At 4:05 a.m. Beijing time on Monday, January 21, the National League Divisional Finals started on time: the New Orleans Saints, the number one seed in the National League, sat at home to meet the challenge of the Los Angeles Rams. The last time the Rams advanced to the Super Bowl was in 2001–02, and the Saints won the 2009–10 Super Bowl. The two teams have met once this season in week 9 of the regular season, when the Saints won 45-35 at home.
The Home Saints started attacking first, with quarterback Drew Brees finding running back Alvin Kamara with consecutive passes to advance 21 and 14 yards in a row.
However, Saints midfielder Dan Arnold was unable to complete the catch in the end zone and had to send kicker Wil Lutz, who hit a 37-yard free-kick to help the Saints take a 3-0 lead in the first place.
The Rams' offensive group came in and quarterback Jared Goff passed the ball under pressure to runback Todd Gurley, who picked up the ball and the ball was intercepted by linebacker Demario Davis! The Saints won the ball straight at the opponent's 16 yard line!
However, the Saints in the red zone were forced out of the third gear, and Will Ratz came on to hit a 29-yard close free-kick, and the Saints made it 6-0 to the Rams.
The Rams are out of the third gear and the Saints are back. Josh Hill first picked up a short pass and ran down 24 yards.
Michael Thomas's 19-yard catch helped the team into the red zone. Five goals later, substitute mid-ranger Garrett Griffin received the ball and scored in a five-yard touchdown. The Saints extended the lead to 13:0.
The competition enters the second quarter. Facing the Rams in four 5-yard slots on the 30-yard line, the abandoned kicker Johnny Hekker passed the ball to find cornerback Sam Shields, advanced 12 yards and scored the Rams' first attack of the game.
With this wave of possession, the Rams advanced into the red zone, and eventually Greg Zuerlein hit a 36-yard free-kick to turn the score into the Saints' 13-3 Rams.
After three subsequent balls, the two teams dropped each other. The Rams scored the ball two minutes before the end of the first half, and Jared Gough first found outside receiver Brandin Cooks with a long pass to advance 17 yards. Cooks then completed a 36-yard receiver to bring the team to the scoring line.
Todd Gurley scored on a six-yard touchdown and the Rams closed the gap to three points before the end of the first half. Acts 13:10 Ram.
The Rams were first forced to abandon the third gear in the second half. The Saints got the ball, Mark Ingram II rushed 16 yards, and after seven goals, substitute quarterback Taysom Hill took a short line to score! It was the quarterback's first touchdown this season. The Saints led the Rams 20:10.
The Rams quickly responded, with outside receiver Brending Cook receiving the ball 25 yards into the red zone, Josh Reynolds sprinting 16 yards from the left to the 1-yard line, and finally the near-end striker Tyler Higbee received the ball and scored. Saints 20:17 Rams, the point difference was once again reduced to 3 points.
The game went into the fourth quarter, where Gough was killed and the Rams were forced to abandon kicks.
The Rams then got the ball again, and Gough rushed out with a pass to Find Gerald Everett and pushed 39 yards!
Josh Reynolds received another 33 yards to take the team into the red zone.
Greg Zur lane's 24-yard free-kick pulled the score to a 20-20 draw!
With 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Saints had a chance to kill the game. Receiver Ted Ginn's 43-yard long-range key receiver gave the Saints hope of a killer!
Kicker Will Ratz hit a 31-yard free-kick and the Saints took a 23-20 lead, but a three-point lead wasn't safe.
With 1 minute and 41 seconds left, Josh Reynolds received 19 yards, Robert Woods received 16 yards and the Rams out of range sent Greg Zur lane to hit a 48-yard free-kick to tie the score to a 23-23 draw! Race into extra time!
The Saints got the ball first in overtime, drew Brith's pass in the half was destroyed and the ball flew straight into the hands of security guard John Johnson!
Using this ball, the Rams came out of range with a free-kick and Greg Zurlain hit a 57-yard long-range free-kick to kill the Saints!
At the end of the game, the Los Angeles Rams beat the New Orleans Saints 23:20 in overtime to advance to the Super Bowl!
Full-game stats
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback Jared Gough 40 passes 25, 297 yards, average 7.4 yards, 1 touchdown 1 interception, one kill;
Outside receiver Brentin Cooks received 7 yards;
New Orleans Saints
Quarterback Drew Brith made 26 of 40 passes, 249 yards, average 6.2, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception, and was killed twice;
Running back Alvin Kamala rushed 15 yards and 11 received 96 yards.
(Editor: Yao Fan)