nfc championship 2018

By Frank Schwab | Yahoo SportsSean McVay did something last season, his first as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, that was a loophole and rather brilliant.NFL coaches can communicate with the quarterback through a speaker in the quarterback’s helmet until 15 seconds are left on the play...

Advocate file photosBy Nick Underhill | The AdvocateKeith Kirkwood can thank the Rams for providing his first NFL highlight.The rookie was still on the practice squad when New Orleans played Los Angeles but was called up a couple of weeks later when the Saints played the Bengals. During...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Bob Warren, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneYou were exhausted Monday morning. The scratchy throat? The inability to speak above a whisper? You wore those like badges of honor.The Saints beat the Philadelphia Eagles, and the fans...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneTwo of Josh Hill’s three children were born in New Orleans, and his oldest was not even a year old when the Hill family moved here.That is part of why it meant so much to Hill when the...

Amos Morale III, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins is doing well after tearing his Achilles in Sunday’s NFC Divisional win against the Philadelphia Eagles.“Of course, he’s disappointed,” Payton said Thursday. “He’ll have...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneSean Payton typically heaps praise on do-it-all backup quarterback Taysom Hill, but the New Orleans Saints coach made a joke Thursday about the unique player.“He runs fast, but a...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneDefending the Los Angeles Rams rushing attack was already tough enough when it centered heavily on the stupendous abilities of Todd Gurley.Now, Gurley has a running mate, and that...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Christopher Dabe - NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneTHOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — When Drew Brees came into the NFL, he had a 39-year-old quarterback in Doug Flutie giving him advice.Back then, Brees was a rookie backup quarterback on the...

Amos Morale III, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune Before the New Orleans Saints began their playoff run last season, the locker room was cleared of a miniature basketball hoop, table tennis set and a Nintendo 64.This postseason, however, they have remained in the locker room leading up to the...

By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe New Orleans Saints injury report contained some good news and some bad news Thursday (Jan. 17).Receiver Keith Kirkwood (calf) and tight end Ben Watson (illness) both missed practice for the second consecutive day, but offensive linemen...

Advocate Staff Photo by Leslie GamboniBY SARA PAGONES | The AdvocateSaints fans who made a din fearful enough to force the Eagles into burned timeouts and false starts Sunday are rightfully getting their due for helping the team to the critical win, but with even more on the line this...

Advocate Staff Photo by Chris GrangerAdvocate StaffNew Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has never shied away from saying it -- the home-field advantage at Mercedes-Benz Superdome is real."For us, our focus is taking advantage of another game at home and taking advantage of crowd noise," he...

By Herbie Teope - Around the NFL Writer | NFL.comMETAIRIE, La. -- The Los Angeles Rams defense had their way against the 10th-ranked rushing offense in the Divisional Round.Anchored by interior defensive linemen Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers, the Rams held Dallas Cowboys...

John DeShazier | Senior Writer - NewOrleansSaints.comIf anyone has an appreciation for the New Orleans Saints’ current status – the top-seeded team in the NFC, preparing to host the NFC Championship Game on Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome – it’s Drew Brees.If anyone understands how...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Jeff Duncan | NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneTurns out Marcus Peters was mistaken.It’s not Gumbo Week, after all.Apparently, it’s crawfish season.At least it was on Wednesday (Jan. 16) in Los Angeles, where the loquacious Rams...

(michael_democker@nola.com)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneTaylor Stallworth is not going so far as to say his role has changed after the New Orleans Saints lost defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins for the season to a torn Achilles.It is more like his role is picking up.“Man...

Advocate staff photo by SCOTT THRELKELDBy Nick Underhill | The AdvocateThe New Orleans Saints like to think they get everyone's best effort.They spend every week watching an opponent do one thing, only to end up seeing something completely different on Sunday. The only thing that...

Advocate StaffAs the Saints prepare for their Sunday game against the Los Angeles Rams in the Superdome, fans are making their tailgating and game-watching plans. But the Louisiana atorney general is warning members of the Who Dat Nation to be vigilant against fraudulent tickets and scammers...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints wide receiver Keith Kirkwood and tight end Ben Watson did not participate in practice Wednesday, and three offensive linemen were listed as limited participants...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Luke Johnson, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneThe day the New Orleans Saints quarterback turned 40 years old was unremarkable in that his day-to-day life did not veer off its regimented course.On his birthday (Jan. 15), Drew Brees...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneIt was surprising to hear Skip Bayless call Marshon Lattimore the best cornerback in the NFL on Monday’s episode of “Undisputed.”Not because Bayless is wrong, but because nobody was...

(Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Mike Scott, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneIt's not like New Orleans Saints fans really need much help getting amped up for Sunday's NFC Championship tilt against the Los Angeles Rams at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.But they're...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton knew the question was coming, but perhaps not in the form it ultimately came.During Payton’s news conference on Wednesday, a reporter asked...

(Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)By Jennifer Larino, NOLA.com | The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans hotels are preparing for a blockbuster weekend as the New Orleans Saints get ready to face off against the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC Championship on Sunday. And it’s...

(AP Photo/Bill Feig)The NFL's leading receiver will be a problem for the Rams in Sunday's NFC Championship gameBy Mark Whicker | Daily NewsMichael Thomas caught more passes than anyone in the NFL this season. The Saints threw 163 footballs in his direction. He caught 137.He...