Event of the Day: New Orleans Saints versus Los Angeles Rams
Our event of the day is the NFL clash between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints. In one of the most mouth-watering games of the year so far, two of the league’s best quarterbacks will go head-to-head. Rams QB Jared Goff is into just his third NFL season, but has led his team to an unbeaten start this season with a record of 8-0. Drew Brees has had an equally memorable season thus far, leading his team to an impressive 6-1 start, whilst also breaking the NFL record for career passing yards in week 5. Peyton Manning previously held the record for most passing yards with 71,940 which Brees surpassed in the second quarter against the Redskins with a 62-yard link up with Tre'Quan Smith, who fittingly reached the end zone and scored a touchdown on the play. Even though Rams come into this game with a superior regular season record, Drew Brees and the Saints are in white hot form, winning their last six games. Furthermore, even though Los Angeles picked up the W last week against Green Bay, they were pushed until the very end and will use that as a warning going into today’s fixture. If the Saints are to have any chance in this one, however, they will need to utilise the run game, with all-pro running back Alvin Kamara responsible for establishing this.
Unfortunately for the Saints, Los Angeles have the best running back in the league in their ranks. Todd Gurley has run for 800 yards this season already, 181 more than his nearest competitor. He has also scored 15 touchdowns and is on track to smash LaDainian Tomlinson’s record of 31 touchdowns in a year, set in 2006. The last time these two sides met was in a pre-season fixture this year, where the Saints shutout the Rams 28-0. However, with both sides fielding weakened teams for this fixture, the score line is somewhat misleading. The Rams have scored at least 20 points in every NFL game this season, so if the Saints repeat the pre-season feat of shutting them out, it will be nothing short of miraculous. Today could well be the game of the season so far.
Honourable mentions around the world go to the New York Marathon which takes place today. With just over 50,000 completing last year’s race, it is the largest marathon in the world. As the runners weave their way through the five boroughs of New York City, the elite competitors will be looking to break Geoffrey Mutai’s record finishing time of 2:05:05 set in 2011. The Paris Masters will reach its conclusion today as Novak Djokovic and Karen Khachanov will battle it out for the title. Djokovic already holds the record for most titles won at this event and will increase his tally to five if he beats Khachanov today. Aaron Rodgers goes head-to-head with Tom Brady today for just the second time in their legendary careers as the Green Bay Packers face the Patriots in New England. There is also Premier League action as Chelsea take on local rivals Crystal Palace and Manchester City look to make it five wins on the bounce as they face Southampton. In Rugby League, England host New Zealand in an International Test Match at Anfield. India will play the West Indies in the first T20 international of a three-match series hosted by India. There is golf action on the European Tour, as day four of the Turkish Airlines Open gets underway at the Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort in Antalya. It is the final day of the World Series of Darts Finals, where the Quarter-finals will take place in the afternoon session, with the Semi-finals and Final succeeding these in the evening session. Michael van Gerwen will be looking to secure his fourth win in as many years at this tournament.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by NFL