Rams Shut Out Saints 34-0 in 2026 NFL Preseason Week 2 as New Orleans’ Offense Falters

The Los Angeles Rams beat the New Orleans Saints 34-0 in 2026 NFL preseason action on Aug. 22 at SoFi Stadium, continuing a Week 2 theme that preseason results often reinforce for coaches: execution during live reps matters even when the standings do not. For the Saints, the game ended without any scoreboard response, and the statistics reflected an offense that produced some movement but failed to sustain it consistently enough to turn opportunities into points.

New Orleans finished with 293 total net yards. The Saints passed for 196 yards, going 20-of-35 through the air, and they also managed 105 rushing yards on 26 carries. Those numbers show the ability to advance the ball, but in preseason games, the difference between “moving the chains” and “moving the ball into scoring territory” can hinge on red-zone efficiency and third-down conversions. In this matchup, the Rams’ defense gave the Saints yardage in chunks rather than consistently creating stops that forced New Orleans into lower-percentage drives.

The preseason setting adds an extra layer to what the box score can tell you. Teams still look for repeatable patterns from both sides of the ball: how quarterbacks progress through reads, how protection holds up under pressure, and whether playmakers can separate against rotating personnel. Because rosters change quickly across preseason weeks, play-calling and personnel usage can also mask or emphasize certain matchups. Still, a 34-point shutout generally indicates that a team’s first-and second-unit work, plus special teams and situational execution, came together more cleanly than the opponent’s.

For the Rams, the shutout provides a foundation that can carry through the remainder of the preseason. Even in games where starters are not expected to play the entire way, a defense that can hold an opponent scoreless while allowing manageable offensive production builds confidence in the group’s communication and run-pass discipline. The Rams’ ability to keep New Orleans from producing points, despite the Saints’ 293 net yards, suggests New Orleans did not get sustained scoring drives in rhythm, and that Los Angeles made more plays in the moments that matter most.

From the Saints’ perspective, the statistical mix points to an offense that was not shut down entirely, but one that struggled to translate its output into points. Going 20-of-35 for 196 yards indicates completions were available, while 105 rushing yards on 26 carries show the run game contributed. The next question for New Orleans is why those drives did not consistently end in points. In preseason, that often comes down to drive-ending factors such as converting key third downs, limiting turnovers, and finishing drives in the red zone.

As both teams move beyond Week 2, the preseason tape will likely shift the focus toward process improvements. For New Orleans, the emphasis will be on turning productive yardage into scoring sequences, which could include trimming inefficient play calls and sharpening situational execution. For Los Angeles, coaches will look to preserve the defensive fundamentals that kept the Saints out of the end zone and to maintain offensive rhythm once new personnel packages get more consistent run.

What to watch next is how the Rams and Saints respond in subsequent preseason weeks. The most telling updates will be whether New Orleans can turn its passing volume and rushing output into more points and whether the Rams can continue the same level of defensive control when opponents adjust personnel again.