MJD really just said the Rams have a better defense. (2 Viewers)

[TenTwo]

This silliness will be answered (again) in a few days when the Saints defense holds the Rams offense to less points than the Rams defense does the Saints.

 

[Le_fleur_fan_78]

And the village idiot stands on his soapbox once again.

On the power rankings show on NFL network, in the Balance of Power segment MJD said the Rams have been a top 5 defense since Aqib Talib returned. That is statistically true, however, that has a lot to do with the competition they played (Cardinals, Bears, 49ers, Lions) which are not particularly known for their offense.

However, he fails to mention that in that same time period the Saints have been top 2 in almost every defensive category. It is no shock considering he works for the Rams and had to find a way to make sure he gave the Rams the meaningless Balance of Power segment (he had the Eagles win that last week too)

Good, I hope the Rams are watching and drinking the cool aid. I am very excited to see MT vs their secondary, I hope he gets in their head and stays there rent free.

 

[Ramsfan128]

And the NFCCG is days away. What makes you think you'll put it together now if you couldn't do it in the previous 17 games?

Well, I never said that I think they will. Just explaining why someone might think that.

But the Saints offense has been worse and the Rams defense has been better overall since our week 9 game, although opponents must be taken into account with that.

 

[SaintJ]

Gurley has been playing hurt, but even still he's been better than Ingram/Kamara together.

If you look at DVOA, the Rams have a better pass defense than the Saints by a decent margin, and the Saints have a better run defense by a large margin. So overall the Saints defense looks better, but the Rams played the run really well last week - if the Rams continue to play the pass well and play better run defense, it's not a stretch. We have the best defensive player in the NFL and talent wise we are up there with the best defenses - just haven't put it together yet.

You can look at DVOA all you want, but let's try something else -- every system, even ones rated for recency, will still have months-old data. Instead, I took the last eight games for each team, excluding the Saints' last game against Carolina that was meaningless for us.

Rams
Opponent passer rating over last 8 games -- 88.4
Average league rank of passer rating of last 8 opponents -- 14.5

Saints
Opponent passer rating over last 8 games -- 80.8
Average league rank of passer rating of last 8 opponents -- 13.0

I'd love to know on what basis the Rams have a better pass defense right now by a large margin.

Also, somebody needs to explain to me how a team that was 23rd in rushing yards allowed per game and dead last in yards per carry allowed is going to stop us from running the ball. One game of stacking the box to stop a relatively pedestrian Dallas offense, featuring a QB who cannot beat you by himself, doesn't tell me a lot. We gave up the same number of yards, but a lot fewer points, on the road against Dallas ourselves, on our third game in 11 days that stretch, and the Rams had two weeks to prepare.

Get the golf clubs ready.

 

[Hey BAY BAY!!!]

MJD is a Connard! Excuse my French.

 

[AARPSaint]

Oh MJD, the Saints are playing the Cardinals this week.
MJD: Cardinals will win.

It's like a conditioned response. He should get over his hatred of Reggie Bush and USC. Face it, MJD, Reggie Bush got drafted second overall. You didn't.

MJD seems to be trying to set a record for the length of bearing a grudge.

 

[bouxdag]

Well, I never said that I think they will. Just explaining why someone might think that.

But the Saints offense has been worse and the Rams defense has been better overall since our week 9 game, although opponents must be taken into account with that.

Isn’t our defense the 2nd ranked defense in the NFL in the time frame you just suggested?

You’re cherry picking timeframes to fit a narrative(s). I guess that’s what fans and/or commentators with hot takes tend to do.

 

[LAhotsauce]

Gurley has been playing hurt, but even still he's been better than Ingram/Kamara together.

If you look at DVOA, the Rams have a better pass defense than the Saints by a decent margin, and the Saints have a better run defense by a large margin. So overall the Saints defense looks better, but the Rams played the run really well last week - if the Rams continue to play the pass well and play better run defense, it's not a stretch. We have the best defensive player in the NFL and talent wise we are up there with the best defenses - just haven't put it together yet.

No the Rams aren't. Marcus Peters lives off name only. He's not good. Rams have 0 linebackers. Suh has been sporadic and not worth that contract. At least the Saints have done something well all season long while the pass defense got better and better.

Meanwhile the Rams have been bad on defense all year, only to make up ground against bottom dwellers like the Raiders, 49ers (2xs), and Cardinals (2xs).

And in the last 5 weeks of the season, the Rams had the weakest SOS of any of the final 4, while the Saints had the second most difficult, especially considering they had to play 3 straight on the road with no bye mixed in. Only the Chiefs had a tougher schedule record wise.