Saints, Rams on collision course for NFC title game

It’s only Thanksgiving, but only a fool would consider any other possibility. The Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints — baring serious injury issues — are going to meet in the NFC Championship Game come January. The only question is which stadium the contest will be played in.

As of Thanksgiving night, both teams are 10-1. The Saints hold the key tiebreaker over the Rams with their 45-35 victory over them in Week 9. Of course, both teams have five games remaining on the regular-season schedule before getting a week off and then heading into the divisional round for a tune-up.

None of this is meant to be dismissive or disrespectful of the Chicago Bears, who are certainly a quality team in their own right at 8-3. However, to believe in the Bears against either the Saints or Rams is to think that Mitchell Trubisky can handle Drew Brees or Jared Goff in their buildings. Huge reach.

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So going forward, the only question that matters in the NFC is who earned home-field advantage. Will the Saints be going to Los Angeles to take on the Rams in sunny California, or will New Orleans be playing host to Los Angeles, the only building that has seen Sean McVay and Co. lose this season?

Here are the schedules for each down the stretch…

Rams

Week 13 – at Detroit Lions

Week 14 – at Chicago Bears

Week 15 – vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week 16 – at Arizona Cardinals

Week 17 – vs. San Francisco 49ers

Saints

Week 13 – at Dallas Cowboys

Week 14 – at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 15 – at Carolina Panthers

Week 16 – vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 17 – vs. Carolina Panthers

The schedules paint an interesting picture.

Both teams have three road games, with the Saints about to embark on a three-game swing that includes Dallas, Tampa Bay and Carolina. The Cowboys and Panthers are still very much in the race, while the Buccaneers are the only team to defeat New Orleans all year. Coming home, the Saints draw the Steelers and Panthers for the rematch. Again, two tough games, with Pittsburgh likely fighting for a bye week and Carolina perhaps jockeying for playoff positioning.

Read: Cowboys Secure Lead in NFC East with Win Over Redskins

Los Angeles has a couple of layups with the 49ers and Cardinals, and while the Eagles are talented, their motivation might be completely shot by Week 15. However, the Lions on the road might present a trap — just ask the New England Patriots — and the Bears on a Sunday night in Solider Field will be ready and waiting.

All that said, both teams are likely favored in every contest the rest of the way. The Rams have a moderately easier schedule, but the Saints are rolling as winners of 10 straight.

December should be a wild, crazy time for two teams desperate to be home for the winter in the best way possible.