Eagles-Rams Game Preview: 6 questions and answers with the Divisional Round enemy
In a rematch of a Week 12 battle that took place at SoFi Stadium, the Philadelphia Eagles are hosting the Los Angeles Rams for a playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday afternoon.
In order to preview this Divisional Round matchup, I reached out to our enemies over at Turf Show Times. The excellent Evan Craig kindly took the time to answer my questions about this upcoming battle. Letâs take a look at the answers.
[For my answers about the Eagles, stay tuned to TST.]
1 – After allowing the Eagles to produce 37 points and 314 rushing yards in Week 12, the Ramsâ defense is allowing just 15 points per game and 100.5 rushing yards per game since then (excluding Week 18 when LA rested starters). Whatâs gone into the defensive improvement?
Why the spirit of Aaron Donald of course!
Somewhat joking there…maybe…I dunno. Anyway, first-year defensive coordinator Chris Shula shared his thoughts on the turnaround and said that improved communication has been the main reason. Early in the season, both Shula and his unit were finding their way and since the bye, everything started to click. Their worst showing by far was the first Eagles game which was more a flat-out domination rather than a lack of communication. The position coaches have similarly figured out where to put their players in the best position to succeed and itâs worked wonders. Regardless of how Sunday goes, thereâs so much potential in this unit that theyâll be one of the NFLâs best defenses in no time at all. Shula deserves his flowers and should be a leading head coaching candidate in next yearâs hiring cycle if his defense continues growing.
2 – Whatâs your confidence level in the Rams being able to slow down Saquon Barkley this time around? How do you expect the Rams to try to limit him?
I was reading a CBS Sports article earlier where they expect the Rams to give up another 200 rushing yards to Saquon on Sunday. That doesnât inspire much confidence in Chris Shulaâs unit but itâs not exactly hard to see. The Eagles have one of the NFLâs best offensive lines and have the size advantage over the Rams, which is why Barkley was able to thrive so much in the first meeting. Yes, LA has really grown defensively over the second half of the season but I donât see them doing enough to slow down Barkley. Unlike CBS Sports, I donât see another 200-yard effort from him. However, he should gain over 100+ yards easily on this unit.
I expect the Rams to try and stack the box on early downs to limit some of the damage. LA should also force the Eagles to pass the ball and see if they can force Jalen Hurts into some mistakes. This is a very opportunistic defense that can disguise looks and confuse Hurts even if theyâre unable to get consistent pressure on him. My only other suggestion is for the Rams to pray Barkley oversleeps his alarm after eating one too many KFC Famous Bowls.
3 – Matthew Stafford has thrown 13 touchdown passes to just one interception over his last eight starts. Whatâs the key to stopping him and the Ramsâ offense?
Matthew Stafford has by no means been perfect this season, but his steady presence in the Ramsâ offense has helped the team return to the playoffs for the second straight year. In the works of noted philosopher Forrest Gump, the Ramsâ offense is like a box of chocolates since you never know what youâre going to get. LA scored 44 points in a thrilling win over the Bills and followed that up by scoring 44 total in their next three games. When the offense is on, itâs dangerous but thatâs a big âifâ with this yearâs team.
The key to stopping Stafford and the Ramsâ offense is to disrupt their timing. Sean McVayâs scheme is well-known for its timing and if the Eagles can mess that up, they can rattle Stafford. Philly should also be sure to pressure him early and often and not allow him to sit back comfortably in the pocket. Sometimes when pressured, Stafford decides to be a superhero and forces a bad throw that shouldâve never been made in the first place. Force him into making mistakes and the Eagles can win this one. Plus, they have the personnel along the defensive line to bully LAâs O-line and get to Stafford.
4 – Last time we talked, I asked you about the Ramsâ kicker struggles. Sure enough, Joshua Karty missed a 47-yard field goal attempt against the Eagles. How are you feeling about him now and is there concern about how heâll fare outside this weekend?
Joshua Karty must have taken any past criticisms I said about him to heart since heâs been outstanding since the Eagles game. Since missing that 47-yarder, Karty has made all 15 of his field goal attempts, including three from 50+ yards out. He was even named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December/January. The Rams have largely whiffed on kickers since letting former Pro Bowler Matt Gay walk after the 2022 season. Kicker is one of those positions where teams donât have much patience and itâs understandable. Rams fans should feel pretty good about Karty long-term since heâs just another member of LAâs special rookie class.
5 – Who wins this game and why? With the Eagles currently listed as 5.5-point home favorites, whatâs your score prediction?
This should be a much different game from the last time these teams faced off. Whoever wins in the trenches will advance to the NFC Championship as itâll be a matchup between the Eaglesâ strong O-line versus the Ramsâ young defensive line. LA was humbled the last time around and will do a better job at âcontainingâ Saquon Barkley. And by âcontainingâ Barkley, I mean holding him under 200 yards again which should be an incredibly low bar to clear. If that happens and the Rams somehow secure the upset, Sean McVay will be taking everybody out for victory cheesesteaks. Iâm not worried about the Eaglesâ passing attack and bookworm A.J. Brown. Philly advances on a late field goal in a defensive grind as Barkley does enough to secure the win.
Eagles 19, Rams 17
Bonus: Do you have some good resources to share when it comes to supporting LA wildfire relief?
Before answering this, I want to say what a classy organization the Cardinals are for making the Rams feel at home over the weekend. This is one of those situations thatâs above football and they truly bent over backwards to help a team in need. It restored a little of my faith in humanity and what they did cannot be overstated. Because of that, I promise to never write a bad thing about the Cardinals again. Instead, Iâll preserve my energy and convert it into additional 49ers hate.
Anyone interested in supporting LA wildfire relief, please check out the American Red Cross or the California Fire Foundation to find out how to get involved. My heart goes out to everyone dealing with this tragedy. Iâm sure any help they can get will be much appreciated.
