Giddyup! How an 11-year-old horse race has inspired the Saints

Good morning, and welcome to the Saints Insider newsletter for Thursday, Dec. 21.

Wednesday was a hectic day for the Saints. They held meetings in the morning, practiced in the afternoon and boarded a cross-country flight to Los Angeles in the early evening. Tonight, they'll take on the Rams at SoFi Stadium in a huge game with NFC playoff consequences at stake.

A look at the pregame content we have for you to tackle before kickoff tonight...

And down the stretch they come!

As the Saints enter the homestretch of their season, they'll need a strong closing kick. My game preview column takes you behind the scenes to the Saints' Dec. 6 team meeting, where a 2012 horse race has served as a rallying point for the players and coaches as they enter the critical part of their schedule. 

Here's the rest of our wall-to-wall game-day coverage....

--Matthew Paras's in-depth profile of Paulson Adebo, the Saints' emerging star cornerback, who will need to have a big game against Cooper Kupp and the Rams.

--Our exclusive one-on-one interview with Derek Carr, who discusses his game-day ritual, Christmas favorites and whether he believes in momentum or not, with Zach Ewing.

--Luke Johnson's Key to the Game: Can the Saints shut down Kyren Williams?

--Our staff picks and predictions for the game

--Good news, bad news on the team's injury front

--Rod Walker's 4 Burning Questions for the Game

--How and Where to Watch the Game

Sticking around

In non-game-related news, the Saints extended their lease agreement with the state to continue to play in the Superdome for another 5 years. The transaction, which was seen as a formality by both sides, ensures the team will stay in Louisiana through 2030. 

Listen up! 

Don't forget about our Saints Insider Podcast. Our crack coverage team broke down the Giants win and looked ahead to the matchup with the Rams on Thursday. Check out (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.

That's it for today. Enjoy the rest of your Thursday as you prepare for the big Rams game on Thursday night.

Until next time,

Jeff Duncan