NEW ORLEANS (AP) One way or another, the NFC Championship between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints will be won by a coach named Sean - with an Irish surname - who designs and calls plays for one of the most innovative and productive offenses in the NFL.

The ties between the Saints' Sean Payton and the Rams' Sean McVay go well beyond a shared name.

"We both cut our teeth in this league under Jon Gruden," Payton said. "That (Rams) staff - there's a ton of guys that we're friendly with and that we know on that staff. Guys who we have worked with, and Sean and I have a real good relationship. He is an engaging guy, a fun guy to be around."