7 Takeaways From Rams’ Dominant Preseason Win Over Saints

The Los Angeles Rams dominated on Saturday afternoon in their win against the New Orleans Saints. Stetson Bennett reminded everyone why he’s been the front-runner at QB2 all summer, and the defense delivered another standout performance.

“I thought it was a really good team effort,” said head coach Sean McVay. “Awesome to see so many guys making plays. Awesome to be able to celebrate a lot of guys today and to be able to have their teammates here to be able to celebrate them was fun for me as well.”

With two preseason games out of the way, the Rams will wrap up next Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Here are seven takeaways from Saturday’s 34-0 win over the Saints.

Stetson Bennett Answers the Bell in QB2 Battle

Heading into Saturday’s game against the Saints, the battle for QB2 seemed to be on. Following Ty Simpson’s performance against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Rams finally acknowledged that they might have a backup quarterback battle on their hands. However, Stetson Bennett answered the bell and showed why he’s taken the backup quarterback reps all summer.

“He’s getting better and better. I think part of it is the overall command,” said McVay. “He made some really good decisions. I thought he got through some progressions. Then I love the fact that he used his legs. But he did a great job. I thought he got an opportunity to be able to really showcase a lot of his skills.”

Bennett finished 19-for-31 for 181 yards and had two rushing touchdowns. At this point, it looks like Bennett may go into the season as the backup behind Matthew Stafford. With just one more preseason game to go, Bennett showed enough on Saturday that the Rams should feel comfortable not playing him next week.

Rams Secondary Depth Shines Against Saints

While the defense as a whole had a strong performance, it was the secondary that really stole the show. The Rams’ secondary had eight passes defended, which is the most by a Rams defense in a preseason game since at least 2017. Al’Zillion Hamilton had an interception in the first half, and then Alex Cook had a second-half interception that he returned 100 yards for a touchdown. Cook’s 100-yard pick-six marked the longest interception return for a touchdown in the preseason since at least 2017.

“They did a great job. I thought we were in positions to understand a lot of the coverages, some different things we were trying to get done,” said McVay. “I've been really pleased with that group really the last two weeks. Tremendous credit to those players, and I think the coaches have done a great job as well.”

The Rams got better at the top of the cornerback position this summer. However, there were some questions about the depth after losing Cobie Durant and Roger McCreary in free agency. Cam Lampkin had a pass breakup in this game and has had a strong training camp. Hamilton has also had a strong preseason. It’s a testament to the coaching staff and the team’s development process.

Wesley Bailey Is Making His Case for the 53-Man Roster

Wesley Bailey has been about as dominant on defense as you can get in the preseason. It’s going to be very difficult for the Rams to keep him off the roster. He may not have had a sack or a pressure against the Chiefs, but he made his presence felt. On Saturday afternoon against the Saints, he was a serious problem.

“I thought you felt his presence all day,” said McVay. “There are certain guys you feel on defense where you know they're making their presence felt, and that was how I felt about ‘Wes’ Bailey all day today.”

Bailey was credited with 10 pressures against the Saints. That was twice as many as any other player. Since 2023, five players have had 10 or more pressures in a preseason game. The other four are Trey Hendrickson, Micah Parsons, Aidan Hutchinson, and Jonathan Cooper. According to TruMedia, Rams EDGE Wesley Bailey is just the third player since at least 2017 with at least 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, and four quarterback hits in a preseason game.

Offensive Line Sets the Tone for Rams’ Running Game

First and foremost, the offensive line deserves a lot of credit for how they’ve played during the preseason. That group has played very well, and offensive line coach Ryan Wendell deserves a lot of credit for that development. The Rams have signed a lot of new faces as depth, and they have been dominant in the trenches.

With the offensive line blocking well, the running backs took advantage. Jordan Waters and Jarquez Hunter combined for 22 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown. The duo averaged 5.5 yards per carry and was very physical at the second level.

“I thought our runners ran really well,” noted McVay after the game. “Waters made his presence felt. Obviously, it was an awesome run by Jarquez Hunter to be able to get the last touchdown. But I was really happy with the offensive line. I thought they did a really good job.”

CJ Daniels Delivers His Best Preseason Performance

Last week, it was Max Klare as the focal point of the passing game. Against the Saints, the Rams made it a point to get wide receiver CJ Daniels more involved. Daniels was targeted 13 times and had eight catches for 68 yards.

Throughout much of training camp, Daniels has impressed, but that didn’t carry over into the first preseason game. Whether the Rams were seeing how much he could handle in a game to get him ready for the regular season or whether it was simply how the game unfolded, Daniels was much more involved on Saturday afternoon. It’s easy to see why the Rams like what they have in the sixth-round pick.

Defense Continues Its Dominant Preseason

All of the attention may have been on the backup quarterback battle and the offense. However, it was the defense that really stood out against the Saints. Even if it was only the preseason, a shutout in the NFL is nothing to scoff at.

It was the Rams’ first shutout in the preseason since at least 2000. Even when the Saints got close to scoring, the defense made plays. Cook had the interception at the goal line, and then Bailey forced a fumble with the Saints close to scoring as well. Again, it was an impressive performance by that unit overall, and they have yet to allow a touchdown in two games.

Rams May Have More Depth Than Expected

On that note, is it possible that the Rams have more depth than they were initially given credit for heading into the offseason? It can be easy to overrate depth during the preseason as they are going up against other third- and fourth-string players. However, the Rams have a handful of undrafted free agents and fringe-roster players who are making a strong case for the final 53.

The running back room has looked more than capable during the preseason, and tthere are a couple of offensive linemen who look to be good developmental options. The same can be said in the secondary with guys like Hamilton and Lampkin. Bailey was going to have an uphill battle in a strong edge group, and he’s been dominant. At some point during the season, the Rams may have to lean on one or two of these guys. The preseason may not be the same level as the regular season, but the last two weeks have given some confidence that the Rams may be able to lean on a few of these players for a short stretch if needed.

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