(Inglewood) Matthew Stafford had 328 passing yards and two touchdown passes Thursday as the Los Angeles Rams held off the New Orleans Saints 30-22.
Rookie Puka Nacua caught nine passes, posting a career-high 164 yards.
He caught a two-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
Kyren Williams rushed for 104 yards, including a 10-yard run to the end zone.
Demarcus Robinson did his part with 82 receiving yards, including a four-yard reception for a touchdown, in the last minute of the first half.
The Rams (8-7) increased their record to over .500 for the first time since a season-opening victory.
The club is in sixth place in the National. There could be a first-round playoff matchup against the Detroit Lions, with whom Stafford spent 12 seasons.
Los Angeles took points in six of the club’s first eight drives en route to a 30-7 lead.
Derek Carr then completed two touchdown passes in less than three minutes, to Juwan Johnson and A. T. Perry.
Nacua took a short kick to calm the game. He then made an important first play by catching a nine-yard pass. After that, the Rams cruised to their fourth straight home win.
Carr had 319 passing yards for the Saints (7-8), who had won their last two games.
Rashid Shaheed caught a 45-yard touchdown pass for the Saints, who allowed 458 yards.
Stafford has been brilliant through five games, throwing 14 touchdowns and just one interception.
This is the third time in his career where he has had at least two touchdown passes in five straight games.
Williams became the first Rams player to accumulate 1,000 rushing yards since 2018, when Todd Gurley reached that milestone.
Shohei Ohtani attended the game after meeting with players on the sidelines about an hour before the kickoff.
The Rams presented a number 17 jersey to the new star of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ohtani agreed to a 10-year, $700 million contract earlier this month.
