This appears to be a huge mis-match on paper.  The Saints will likely be able to do whatever they want on offense as the Rams are allowing 134.8 yards rushing per game (4.2 ypc) and 238.6 yards passing per game.  The Saints have been very balanced this season as they have run the ball 259 times and passed the ball 265 times.  With that in mind look for Pierre Thomas to have a pretty heavy workload in this game.  I also have a feeling that Reggie Bush will get loose on a pass or two out of the backfield against the Rams.  Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and Jeremy Shockey will also get their share of yards with Drew Brees likely picking apart the secondary of the Rams on Sunday.

The Saints have 16 interceptions and 19 sacks this season so look for the Rams to stay away from the passing game unless they fall behind to quick.  This game will belong to Steven Jackson of the Rams against a Saints’ D that is allowing 112.1 yards rushing per game and 4.4 yards per carry.  Ever since the injury to DT Sedrick Ellis teams have been having their way with the front seven of the Saints in the running game.  With that in mind Steven Jackson will likely be very tired after this game as the Rams will ride him hard in this game.

PREDICTION:  SAINTS 27, RAMS 13

24-year old Chris Long has been nowhere near the player his daddy was (Howie Long).  He has played in 8 games this season for the Rams and he has 27 tackles and 1 sack.  Long has now played in 24 games in his two years with the Rams and he has 67 tackles, 5 sacks and 1 forced fumble.  To this point in his career, Long has to be considered a bust but he still has time to turn his career around.  The Rams can not afford to make these kinds of mistakes when picking as high as they have been in the draft or they will continue to be a pretty poor football team.

Oshiomogho Atogwe is not making game changing plays but he is a solid tackler which is helping out against opposing running games.  The safety has made 53 tackles, defensed 3 passes, he has 1 sack and 1 interception.  With the problems the Rams have had in the front seven it’s good to know that they have Atogwe backing them up.

The Rams have released safety Anthony Smith.  Smith played in 2 games this season for the Rams and he had 4 tackles including 1 tackle for a loss.  Losing Smith won’t hurt the Rams at all as he didn’t step up when given the chance to play.

The Rams have released 30-year old WR Tim Carter.  Carter played in only 2 games for the Rams this season and he caught 1 pass for 6 yards.  The Rams won’t miss him at all as they are going with a very young corps of WRs who have a bigger upside than Carter does.

The Rams broke a 17-game losing streak yesterday in Detroit and they played a pretty well rounded football game.  Marc Bulger did not have a good game for the Rams as he completed 17 of 35 passes for 176 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 interception.  Kicker Josh Brown threw the best pass of the game for the Rams on a fake field goal as he hit TE Daniel Fells that went for a 36 yard TD.  Steven Jackson was an absolute beast in this game for the Rams as he carried the ball 22 times for 149 yards (6.8 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also added 3 catches for 17 yards (5.7 avg).  Keenan Burton led the Rams in the passing game yesterday with 5 catches for 54 yards (10.8 avg).  The Rams finished up this game with 362 total yards on offense in this game (150 passing, 212 passing).

Linebackers James Laurinaitis (7 tackles, pass defensed) and Paris Lenon (7 tackles) led the way for the Rams on D in this game.  Safety James Butler also had a solid game for the Rams with 4 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception.  The Lions finished up with 289 total yards on offense in this game (127 rushing, 162 passing).  The Rams are now 1-7 on the season.