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- Teams: New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Date: Thursday, December 21, 2023
- Location: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: Prime Video
As of this writing, the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams remain in the hunt for a spot in the 2023 NFL playoffs. The Saints (6-7) ended a three-game losing skid in Week 14 with a 28-6 trouncing of the Carolina Panthers, while the Rams (6-7) lost in overtime (37-31) to the Baltimore Ravens in what might have been the team’s best-played game of the year. We look at the early betting odds, picks, and predictions for the pivotal Week 16 NFC matchup between the Saints and the Rams, which takes place on Thursday, December 21, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Following their Week 14 win over the Panthers, the Saints are in a tie for first place in the NFC South with Tampa Bay and Atlanta. The issue facing the Saints is that Tampa Bay holds the tiebreaker in the race for first place in the division.
After their loss to Baltimore in Week 14, the Rams are in second place in the NFC West, where they trail the 10-3 San Francisco 49ers.
Before we look at the early betting breakdown for Week 16’s Thursday Night Football contest between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams, check out our best Super Bowl betting tips and the top betting sites for NFL football in 2023.
New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams betting picks
| To Win Thursday Night Football Week 16 |  |  |  |
| New Orleans Saints | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Los Angeles Rams | TBA | TBA | TBA |
New Orleans Saints betting breakdown
The Saints won in Week 14, but that’s where the celebrating should stop for the team, as the victory came against a Carolina Panthers squad with the worst point differential in the league at -144. The loss to New Orleans officially knocked the Panthers out of playoff contention, but Carolina, now 1-12, was never in the hunt for a postseason spot in 2023. The Saints’ victory ended a three-game losing skid where they were outscored 84-62, falling to Minnesota, Atlanta, and Detroit.
The Saints offense has been a problem all season. While they outscored the Panthers, the team did not solve any of their issues. Quarterback Derek Carr started the game by going 13 of 20 passing for a total of 37 yards, with an interception. Further, the team squandered a good opening drive by stalling at the Carolina 11 and missing a field goal. New Orleans has not scored on its opening drive in 13 straight games.
If the Saints hope to make the playoffs, they need to get things together on offense in a hurry.
Los Angeles Rams betting breakdown
The Los Angeles Rams started their Week 14 game against the Baltimore Ravens well, scoring on four of their first five possessions and opening things with an excellent and effective running game. However, as the game wore on, the Baltimore defense took over, shutting things down and eventually helping the Ravens to a win in overtime.
Ultimately, the Rams came up short on Sunday, with the loss ending the club’s three-game winning streak, but there were a lot of positives to take away from the road defeat to one of the NFL’s best teams in 2023. Most of the good was on the offensive side of the ball, where the team’s young players delivered. If the Rams can shore up some of the weak spots in their defense, they might not end up in the playoffs, but they will finish the season, which they began with a 3-6 record, with something to look forward to in 2024.
Best bets for NFL Week 15: New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams
While the Saints are coming off a Week 14 win and the Rams lost, the level of competition the teams faced in those games is not comparable. After their struggles early in the season, the Rams looked very good against the Ravens. If they can put together the same offensive game they did in Baltimore, and get a slightly better defensive game against New Orleans, the Rams should roll in Week 16. The early betting pick is for the Rams to beat the Saints in Week 16..
Best bet for Week 16: Los Angeles Rams to beat New Orleans Saints
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