Resurgent and rested Saints seek a third straight victory when they host the Rams

Los Angeles Rams (5-6) at New Orleans (4-7)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, Fox.

BetMGM NFL odds: Rams by 2½.

Against the spread: Los Angeles 4-7; New Orleans 5-6.

Series record: Rams lead 44-35.

Last meeting: Rams beat the Saints 30-22 in Los Angeles on Dec. 21, 2023.

Last week: Rams lost to the Eagles 37-20; Saints had a bye, defeated the Browns 35-14 on Nov. 17.

Rams offense: overall (17), rush (26), pass (9), scoring (20).

Rams defense: overall (26), rush (28), pass (19), scoring (26).

Saints offense: overall (11), rush (9), pass (17), scoring (T11).

Saints defense: overall (31), rush (25), pass (30), scoring (20).

Turnover differential: Rams plus-3; Saints plus-2.

WR Cooper Kupp. Since returning from an ankle injury, Kupp has 37 receptions for 401 yards and four touchdowns in five games. Kupp, who has two career 100-yard outings in four previous matchups with New Orleans, needs three catches to pass Keenan Allen (624) for most through a player’s first 100 games in NFL history.

TE Taysom Hill, who also takes snaps as a QB and on special teams, is coming off a career game. He had a career-best 138 yards and three TDs rushing against the Browns during a game that also saw him total 248 yards as a runner, receiver, passer and returner.

The Saints running game, led by Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, against the Rams defensive front. The Rams have to shore up against the run after being gashed for 314 yards on the ground by the Eagles last week. The Saints have rushed for 197 or more yards in two of their past three games, including 214 in their previous outing against the Browns.

The Rams are hopeful RT Rob Havenstein will be finally be back after missing three games because of an ankle injury. The offensive line desperately missed Havenstein, the last link to the team’s time in St. Louis, in losses to Miami and Philadelphia. … TE Tyler Higbee returned to practice this week, but isn’t expected to make his season debut yet. He tore knee ligaments in last season’s playoff loss at Detroit. ... Saints center Erik McCoy has missed practice time this week as he tries to recover from a groin injury that caused him to miss seven full games before he returned for part of New Orleans' victory on Nov. 17. ... Guard Lucas Patrick also has been held out of practice with a calf injury that has sidelined him for New Orleans past two games.

The home team has won the past nine regular-season meetings. Rams coach Sean McVay will be facing his third Saints head coach since 2019 (Sean Payton, Dennis Allen and Darren Rizzi).

Rams QB Matthew Stafford passed for 243 yards and two TDs without an interception last week. ... Stafford has two or more TDs passing in four of his past five games and has passed for 290-plus yards in two straight road games. ... Stafford has 17 TD passes in his past seven games against New Orleans, including at least two TD passes in each game. ... Stafford needs 200 yards passing for his 12th-career 3,000-yard season. ... RB Kyren Williams had his ninth TD rushing of season last week. ... Williams has scored 12 TDs in his past 11 road games. ... Williams rushed for 104 yards and a TD vs. New Orleans last season. ... Williams needs 42 scrimmage yards for his second straight 1,000-yard season. ... Kupp caught his fifth TD pass of the season last week. Kupp has TD catches in his past two games. ... WR Puka Nacua had nine catches for 117 yards last week, his 10th career game with 100 or more yards receiving, third most in the NFL since 2023. Nacua had nine catches, and a career-high 180 scrimmage yards (career-high 164 receiving, 16 rushing) and a TD catch in his previous game vs. New Orleans. ... Nacua seeks his third straight game with at least 115 yards receiving. ... LB Byron Young has a sack in four of his past five games. ... LB Jared Verse leads all rookies with 11 TFL & ranks second with 4 1/2 sacks. ... DE Braden Fiske leads all rookies with 6 sacks and ranks second with eight TFL. ... LB Christian Rozeboom led the Rams with a career-high 12 tackles last week, his fifth game with 10-plus tackles in 2024. ... Rizzi, the Saints' interim coach, is 2-0 in his first NFL head coaching opportunity. ... QB Derek Carr completed 21 of 27 passes (77.8%) for 248 yards and two TDs in his previous game on Nov. 17. ... Carr passed for 319 yards and three TDs against the Rams last season. ... RB Alvin Kamara had 89 scrimmage yards (67 rushing, 22 receiving) in Week 11. ... Kamara has 443 yards receiving in 2024, the most among RBs, and needs 57 yards more for his fifth career season with 500 yards receiving. ... WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling had 87 yards receiving and his third TD catch of the season in Week 11. He's had at least 85 yards receiving and one TD catch in each of his past two games. ... Hill needs 82 scrimmage yards for his third season in a row with 500. ... TE Juwan Johnson had his second TD receiving of the season in Week 11. ... DL Bryan Bresee had 1 1/2 sacks in Week 11 and has a career-high 5 1/2 sacks. in 2024. ... DL Chase Young had half a sack in Week 11 and has had at least a partial sack in three of his past four games. ... LB Demario Davis led the Saints with a season-high 13 tackles & had two pass breakups and a tackle for loss in Week 11. ... S Tyrann Mathieu is one pass breakup short of 100 for his career.

Rizzi has said he wants to continue to keep Hill as involved as possible in the Saints offense, emphasizing that the Saints offense generally has been more effective when Hill plays well.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) carries in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, right, runs against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Dante Pettis (17) carries on a long punt return in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) carries in for a touchdown pst Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman (33) in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Lamar Jackson has almost never lost against the NFC.

This week, however, he faces a major challenge.

Baltimore's matchup with Philadelphia on Sunday pits the Ravens' top-ranked offense against the Eagles' No. 1-ranked defense. It might be the biggest test this season of Jackson's dominance against the NFC.

He's 23-1 as a starter against teams from that conference — but Philadelphia arrives in Baltimore this weekend with a seven-game winning streak and a formidable defensive front.

“This is a really good team we’re playing,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “I think some people think that they might be the best team in the league, and that’s the way they’re playing.”

Philadelphia has faced some weaker opponents during this streak, but the Eagles also took care of Joe Burrow and Cincinnati in a 37-17 rout. And they beat Jayden Daniels and Washington before handling Matthew Stafford and the Rams 37-20 last weekend.

“They rely on their front, heavily. They’ve got great linebackers, who are very smart, who play very well together,” Ravens running back Derrick Henry said. "Good in the back end, as well. So, overall, great defense — the No. 1 defense in the league — so it shows on film.”

Since Week 8, the Eagles have scored 46 points off turnovers, the most in the NFL. They had five takeaways in a 34-6 win over Dallas earlier this month in which the Cowboys managed only 146 total yards. Philadelphia held the New York Giants to 119 yards in Week 7.

Stopping the Ravens is a much different task, particularly since Jackson has done a good job protecting the ball this season, throwing only three interceptions.

Philadelphia lost veteran defensive end Brandon Graham to a torn triceps, and cornerback Darius Slay (concussion) missed practice Wednesday. There's still plenty of healthy talent for a defense that features Jalen Carter, Josh Sweat, Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean.

“Jalen Carter is amazing. Those guys up front are doing an amazing job getting after the quarterback, causing disruption in the backfield," Jackson said. "An explosive defense, that’s what I’m seeing — great corners, all-around defense, safeties. Pretty smooth.”

This weekend's game is creating a lot of buzz thanks to the matchup between running backs Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, both of whom have surpassed 1,300 yards rushing already. Barkley's role in Philadelphia's surge has led to speculation that this season's MVP might not go to a quarterback.

Jackson, the reigning winner of that award, isn't giving it up without a fight. He's ranked No. 1 in the NFL in passer rating, yards passing and touchdown-to-interception differential. And this is by no means the first good defense he's facing this season.

Baltimore scored 41 points in a win over Denver and 35 in a blowout of Buffalo. Only Pittsburgh gave the Ravens' offense real fits in a game when Baltimore turned the ball over three times.

Whatever the result, someone will probably exit this Baltimore-Philadelphia matchup feeling like it just made a major statement against one of the top teams in the league.

“Just worry about being who you are, stay true to yourself, going in like any other game,” Jackson said. “Don’t just put too much on your mind about the opponent. You have to focus on what’s in front of you.”

NOTES: Baltimore LB Roquan Smith (hamstring) was back at practice for the team's walkthrough Wednesday after missing Monday night's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. NT Michael Pierce, on injured reserve since late last month, also returned to practice. ... Harbaugh confirmed that TE Charlie Kolar has a broken arm.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, left, is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)