Rams-Saints: Revisiting our prediction

There’s a strange symmetry going on here. Two years ago, the Rams were winless after eight games, and entered the bye week the hands-down worst team in the NFL. The week-long nap passed, and the Rams roared out against their former divisional opponents for a season-high 37 points. It was a dramatic performance, but its effects were unfortunately short-lived.

The loss dropped the Saints to an uneven 4-5, in what would wind up to be their first losing season since the Katrina season in 2005.

This season, the Saints are expected to be fully reloaded, and likely jousting with the Falcons as the class of the NFC South. In fact, this game follows two home games against two hard-running teams in Atlanta and Carolina, and immediately afterwards, they travel to Tampa. They won’t be able to afford a misstep against a rebuilding team like the Rams.

In short, this is a classic “trap” game. One that the Rams should have no business winning, but just might anyway.

Two factors will weigh heavily on this game: 1) the Rams’ blitz pickup, as new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is an aficionado of bringing the house; and 2) the rehabilitation of Donnie Avery (foot) and Laurent Robinson (career), as the Saints’ defensive backs can be beaten deep, for both big-play pass completions and untimely penalties. Having a bye week to rest up — and eight weeks of Saints’ game film to study — gives the Rams an edge in both categories. A third factor, one that can’t be gameplanned for — Reggie Bush on special teams — could overshadow both.

This game could swing either way, and will keep fans in their seats all the way to the finish. Let’s call it 31-30 Saints and keep our true optimism in our hip pocket.