Los Angeles Rams shut out New Orleans Saints 0-34 in 2026 NFL preseason

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New Orleans responded with a defense that played very close to the line of scrimmage, trying to close the spaces on the ground and forcing the Los Angeles quarterback to look for alternatives through the air. The duel began to heat up and both teams showed early on that they did not want to give up ground.

With only a few minutes remaining, both teams accelerated their decision-making. New Orleans tried to maintain control and avoid mistakes, while Los Angeles needed to quickly find a play that would open up the field. The game entered that phase where it no longer mattered what had happened previously: a final possession, a third-down conversion, or a turnover could ultimately tip the scales.

The Saints were looking to close out the game in the best way possible, while the Rams were still searching for an opportunity to change the outcome in the final minutes. The atmosphere was building, and every play was starting to feel potentially decisive.

New Orleans was trying to manage its possessions, while Los Angeles needed to get the ball back and give its offense one last chance. Coaches were making increasingly aggressive decisions because there was not much room for error anymore. Every first down secured could be almost as important as a big play.

Los Angeles responded with defensive intensity, trying to turn every third down into a difficult situation for New Orleans. The defensive line was constantly looking to penetrate and force the quarterback to quickly get rid of the ball. The game entered a phase of maximum tension, with both teams aware that a single explosive play could completely change the outcome.

New Orleans entered this final period determined to dictate the pace and maintain pressure on the Los Angeles defense. Their offense tried to move the chains patiently, using the running game to run down the clock and then creating space for the passing attack. The Rams needed to respond quickly and prevent the Saints from controlling both the ball and the clock in the closing minutes.

We were into the final 15 minutes of this Saints-Rams clash, and by then every possession was incredibly important. Fatigue was setting in, substitutions were becoming more frequent, and the players remaining on the field knew they had one last chance to make a good impression. The margin for error shrank considerably, and any turnover could prove decisive.

For Los Angeles, the mission was much simpler: maintain intensity and capitalize on any opportunity that arose. The Rams wanted to force New Orleans to play from deep in their own territory and to use their defense to create scoring opportunities. If they managed a big play early in the third quarter, they could put the Saints on the ropes and force them to completely change their offensive plan.

The third quarter presented an opportunity to essentially begin a new chapter: the defenses now knew the opponent's main tendencies, and the offensive coordinators had to find new ways to create space. The pressure increased with each possession, and any mistake could be costly.

Both teams tried to win the physical battle from the opening kickoff, knowing that controlling the line of scrimmage could open the way for the rest of the offense. The ground game took on special importance at that stage, because a good gain could keep the offense balanced and later create openings for the passing game.

Los Angeles seemed determined to increase the pressure on the New Orleans quarterback. The defensive line tried to speed up plays and not give him too much time to wait for his receivers to develop routes. The Saints needed to find answers quickly, because if the home defense could establish itself in the backfield, the visiting offense could be forced to constantly play in difficult situations.

The Saints returned with the intention of setting the pace from their first possession of the third quarter. The offense looked to patiently move the chains, combining the running game with quick passes that allowed the quarterback to make simple decisions. The Los Angeles defense, for its part, tried to close down the gaps and prevent New Orleans from getting a long drive that could change the momentum the game had going into halftime.

The Saints and Rams were back on the field for the second half. The first 30 minutes had provided plenty to analyze, and it was time for adjustments. The coaches had had time to correct mistakes in the locker room, and it was interesting to see which team best translated those changes onto the field.

The feeling-out period we saw at the beginning was gone. Both teams were playing with more speed, and the coordinators were starting to open up their playbooks. The quarterbacks had to make quicker decisions, and the defenses were trying to anticipate every move. The second quarter promised to be much more dynamic, especially if either team managed to create a big play that broke the deadlock.

The Rams tried to advance without taking unnecessary risks, while the Saints needed to regain ground and prevent the home team from building a comfortable lead before halftime. With second-unit players taking center stage, execution became even more critical: a penalty or a turnover could completely change the game.

New Orleans increased the intensity and began to play more aggressively on the line of scrimmage. The defenders reached the point of attack quickly, forcing the Rams to adjust some of their reads. It was an interesting battle in the trenches, where every block and every small gap could determine the outcome of the play. The visitors were looking for the defense to give them good field position to respond.

The Saints knew they needed to find more offensive consistency. They had managed to advance the ball on several possessions, but the priority was converting that movement into points. The quarterback looked to attack the middle zones, and the receivers started to play an increasingly important role. If New Orleans could maintain their protection and avoid turnovers, they could turn that second quarter into an opportunity to finally even the score.

Los Angeles tried to capitalize on its momentum heading into the second quarter. The home offense worked to keep the New Orleans defense pinned back, alternating between the ground game and quick passes to prevent the pressure from building. The Saints, meanwhile, adjusted their defensive line and tried to force the Rams to gain yards patiently, without allowing an explosive play that could immediately change the game.

The second quarter began, and the game entered a new phase. After a few initial minutes of feeling each other out and making adjustments, the Saints and Rams had a much clearer understanding of what their opponent was trying to do. The coaches demanded greater precision, especially on third downs and in the red zone. Each offensive series could start to make a significant difference in how the game unfolded that afternoon.

The Saints' quarterback started to find his rhythm with short passes to the sidelines, and New Orleans moved the chains with a series of crucial conversions. The Rams had trouble quickly closing the middle routes, which allowed the visiting offense to advance steadily. The game began to settle into a back-and-forth affair.

The Saints' defense managed to contain a run that seemed to have space up the middle, forcing the Los Angeles running back to a near standstill. The second effort also came to nothing, leaving the Rams in a difficult situation. That was exactly the type of defensive execution the coaching staff was looking for: discipline, speed, and very little space for a big play to develop.

New Orleans responded with a defense that played very close to the line of scrimmage, trying to close down running lanes and forcing the Los Angeles quarterback to look for passing options. The game started to heat up, and both teams showed early on that they did not want to give anything away.

The score remained 0-0 as the action got underway in Inglewood. For both teams, this game represented another opportunity to evaluate players before the regular season. The Saints were looking for their first preseason win after falling to Jacksonville, while the Rams wanted to build on the positive momentum from their victory over Kansas City.

At that stage of the preseason, every snap had special significance: it was not just about advancing the ball, but also about testing the execution of assignments, quarterback protection, and the receivers' ability to find open space. New Orleans tried to quickly stop this first offensive drive and force the home team to punt.

New Orleans tried to move the chains patiently and avoid mistakes, while the Rams looked to generate pressure and quickly convert opportunities into offense. The outcome was still secondary, but the execution started to offer important clues about which players could use this second week to gain ground in the internal competition.

The Saints tried to set the pace from the start, combining running and short passes to give their quarterback an advantage. The Los Angeles defense, meanwhile, came out aggressively and looked to force New Orleans into long possessions. The atmosphere at SoFi Stadium was electric for a game that, although preseason, held considerable importance for those vying for positions and responsibilities on both teams.

The game was played at SoFi Stadium, the Rams' home ground and one of the most modern stadiums in the NFL. For Los Angeles, it was their chance to play a preseason game in front of their fans after starting their preseason on the road.

The atmosphere could also benefit the young players vying for a roster spot. For many of them, each snap in front of the fans represented an opportunity to make one last positive impression before the final roster decisions were made.

On defense, one of the names that particularly caught the eye during the joint practices was Josaiah Stewart.

The young edge rusher received praise for his physique, versatility, and ability to generate pressure. His performance during practice against New Orleans raised expectations surrounding his potential impact during the season.

Rookie tight end Max Klare was also one of the players to watch. Klare had seven receptions for 37 yards in his debut against Kansas City and had received more playing time following Davis Allen's injury.

His development during this preseason could make him an important piece of the Los Angeles offense. Against New Orleans, he had another opportunity to showcase his abilities as a receiver and blocker.

The Los Angeles Lakers boasted a potent offense, though the preseason focused primarily on the players vying for secondary positions.

Puka Nacua and Davante Adams led a highly talented group of wide receivers, while several young players competed to establish themselves as the third option in the attack. Among them were Brennan Presley, Jordan Whittington, and rookie CJ Daniels.

One of the most interesting players to watch was Ty Simpson. The quarterback had a promising performance in his preseason debut against Kansas City, impressing with his efficiency and composure on offense.

He now had to prove that that performance was not just a one-off. Facing an NFL defense again allowed him to further develop his game awareness and his ability to execute under pressure.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers was Matthew Stafford's participation.

Pre-game reports indicated that Stafford was not expected to play in this second week of preseason, while Tyler Shough was also not expected to start. That meant much of the attention would once again be focused on the quarterbacks vying for roster spots.

That situation made the game a particularly important opportunity for young players looking to prove they deserved a place on the final roster.

Los Angeles came into the game with a 1-0 record after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 20-12 in the first week of the preseason.

The defense delivered a particularly strong performance in that game, holding the Chiefs scoreless. The offense also racked up 228 passing yards and 93 rushing yards.

The goal was to build on that momentum and see if the young players could maintain that level of play against a New Orleans defense looking to bounce back from their loss to Jacksonville.

One of New Orleans' biggest names was Alvin Kamara, but his physical condition meant the coaching staff had to handle him with caution. Kamara was among the players with a knee injury and an estimated return date of September.

Therefore, this game served primarily to assess the backfield depth and see which running backs could shoulder more responsibility while the starters were rested or managed.

The team continued to evaluate different options behind their primary choice for the regular season, so the game against Los Angeles could provide important information for the coaching staff.

The competition for the QB2 position was especially relevant in the preseason because it was not just about throwing ability. Decision-making, mobility, defensive awareness, offensive management, and the ability to keep a drive going were also crucial.

The Saints remained in California during the week to train alongside the Rams, which allowed them to prepare for this game in a different environment than usual. The joint practices also offered a higher intensity than a typical practice.

The team intended to implement some of the concepts worked on during those days into the game. For Kellen Moore, the goal was to observe how his roster responded when competitive pressure increased and the players had to perform under conditions similar to those of an official game.