NFL NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

HIGHPOWERED OFFENSES COLLIDE

Here’s what to watch for in the NFC Championship Game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints

Injuries: The Rams had just one player appear on the final injury report before their postseason opener, and DL Ethan Westbrooks played in the divisional round anyway. Star CB Aqib Talib was evaluated for a concussion against the Cowboys but returned in the third quarter.

The Saints entered the divisional round pretty healthy but left it with a potentially devastating departure. Star defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins tore his Achilles tendon in the first quarter against the Eagles.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW

1. NICE LITTLE BOWL OF GUMBO: Just as in the AFC title game, the NFC Championship Game features two teams that met earlier in the regular season. In Week 9, the Rams went down to New Orleans and the Saints prevailed 45-35. New Orleans raced out to a lead in the second quarter, but the Rams eventually knotted the game up with 21 unanswered points. Still, the Saints took the victory with a 10-point fourth quarter. Adding a little juice to the matchup with his remarks after that game, Rams CB Marcus Peters called out Saints coach Sean Payton for trash-talking him on the field and said, “We going to see him soon … and then we going to have a nice little bowl of gumbo together.” Peters gets his wish, but will any added motivation make a difference?

2. TURNING DEFENSIVE: New Orleans became known for its powerful offense in the first half of the season, but over the stretch run, it has been a smothering defense that has taken over. Since Week 7, the Saints have allowed opposing offenses to score just 16.9 points per game and have sacked opposing passers 28 times, and that’s without notching one against Nick Foles and the Eagles in the divisional round. In particular, the secondary has improved its play and shut down opposing passing attacks. Los Angeles’ offense, though, is the highest scoring outfit the Saints will face since starting this run, so the challenge the Rams present, behind a healthy Todd Gurley , is significant.

3. MATCHUP NIGHTMARE: One of the NFL’s toughest covers, Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, destroyed the Rams when both teams played in Week 9, catching 12 of 15 targets for 211 yards and one score, a 72yard catch-and-run that finished Los Angeles off late in the fourth quarter. Not only that, but Thomas is fresh off of a dominant performance in the divisional round, hanging 12 catches on 16 targets for 171 yards and one touchdown against the Eagles. How the Rams defend Thomas, who grew up in Southern California, might be one of the biggest factors in determining whether or not they move on to their first Super Bowl while representing the city of Los Angeles since the 1979 season.