The Los Angeles Rams lost to the Saints 28-0 in their final game of the 2018 preseason. The Rams offense could not get much going against New Orleans head coach Sean Payton's defense, which forced four turnovers in the game.
The Rams will meet the Saints once again in Week 9 of 2018, for what should be one of the games to watch in the NFC this season.
Here are seven stats that stood out in the Rams' final game of the preseason:
1. NICK HOLLEY
Undrafted running back Nick Holley saw first half action for the second consecutive week of the preseason. Allen handed the ball to Holley on five of the Rams' first six plays on offense, good for 28 early yards.
Holley finished his night with 31 total yards on 11 carries.
2. MUNDT MAJOR TARGET
Tight end Johnny Mundt seemed to be one of Brandon Allen's main targets in the first half of the game.
Mundt was targeted four times in the first half and reeled in three of Allen's passes for a total of 34 yards.
Mundt is in the thick of a position battle for the third and final tight end spot on the roster. The undrafted Oregon product floated between the roster and the practice squad throughout the 2017 season, but landed a futures contract in January.
As for 2018, Mundt has seen limited action in the preseason. In the three games prior to tonight's matchup, Mundt had just 17 yards receiving on three receptions.
3. GOING FOR IT
Saints head coach Sean Payton famously started the second half of Super Bowl XLIV with an onside kick.
Payton's team took risks in preseason Week 4, but on a far different stage. In the Saints' second drive, Payton elected to go for two after a four-yard touchdown run by running back Boston Scott. The Rams successfully defended the attempt. Payton's offense went for two unsuccessfully two more times on Thursday night.
The Saints went for it on fourth down four times throughout the game, successful on three of the attempts.
4. TOUCHDOWN OVERTURNED
HC Sean McVay joined Payton in going for it on fourth down early in the second half.
Allen's 4th-and-7 conversion attempt was demolished by defensive end Marcus Davenport, who forced Allen to fumble the ball on L.A.'s 21-yard line. The ball was scooped and returned to the endzone by defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth, but scoop and score was negated by an "illegal hands to the face" flag on Davenport.
5. TURNOVERS
Unfortunately for the Rams, Davenport's forced fumble and penalty was not the only time they lost the ball Thursday night.
The Rams had the most turnovers of their preseason in Week 4, losing the ball to the Saints' defense four times. Two of the turnovers resulted in points on the other end for New Orleans.
6. PEREZ LOGS FIRST NFL STATS
Preseason Week 4 presented the opportunity for undrafted rookie quarterback Luis Perez to take the field. The last time Perez took game snaps was the Division II National Championship game, in which he victoriously led the Texas A&M-Commerce Lions.
Perez took over for Allen early in the third quarter and soon after completed his first NFL pass to receiver Jojo Natson for eight yards.
Perez finished the game 8-of-15, with 43 yards and one interception.
7. RETURN GAME STRONG
Second-year wide receiver JoJo Natson performed well on special teams Thursday night.
Natson averaged 27.3 yards per kick return on four attempts, good for 109 total yards. He also saw a bit more action from scrimmage than usual, but finished with only five yards receiving on a pair of catches.
Natson's longest return of the game (41 yards) came in the fourth quarter.
