You know how some NFL matchups just feel different? It isn’t always about a division title or even a playoff seed. Sometimes it’s just pure, unadulterated history. When you talk about the Saints vs Los Angeles Rams, you aren’t just talking about two teams in the NFC. You’re talking about a decades-long saga that started in 1967 and honestly hasn’t slowed down since.
Most fans today go straight to the "NOLA No-Call" from 2019. That’s fair. It’s probably the most infamous officiating error in sports history. But if you think that’s where the beef started, you’ve missed a whole lot of context. These two have been trading blows since the Saints were a literal expansion team.
Why the Saints vs Los Angeles Rams Rivalry Still Stings
Back in the day, the Saints and Rams were actually divisional rivals in the NFC West. This was long before the 2002 realignment. The Rams, led by the "Fearsome Foursome," used to absolutely bully a young New Orleans franchise.
Archie Manning—the patriarch of football royalty—basically spent the 70s running for his life against Jack Youngblood and Merlin Olsen. Manning actually once joked that Youngblood’s Hall of Fame career wouldn't have been half as good if Archie hadn't been there to get sacked so often. It was brutal. It was physical. It set the stage for a relationship where the Rams were the big brother and the Saints were the scrappy underdog trying to find a footing.
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Then came the 2000s. The script flipped.
In the 2000 Wild Card round, the "Greatest Show on Turf" Rams came to New Orleans as heavy favorites. The Saints hadn't won a playoff game in their entire history. Not one. But "Hakeem Drops the Ball" happened—Az-Zahir Hakim muffled a punt, the Saints recovered, and the dome literally shook. New Orleans got its first-ever playoff win by knocking off the defending champs. That was the moment this matchup became personal for the modern era.
The Modern Era and the Game We Don't Mention in NOLA
We have to talk about January 20, 2019.
The NFC Championship. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Everyone remembers where they were when Nickell Robey-Coleman leveled Tommylee Lewis. No flag. The Rams won 26-23 in overtime. Since that day, any time the Saints vs Los Angeles Rams appears on the calendar, the energy in New Orleans shifts. It’s not just a Week 9 or Week 12 game. It’s a chance for a fan base to seek a bit of cosmic justice that they feel they were robbed of years ago.
Recent Struggles for New Orleans
Fast forward to the present. The landscape has changed significantly. Sean Payton is gone. Drew Brees is in the booth. The Rams, under Sean McVay, have stayed remarkably consistent.
Look at the most recent meeting on November 2, 2025. It wasn't pretty for the Black and Gold. The Rams walked away with a 34-10 victory at SoFi Stadium. Matthew Stafford looked like he was playing a video game on easy mode, throwing for 281 yards and 4 touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Saints offense—led by Tyler Shough after years of quarterback instability—could only muster 224 total yards.
- Rams Streak: Los Angeles has now won three straight in the series.
- Defense Wins: In that 2025 blowout, the Rams' defense held New Orleans to a pathetic 2-of-9 on third down.
- The Stafford Factor: Stafford has basically become Dennis Allen’s worst nightmare. He’s 13 seasons deep into 20+ touchdown campaigns and shows zero signs of slowing down.
Breaking Down the All-Time Series
If you're looking at the raw numbers, the Rams have the upper hand. Historically, they lead the series 46-35.
It’s interesting because even though they aren't in the same division anymore, they still see each other constantly. Because of how the NFL schedule works, teams that finish in the same "rank" in their respective divisions often play the following year. Since both teams are usually hovering around the middle or top of the NFC, they clash almost every season.
| Metric | Rams | Saints |
|---|---|---|
| Total Wins | 46 | 35 |
| Postseason Wins | 1 | 1 |
| Largest Win | 43-12 (1999) | 37-6 (1993) |
| Current Win Streak | 3 | 0 |
The Rams' current dominance is a testament to the Sean McVay era. Since McVay took over in 2017, the Rams have been a machine. He actually broke the Rams' all-time coaching win record late in 2024 with a win over... you guessed it, the Saints. That 76th regular-season win moved him past John Robinson and solidified him as the greatest coach in the franchise's history.
What's Next for the Saints and Rams?
Honestly, the Saints are in a bit of a rebuild mode right now. Finishing 2025 at 6-11 isn't what anyone in the Big Easy hoped for. Their 2026 schedule is out, and while the Rams aren't on the regular-season slate for this upcoming year (barring some late-season scheduling quirks or playoff matchups), they are set to meet again in 2028.
The Saints need to figure out their identity. Are they a defensive powerhouse like the Dome Patrol days, or are they going to finally find a quarterback who can go toe-to-toe with guys like Stafford? On the other side, the Rams are trying to squeeze every last drop of greatness out of the Stafford-McVay-Kupp window before the inevitable roster turnover happens.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're betting on or just following the next Saints vs Los Angeles Rams clash, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the Third Down Percentage: In their last four meetings, the team that won the third-down battle won the game every single time.
- Home Field Matters (Sort of): While the Saints have a legendary home atmosphere, the Rams have actually played very well in New Orleans recently. Don't let the "Dome Advantage" blind you to the Rams' technical execution.
- The Quarterback Gap: Until the Saints find a permanent solution at QB, the Rams' consistency at that position gives them a massive edge in late-game situations.
- Follow the Injuries: Both of these teams have struggled with depth in recent years. Specifically, watch the Rams' offensive line and the Saints' secondary. Those units usually decide the outcome of this specific matchup.
The rivalry might not be as "loud" as Saints-Falcons or Rams-49ers, but the bitterness is real. It’s a matchup built on missed calls, stolen seasons, and a half-century of NFC West history that refuses to die.
Next Steps: You should keep a close eye on the Saints' 2026 draft strategy. If they don't land a franchise cornerstone at quarterback, the gap between them and elite NFC teams like the Rams will only continue to widen. Check the official NFL schedule release in May to see if any cross-conference adjustments bring these two back together sooner than expected.