A Highly Competitive Game
One of the best teams the Eagles will face, comes to Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday when the Los Angeles Rams face the defending Super Bowl champions in Sunday’s 1 p.m. game.
The Rams might be the second- best team the Eagles face this year, behind only Buffalo. Yet the Dec. 28 game at Buffalo is the second to last one of the season, and by then the Bills may have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC. If the game still has meaning for both teams, then it should be great.
Yet this Sunday’s game with the Rams should also be a highly competitive game, similar to their playoff matchup last year.
The Eagles won three of their four playoff games last season by 12 or more points. The one exception was the 28-22 win over the Rams. The Rams were alive until their final offensive play, an incompletion by Matthew Stafford to Puca Nacua on a 4th-and-11 from the Eagles’ 22-yard line.
Even in the snow, this West Coast team stood toe-to-toe with the Eagles.
And now, here is the rematch.
One may want to ask why the Kansas City Chiefs weren’t listed as among the Eagles toughest games. The Chiefs are still a solid team, but it appears they have taken a step back.
That doesn’t mean that the Eagles’ 20-17 win last week at Arrowhead Stadium wasn’t impressive. The Eagles dominated the Chiefs offensive line. Yet, if Travis Kelce had caught that ball he bobbled for an Andrew Mukuba interception near the end zone, this might have been a different game. It was a great return by Mukuba, the rookie safety from Texas. It appears from the preseason and this game that Mukuba has a real nose for the ball and he is another of the good young players drafted by Howie Roseman.
Despite the close game, the Chiefs appear as if they will struggle this season to earn a playoff berth.
It just seems as if the Rams are a better team than KC, which gives you an idea of how difficult the Eagles schedule is.
The Rams are 2-0 and have had injuries on their offensive line, which could pose some problems. The Chiefs’ line, led by Pro Bowl center Creed Humphrey, couldn’t handle the Eagles.
If the Rams can’t handle the Eagles front it could be a long day because Stafford is much less mobile than the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes.
The Rams strength is their defensive line, while the Eagles’ best unit is their offensive line, so that should be the biggest matchup worth watching.
The Rams struggled offensively in a 14-9 opening home win over the Houston Texans. This past week they won 33-19 at Tennessee.
Stafford, in this reporter’s opinion, should merit serious Hall of Fame consideration. He still has one of the best arms in the NFL and if given time, he can pick a team apart.
Yet it’s doubtful he will be given that time. His offensive line, even when healthy, is good, but a far cry from the Eagles’ unit.
The Eagles will eventually have to figure out how to get some explosive offensive passing plays. Jalen Hurts passed for just 101 yards and rushed for just 15 against Kansas City. If he isn’t better in one of the two categories, then the Eagles will likely have a struggling offense. The Eagles can’t depend on Saquon Barkley to carry the offense, although he is capable of it.
He rushed for 88-yards and a touchdown on 22 carries against the Chiefs, while rushing for 60 yards and a TD in the opening win over Dallas.
One stat to remember—in last year’s playoff game, Barkley ran wild against the Rams. He rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns on runs of 62 and 78 yards. He will be a key to the offense, but the Eagles also have to start getting more out of the passing game.
Despite these so-called problems, they are 2-0 and favored to make it 3-0 even against one of the toughest teams on their schedule.
Photo: Saquon Barkley / Courtesy of Philadelphia Eagles
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Author: Marc Narducci
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