NEW ORLEANS – With timely play on offense and defense and running back Kyren Williams’ first 100-yard rushing game of the season, the Rams (6-6) reached .500 with a 21-14 win over the Saints this season (4-8) on Sunday at Caesars Superdome.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw the go-ahead 7-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Puka Nacua with 8:54 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Then the Saints got the ball back and were ahead by more than seven and a half minutes on the ensuing drive, taking the ball all the way to the Rams’ 9-yard line. However, their potential game-winning drive was thwarted by Rams fullback Jared Verse, who took pressure from Saints quarterback Derek Carr on the blindside and got a hand on the ball, resulting in the incompletion.

The Rams overcame their first first-half shutout since Dec. 11, 2016 against the Falcons – and just the second ever under head coach Sean McVay – en route to victory, outscoring the Saints 21-8 in the second half.

Williams caught 15 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown in the win.

Here is the complete game summary:

The Rams nearly got a 58-yard fumble return for a touchdown by defensive end Braden Fiske after a forced fumble by defensive end Kobie Turner on the first drive; However, upon further review, it was determined that the audit was incomplete. Nevertheless, the Saints had to settle for a 54-yard field goal and took an early 3-0 lead.

After Los Angeles went three-and-out on its first offensive series, New Orleans advanced to the LA 20 on its second drive. In that series, a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Derek Carr to running back Alvin Kamara was negated by an ineligible downfield penalty and further set back by an illegal low block penalty. The Saints ultimately came away empty-handed after missing a 36-yard field goal attempt wide left early in the second quarter.

After the missed field goal, the Rams leaned heavily on running back Blake Corum and the ground game to move the ball more effectively. While the series was kept alive by a fourth down conversion via QB sneak, it was wiped out in seconds following an incomplete deep pass from Stafford intended for Kupp on 4th-and-4.

The Rams went for the run again on their third offensive series and again moved the ball efficiently, with five consecutive runs by Kyren Williams opening the series. However, a long-developing play that resulted in Stafford being sacked for an 8-yard loss on 1st-and-10 from the Saints 49 was too much of a setback and ultimately forced the Rams to punt at the end of that drive .

The Saints added another 54-yard field goal from Grupe to take a 6-0 lead into halftime.

The Rams went on the run again at the start of the second half and, helped by Williams, took a 7-6 lead midway through the third quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run by Williams.

A drive that began with three explosive plays in a row – a 19-yard completion to wide receiver Tutu Atwell, a 14-yard run by Williams and a 46-yard completion to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson – ended with a 3- Yard touchdown pass from Stafford Robinson early in the fourth quarter.

The Saints wasted no time in responding as Carr hit wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a 28-yard touchdown pass and then hit wide receiver Dante Pettis on the ensuing 2-point attempt to tie the game with 11:53 left 14:14 to finish.

Buoyed by a 43-yard kickoff return from wide receiver Jordan Whittington, Stafford opened the ensuing drive with a 20-yard completion to Atwell to move the Rams into Saints territory. A defensive pass interference penalty called by wide receiver Puka Nacua put the Rams ahead inside the Saints’ 10-yard line, and from there the Rams regained the lead 21-14 with 8:54 left after one 7-yard touchdown pass from Stafford Nacua.

The Saints reached the Rams’ 9 with 1:13 to play on the ensuing drive. Then Verse decided the game with his blindside pressure on 4th and secured the win.