The Philadelphia Eagles are hosting the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday afternoon.
In order to preview this Week 3 battle, I reached out to our enemies over at Turf Show Times. The endearing Evan Craig kindly took the time to answer my questions about this upcoming tilt. Let’s take a look at the answers. [For my answers to Evan’s questions about the Eagles, be sure to check out TST.]
1 – The Rams are 2-0. What’s the biggest reason for their success thus far?
The defense finished last season on a tear, contributing to a second straight playoff trip following a poor start to the year. L.A. has picked up right where they left off, as the defense limited the Titans to six points and 75 after halftime. Tennessee stuck around longer than expected, but the Rams managed to hold down the fort admirably. This team would not be anywhere close to 2-0 without stellar play from its defense. Linebacker Nate Landman is on his way to a long-term extension through his first two games in Hollywood. The young pass rush is excellent, and that is without reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse failing to register a sack.
The only way to go from here for this unit is up, and Rams fans have every right to be excited about how this defense progresses throughout the season.
2 – Saquon Barkley had his way with the Rams’ defense in two games last season (460 rushing yards, 74 receiving yards, 4 total TD). Do you think they’ll do a better job of stopping him this time around? Why or why not?
The Rams have allowed an average of 111.5 rushing yards through the first two weeks, which is “good” for 17th in the league. While the defense hasn’t given up a touchdown on the ground yet, the yardage total is a little concerning, given that L.A. played the Texans and Titans, who aren’t known for having a strong rushing attack. Saquon Barkley should get another 100-yard performance against this unit, but not another 200+ day … hopefully not, that is.
That said, the Rams should do a moderately better job containing Barkley this time around. However, I do see the defense overcompensating in order to stop him, which is why I see Jalen Hurts and the passing game having a big game. Something’s got to give, and you’re not going to completely stop one because of how deep the Eagles are offensively.
3 – To what extent is the Ahkello Witherspoon injury a concern for the Rams?
Losing Ahkello Witherspoon is a big deal for the Rams, who already didn’t have great depth at cornerback. That was a position the front office neglected in the offseason, and they’re paying for it now. L.A. used a combo of Darious Williams, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Cobie Durant and Josh Wallace to help fill the hole Witherspoon’s injury left behind. Neither of those guys are proven long-term options, and that is why the team must turn to outside options.
L.A. did sign former Seahawks corner Tre Brown to help build up the depth a little, but again, they need more outside help. Stephon Gilmore is a free agent after starting 15 games with the Vikings in 2024. He’s about to turn 35, yet has nine games of playoff experience, which could be ideal for the Rams late in the season. He would be the best option for a short-term fix, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the team tried a blockbuster trade for a proven option at the position. Anyone know if Jalen Ramsey’s up for a reunion?
4 – What’s the Rams’ most significant weakness on offense right now?
This is true across the board, but especially on offense, which often starts slowly. The Rams have scored just 17 points in the first half through two games. Again, the Texans and Titans aren’t exactly high-level competition, making this all the more frustrating. This isn’t exactly a new trend, either, as the team has been held under 20 points in four of its last seven games, dating back to the shootout win over the Bills in December. As a result, scoring can be a struggle in stretches for L.A., despite its talent on offense.
The Rams are great at getting teams to play to their tempo, resulting in some of these lower-scoring affairs that we’ve gotten accustomed to. It works against many teams in the league, just not the Eagles. That is why if Los Angeles gets off to a sluggish start as they have to open the first two weeks, the game could really get out of hand, especially if the defense has an off day.
5 – Who wins this game and why? With the Eagles currently listed as 3.5-point home favorites, what’s your score prediction?
I feel pretty good about the Rams making this a close game, but I see the Eagles pulling away with the win late. Everyone talks about how close L.A. was to knocking off Philly in the playoffs last year. While the score indicates the Rams only lost by six, they really weren’t that close to coming away with the upset. In my mind, the Eagles’ stout defense would’ve never let that happen.
Jalen Hurts hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass yet this season and has under 300 passing yards in the first two games. Since L.A. is going to be hyper-focused on slowing Saquon, Hurts has a good game with three total touchdowns, including two passing. A.J. Brown also triples his receiving total on the year in a standout performance. Plus, there will be some hard feelings after Sean McVay’s Tush Push comments this offseason, so I’m expecting Philadelphia to stick it to their budding rival to move to 3-0.
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