Now that the Rams have regained their health, particularly with WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back onboard, a late-season surge is foreseeable. Nacua torched New Orleans last season with 11 catches for 164 yards. Coaches do not suit up, but Sean McVay versus interim Darren Rizzi seems one-sided. The schedule-makers tossed L.A. a break with a late kickoff time in the eastern time zone.

The Rams are starting to show signs that they are about to hum on offense. And the Saints D is getting a pass because they have won 2 straight, but the truth is they are a bad unit right now. This is 26.5 in most other books.

Lock this in under a field goal. The Saints are playing hard, but the Rams have consistently taken advantage of lower-half teams in the NFL. New Orleans has beaten up on bad quarterback play but get exposed otherwise. This is a great bounce-back spot for Los Angeles' offense behind Matthew Stafford and his full complement of weapons. (Kyren Williams might have a big day.) The Rams should be able to knock Derek Carr off his spot plenty, and the Saints do not have the weaponry to keep up. (Don't expect Sean McVay to allow Taysom Hill to beat him.) Great spot for L.A. to change the narrative and start making a late playoff push.

While it has been a great story so far for the Saints, this Rams offense does a great job of challenging your eye discipline and ability to play that way for 60-minutes. Defensively, expect this Rams pass rush to feast on Derek Carr and the Saints offensive line.

Since Puka Nacua returned from injury he has soared past this receiving prop in every game he's played except one. The lone game he did not exceed this prop was when he was ejected against the Seahawks. So when Nacua has played a full game this season, he exceeds this prop, no matter the matchup. Nacua has been targeted on 34% of his routes, a league-high. The matchup against the Saints' defense is pristine as well. The Saints have given up the 5th most receiving yards to wide receivers this season. Look for Nacua to fly past this prop again. I will likely bet this up to 100 yards at plus odds.

Recent home losses to the Dolphins and Eagles saw the Rams pushed around at the line of attack, and unable to establish consistent infantry diversions for Matthew Stafford. In between was a struggle at Foxborough vs. the lowly Patriots. Only by the grace of the football gods are the Rams are in the NFC West, where a 5-6 mark into December keeps you in the thick of the race. The Saints appear undervalued, as they've won back-to-back games for interim Darren Rizzi and have QB Derek Carr back to active duty. Not to mention off of a bye week. Not much room for error, but there is a path for 'Nawlins to the playoffs...if they play like their last two games! Play Saints

The Saints are coming off their second-straight win under new HC Darren Rizzi, and the Rams got torched by Saquon Barkley and the Eagles in their last game. However, it still seems to me that these teams are headed in opposite directions. This young Rams defense is getting better, and their offensive line is finally healthy. With good pass protection, the Rams offense is one of the most dangerous in the NFL. The Saints offensive line has been in shambles all season, and LA’s strong D-line can get pressure on a stationary QB like Derek Carr. The Saints starting WRs are Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Cedrick Wilson. The Rams are still in the NFC West division hunt, and are simply the more talented club.

The LA Rams had one of the worst defensive efforts when it comes to run defense on the season in the NFL. Saquon Barkley had a career game and got what he wanted each carry. Right before their bye week the Saints did the same to the Cleveland Browns with a Taysom Hill package. Yet, expect the Rams to force Derek Carr to have to beat them, who still has been lacking consistent halves of football. Grab the Rams in a bounce back spot.

Cooper Kupp has been targeted 50 times in five games since returning from injury, and I love him to get double-digit targets Sunday in New Orleans. Saints slot corner Ugo Amadi has given up 17 catches (on 22 targets) for 166 yards the past two games. Kupp is better than the slot receivers who put up those numbers for Cleveland and Atlanta. Last week against Philly's elite pass defense, Kupp managed 60 receiving yards. This is a much better matchup, so look for Kupp to clear this prop total for the fourth time in five games.

Alvin Kamara has been a huge factor as a receiver in many games this season. Sunday's matchup against the Rams fits the bill. LA leads the NFL in pressure rate, so Derek Carr will be looking for quick outlets. In addition, opponents have completed 46 of 50 throws to running backs when facing the Rams. Look for Kamara to clear this prop total for the fourth time in five games.

The return of Derek Carr at QB has given the Saints stability in the passing game and allowed Hill's role to expand. He is a match-up problem in coverage and gets motioned all over the place. Hill has 148 receiving yards in the last 4 games and is over this in 3 of them, easily, and has 21 in the other. His usage has been trending up for weeks now and I don't see that changing here.

In 5 of 6 games Puka Nacua has started this season, Stafford has gone over this total. With New Orleans surrendering 256.6 passing yards per game (third most), and in a game which is one of the highest totals on the board this week (49.5), look for the Rams QB to be closer to 300 yards than 250. I wish the New Orleans secondary good luck trying to play man coverage vs. Nacua and Cooper Kupp.

The Saints are 2-0 under interim head coach Darren Rizzi, but the defense gave up 440+ yards in each of those games and should struggle to slow down a good Rams offense. The Rams defense has had some positive signs this season but just got smoked by the Eagles rushing attack, and the Saints have had some blowup rushing games. Ultimately I'll trust the Rams' advantages in other areas and hope they find a way to slow down Taysom Hill and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, which doesn't seem that difficult. If the Rams get a lead and can tee off on this Saints offensive line, game over.

Under their fiery interim coach, the Saints have won two straight and now come in rested off the bye. That shouldn't obscure the fact that the Falcons rolled up 468 yards against New Orleans, then Cleveland produced 443. It's a good bounceback spot for a Rams offense that's been plagued by fumbling and third-down inefficiency but remains loaded with talent. This line appears to be moving toward 3 everywhere. Look for LA, which can make Derek Carr uncomfortable with its NFL-best pressure rate, to grab its third straight road win and stay relevant in the NFC West.