Sure, it’s early in the season, but this game might tell us who has the best team in the NFC.
The New Orleans Saints narrowly beat the Houston Texans on a miraculous 58-yard field goal on Monday night, while the Los Angeles Rams held off the Carolina Panthers for a three-point victory on Sunday.
But, these close victories don’t quite tell the whole story. These teams beat some of the best rosters in the league, and for the most part, they looked good doing it. Both of these teams are so complete that it looks like the only teams that can beat them might be each other.
The Saints offensive line held up nicely against a tough Texans defense last week, allowing the old-timer Drew Brees to throw for 370 yards. Though there have been whispers of decline setting in for Brees, he offered a vintage performance, completing 75 percent of his passes.
However, there was a reason the game was close. The Saints defense will need to play better to hold off the Rams in Week 2. In particular, the weak run defense is a liability. This defensive unit is supposed to be improved, but they have to show that this week.
Los Angeles didn’t play a perfect game in Week 1 either. Quarterback Jared Goff only threw for 183 yards, even though his offensive line looks improved. That won’t cut it most weeks.
The defense wasn’t blameless either. Christian McCaffrey ran all over the Rams last week, and Alvin Kamara could easily do the same in Week 2.
Like the Saints, the Rams took care of business despite some weak spots. Running back Todd Gurley was more productive on the ground than expected, and the platoon behind him did just fine.
In short, neither team played lights out in Week 1, but they still managed to get a victory. If either of these teams can round into peak form this week, they should be able to take home a win.
New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams
- When: Sunday, Sept. 15 at 4:25pm ET
- Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA
- Streaming: FOX, NFL Sunday Ticket
There are a number of options for watching Saints vs. Rams on streaming platforms that carry FOX. However, consult a coverage map to see what game your regional channel will be playing.
If a game is not being carried in your area, the only option might be an NFL Sunday Ticket package.
Saints vs. Rams live stream: How to watch NFL online
1) Sling TV
- Cost: $25-$40 per month (40% off first month)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
Both Sling Blue ($25 per month) or Sling Orange + Blue ($40 per month) include NFL Network and a number of sports channels—like three ESPN channels, NBCSN, and FS1—and it’s still a nice perk that Sling subscribers can order a la carte packages. Sling TV also offers a special Latino package for bilingual viewers. Sling TV is currently offering a deal where you can subscribe for 40% off the regular price for the first month of your subscription. That means Sling Blue would cost $15, and Sling Orange + Blue would cost $25. (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels and our Sling TV review.)
For $10 extra per month, you can get NFL RedZone via the Sling Blue Sports Extra package.
How to use AirTV with Sling
AirTV solves one of the Sling’s biggest problems: The inability to receive all of your local channels. By purchasing a basic AirTV for $79.99 or the AirTV Player for $119.99, you can merge those local channels into your Sling TV, (or on your mobile device if you have the basic AirTV). As the Daily Dot wrote in its AirTV review, “it’s practically magic.”
The basic AirTV is a dual-tuner streaming device, while the AirTV Player is basically an upgraded Chromecast that has Netflix preinstalled. You’ll still need to own an HD antenna because even though AirTV gets you access to your local channels, it doesn’t actually physically show them to you.
But AirTV—which has no monthly fee—serves to strengthen one of Sling’s biggest weaknesses compared to other live streaming services like Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, and PlayStation Vue. All those services have plenty of local channels.
2) FuboTV
- Cost: $54.99 per month
- FuboTV devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- FuboTV local channels: Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
If you’re a big-time sports fan, FuboTV is your best streaming service option. If you love international soccer and you’re a Spanish speaker, FuboTV also offers various add-on packages, including Fubo Latino and Fubo Português. FuboTV’s basic plan showcases nearly 100 channels and includes NFL Network. At $54.99 per month, you’ll also get FS1, FS2, NBCSN, NBA TV, Big Ten Network, Pac 12 Network, BeIn Sports, and CBS Sports Network, along with premium channels like FX/FXX/FXM. The only notable omission for sports fans is ESPN. You can add Fubo’s Sports Plus package for an additional $8.99 per month, which allows you to stream NFL RedZone, (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
3) PlayStation Vue
- Cost: $44.99-$79.99 per month (after a 5-day free trial)
- PlayStation Vue devices: PlayStation 3 and 4, Roku, Amazon Fire, Google Chromecast, Kodi, iOS and Android devices
- PlayStation Vue local channels: NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
If you’d like to watch live NFL games directly from your PS4, PlayStation Vue is your best bet. PlayStation also works with streaming devices like Roku and Amazon Fire products, but what separates PlayStation from the rest of the streaming services is that it’s also compatible with Kodi. No matter how you stream, you’ll get to choose from four tiers of channels—all but the cheapest include NFL Network. From there, you can also add NFL RedZone as part of the $10-per-month Sports Pack, which also unlocks ESPN Bases Loaded, ESPN Classic, Longhorn Network, Outside TV, and NBCUniversal regional sports networks. You can see the full list of PlayStation Vue channels here. Two other great perks: You can stream on up to five devices at once, and there’s also unlimited cloud DVR.
4) Hulu with Live TV
Cost: $44.99 per month
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
Hulu with Live TV includes sports programming among its offerings, including ESPN and FS1, and as a subscriber to the service, you’ll get free access to Hulu’s sizable on-demand library. (Check out the full list of Hulu Live TV channels.)
5) YouTube TV
YouTube TV NFL NFC FOX streaming” class=”wp-image-634453″ src=”https://www.dailydot.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/saints_rams_youtube_TV.jpg”>- Cost: $50 per month
- YouTube TV devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- YouTube TV local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
YouTube TV is a great option for college football fans, including ESPNand FS1. (Take a look at the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
6) NFL Sunday Ticket
NFL Sunday Ticket NFL NFC FOX streaming” class=”wp-image-634455″ src=”https://www.dailydot.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/saints_rams_NFLSundayTicket.jpg”>Cost: $73.99 per month for four months, or one single payment of $293.96
There are two—and only two—ways of acquiring NFL Sunday Ticket without DirecTV. There’s NFLSundayTicket.TV, which costs $73.99 per month for four months. It’s everything you love NFL Sunday Ticket but online-only. You can stream from pretty much any device that connects to the internet (but only on one device at a time).
You can also upgrade to the NFLST.TV Max bundle for a total of $99 per month for four months or one single payment of $395.99. You can also add on NFL Game Pass, which allows you to watch replays of every game after they air, for $50 for the full season.
There’s another way to watch NFL Sunday Ticket without DirecTV: Amazon Prime. While you can’t pay for the package using Amazon Prime, you can at least watch all of the games on the service. To start, first download the NFL Sunday Ticket channel on Amazon Prime. It’s free. From there, you’ll just need to sign in with your subscription credentials.
College students can purchase NFL Sunday Ticket at a discounted price through NFLSundayTicket.TV U.
Saints vs. Rams: Why it matters
Along with the Cowboys, the Saints and Rams look like they are in a class of their own in the NFC. Week 2 might not be too early to say that whoever wins this is the early favorite to lock up home-field advantage in the playoffs.
After all, it was a notorious call by the referees that helped send the Rams to the Super Bowl last year instead of the Saints. In 2019, they again appear pretty evenly matched.
If the Saints offensive line holds up, and Rams impact players like Aaron Donald are held at bay, it might be hard for Goff to stand toe-to-toe with Brees. With Alvin Kamara much healthier than Todd Gurley, the advantage feels like it is in the Saints’ favor.
But, the Rams are talented enough that a couple of big plays could make the difference. A breakout game from a Rams receiver or a stifled Saints defense could put a W in the Rams column.
It’s hard to call this one until the two teams take the field, but regardless of what happens, this should be one of the most exciting games of Week 2.
READ MORE:
- How to watch NFL RedZone without cable
- How to watch NFL Sunday Ticket without a DirecTV satellite
- How to watch NFL Network online (without cable)
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