints won the
Super Bowl. The
Saints were then on a collision course with the
Minnesota Vikings toward the NFC Championship Game, and Brees said he and his teammates were monitoring what was going on with the
Vikingsthroughout the season.
This time around, Brees' occasional focus fell on Sunday's opponent.
"As we looked across the league and saw what the
Rams were doing and the success that they were having," Brees said. "They're [a] phenomenal team and they had a great season.
"Obviously, we played them midseason and it was a hard-fought game on both sides of the ball. But I think we had a feeling then that obviously we aspired to be in this situation and we all had a feeling that they were going to be the team that we might face again. So, here we are."
Needless to say, the NFC has the best-case scenario for the playoffs featuring the two best conference teams, and the numbers don't lie.
The
Rams' and
Saints' offenses were two of the top units in the league the past season, with the
Ramsranking second in points per game (32.9) and the
Saints finishing third (31.5). The
Saints and
Ramswere also the only two teams in the league to score 30-plus passing touchdowns, 20-plus rushing touchdowns and produce a plus-140-point differential and plus-400-yard differential.
When it comes to opponents, both teams didn't take an easy route to the postseason. The
Saints went 4-1, including the playoffs, against teams advancing beyond the regular season, while the
Ramsposted a 5-3 mark. The three losses the
Rams suffered came at the hands of the
Saints,
Philadelphia Eagles and
Chicago Bears, while the
Saints' loss came against the
Dallas Cowboys.
Still, defensive end
Alex Okafor said he personally didn't track every week what the
Rams were doing on the West Coast, preferring to place most of his focus on his team and helping to control what they could.
But Okafor ultimately conceded he would peek every now and then to see how the race for the No. 1 seed was going, which the
Saints clinched in Week 16.
The scenarios, of course, set the table for Sunday's game.
"We could kind of see from a distance that's what it was coming toward: us versus the
Rams," Okafor said. "We were both in first place at the time, so it only made sense.
"And, honestly, I think that's what the people want, as well. It's going to be exciting on Sunday. I think everybody here is revved up about this game, and it's why you play it. It's going to be bright lights."
A desirable matchup featuring two elite teams under the glare of bright lights, indeed.
. At best Snead traded for an average zone coverage starting corner who plays like a young rookie who starting his first NFL game each & every week. On top of that, he has a great passion
