Despite fan frustration, the Rams defense steps up to seal a Week 13 win.

The LA Rams did not score a point in the first half in Week 13 against the New Orleans Saints on the road. While the offense floundered, the defense held the Saints offense in check, surrendering just six points on two field goals, and denying the Saints from kicking a third field goal. While the score at halftime ws 6-0 with the Rams trailing, the defense did their job.

But frustrated fans threw shade at the defense. Apparently some bad habits are hard to break.

But even with the stingy first-half defense, the offense was not willing or capable of creating a safe harbor for its teammates. Yes, the Rams did erupt for 21 points in the second half. But 21 points throughout a game is not impressive at all. It falls as the 20th-best scoring offense in the NFL, which matches the team's 21.2 points per game average.

The Saints offense scores an average of 23.0 points per game.

The better performance came from the LA Rams defense. The Rams' defense allows 24.2 points per game on average, so the 14 points allowed by the defense were far better than the norm. And the fact that the defense played so much better than they typically do was something many frustrated fans failed to acknowledge or recognize.

The Rams offense has scored 30 points just once all season. The defense has allowed 30+ points just twice all year long. It was the offense that was supposed to do the heavy lifting in 2024. Unfortunately, that is not how the season is playing out.

Even in Week 13, the Rams clung to a one possession lead in the game as the New Orleans Saints offense took the field with a first-down and 10 yards to go at their 30-yard line and 8:54 remaining on the game clock. The Saints drove to a first-down and 10 at the Rams 16-yard line with 2:41 on the clock. But the Rams defense stiffened, and the Saints turned the ball over on downs. While the Rams run defense has been suspect, that same defense held the Saints to just seven yards on three plays, stopping the drive and getting the football back to the offense.

On the final play of the drive, OLB Jared Verse appeared to force a fumble from Saints QB Derek Carr. The play was reviewed, and the fumble was called as an incomplete pass. That still turned the football over to the Rams, who proceeded to run out the clock for the win.

Final Score

Los Angeles Rams 21
New Orleans Saints 14

The LA Rams are 6-6. To realistically have a chance at the 2025 NFL Playoffs, the team must win all three remaining games against NFC West Division rivals, and defeat either the Buffalo Bills at home or the New York Jets on the road. But the team has to start scoring more points to do so.

Can fans really expect the defense to stop the Bills, Cardinals, and even the Jets to seal a win? Or is it time for the offense, the most expensive offense in the NFL, to start showing up for an entire game?

Let's hope it's the second scenario going forward.

Thanks for reading.

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