As expected the Los Angeles Rams’ week 9 matchup in New Orleans was a shootout, as the two teams combined for 80 points.

Unfortunately, the Rams couldn’t quite sustain momentum after erasing a 35-17 halftime deficit, and some key plays down the stretch by the Saints earned them the W at home.Here’s a look back at how Sean Wilkinson’s five Rams to watch fared on Sunday.QB Jared GoffAfter a Joe Namath Color Rush Jersey ,3-game stretch which saw Goff register just 3 TDs and 3 INTs, the Rams QB has now thrown for 6 TDs against 1 INT in his last two. His performance on Sunday was stellar. His lone INT (on a great play from Saints LB Alex Anzalone) was unfortunate, but otherwise he threw the ball into some tight windows and moved the team at will. He continues to exert better pocket presence, command of the offense, and confidence in his throws as he builds on his impressive 2017 campaign.RB Todd GurleyNot a big day for JTG in this one, as he was held to just 68 yards and a TD on 13 carries, and notched just 11 yards on 6 catches. The game flow had a lot to do with matters, as the Rams both fell behind and found success in the passing game with relative ease. Yes, the New Orleans run D also had something to do with it, but certainly this isn’t anything to be concerned about. DL Aaron DonaldIt was also a pretty quiet afternoon for Aaron Donald, as he was credited with just one tackle (for loss, crushing Saints RB Alvin Kamara), and one pass deflection. We can save all of the “he gets held on every play” chatter for another day as the Rams failed to sack Saints QB Drew Brees, and in the first half, he simply carved us up. Donald and Co. definitely got more pressure in the second half, but it was perhaps too little too late.OLB Dante FowlerRecently acquired OLB Dante Fowler played 44 snaps (62%) on Sunday Nolan Cromwell Jersey , and from here, I thought he generally looked pretty good. Yes, he reminded some fans of former Rams DE Robert Quinn, often favoring a “one move” approach, and occasionally got swallowed up by blockers. That said, he did provide some pressure, forcing an errant Brees pass on a third down, and generally bringing some aggression and physicality the 2018 Rams have lacked. For a guy who got less than a week of practice in a new defense, I would say he had a strong debut.CB Marcus PetersPretty sure Sosa said it all here, but once again LA’s high-profile offseason acquisition was downright brutal against the Saints, as WR Michael Thomas made him look a high school freshman playing against the JV squad for the first time.Sean wrote: “Each time Peters allows a big play, he seems to be upset with the safeties. Whether that’s due to frustration or because he’s expecting help over the top is uncertain,” and pretty much nailed it: Peters did indeed appear to blame a lack of safety help when he surrendered the game-clinching TD pass. 9 games in, the former Chiefs all-pro is making Rams fans long for the days of Trumaine Johnson and Kayvon Webster. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Although Sean McVay was standing on the sideline to watch it, the head coach still had to check the video before he truly realized the scope of Aaron Donald’s dominance in the Los Angeles Rams’ latest win.The All-Pro defensive lineman was in vintage form against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, leading a stellar defensive effort as the Rams (7-0) extended their longest perfect start to a season since 1985 with a 39-10 victory.McVay saw Donald’s four sacks, and he knew Donald had forced a fumble that led to a score. Turns out, there was much more.“I knew he had a really productive day, but then you go back and you just tally up all the plays that he made Rodger Saffold Jersey Black Friday ,” McVay said. “How he’s getting there and affecting and influencing the game in a variety of ways from his position was really impressive. That’s why he’s the man.”Donald is back at the peak of his disruptive powers after a self-described slow start to the season possibly caused by missing the Rams’ entire offseason program and preseason during his contract holdout. With the $135 million man causing regular misery for opponents’ offenses, the rest of the Rams’ defense is backing him up with big plays — particularly against offenses that are still works in progress, such as the Niners‘ injury-plagued unit.All told in Santa Clara, Donald had nine tackles, five quarterback hits, six tackles for loss, that forced fumble from Matt Breida and a fumble recovery.Los Angeles will need Donald’s leadership during its upcoming four-game stretch against four of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. The Rams are the NFL’s only unbeaten team as they begin the gauntlet with a visit from Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (3-2-1) on Sunday.McVay and Wade Phillips, his veteran defensive coordinator, haven’t said much to their players about the Rams’ unbeaten record yet. They’re aware of the length and difficulty of a full NFL season, and they don’t want the Rams to get ahead of their next challenge — particularly not before their bye week next month.“The narrative is written every single week, and we want to continue to try to do a good job,” McVay said. “We don’t have to do anything other than try to be the best that we can one day at a time, and hopefully that leads to a good performance.”The rest of the defense fed off the advantages created by Donald’s performance by forcing two fumbles and two interceptions. None of those turnovers arose from lucky bounces or deflections: Instead, McVay praised his defense for actively making plays to create opportunities for the Rams’ prolific offense.“That was a big part of being able to win,” McVay said. “Get those short fields. Ultimately, it’s about scoring points. The yards are the yards. That doesn’t matter. What matters to us is scoring as many points as we can.”McVay’s offense could be healthier when the Packers get to town on Sunday. Playmaking receiver Cooper Kupp is making steady progress back from the knee injury that sidelined him against the Niners, although McVay isn’t sure whether he’ll need one more week of rehab before playing again.