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Game Preview: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) will face off against the Los Angeles Rams (5-5) this Sunday at 8:20 p.m. EST, with coverage provided by NBC and Peacock.
The Eagles are favored by 3 points according to BetMGM NFL odds. When examining their performance against the spread, Philadelphia holds a record of 6-4 while Los Angeles has a record of 4-6.
Historically, the Eagles have the advantage in their matchups, leading the series with a record of 23-20-1.
The last encounter took place on October 8, 2023, where the Eagles secured a 23-14 victory in Inglewood, California.
In their most recent games, the Eagles triumphed over the Washington Commanders with a score of 26-18, while the Rams edged out the New England Patriots 28-22.
Analyzing their performances, the Eagles currently rank fifth in offensive capabilities, with their rushing attack leading the league and their passing game sitting at 22nd overall. They also rank seventh in scoring.
Comparatively, the Rams’ offense ranks 17th overall, with a struggling ground game at 26th and a stronger passing attack tied for seventh, placing them 21st in scoring.
Defensively, the Eagles are dominant, ranked first overall, seventh against the run, second against the pass, and sixth in scoring defense.
The Rams, however, sit at 23rd overall in defense, 18th against the run, 22nd against the pass, and 22nd in scoring defense.
Philadelphia has a turnover differential of plus-2, while Los Angeles boasts a slightly better plus-4.
A key player for the Eagles to watch is running back Saquon Barkley, who had an impressive performance against Washington, amassing 198 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns from 26 rushing attempts.
Currently, he holds 1,137 rushing yards this season, trailing only Baltimore’s Derrick Henry in the league.
This marks his sixth game with over 100 rushing yards this season, the highest in the NFL.
For the Rams, safety Kam Kinchens stands out. The rookie from Miami contributed significantly against the Patriots with eight tackles, one tackle for loss, an interception, and a forced fumble.
He has recorded three interceptions in the past three games, showcasing his developing prowess in the secondary.
A critical matchup to keep an eye on will be Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts against the Rams’ defensive line.
Hurts previously torched Los Angeles for 303 passing yards and 72 rushing yards last season, despite facing superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
In Donald’s absence, the Rams have adopted a committee approach, utilizing rookie OLB Jared Verse alongside other young defensive talents.
However, their effectiveness will depend on their ability to contain Philadelphia during early downs.
Over the past five games, Hurts has performed at an elite level, accounting for 15 total touchdowns versus two turnovers.
In terms of injury reports, Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff underwent wrist surgery on Thursday but may return later in the season.
Additionally, receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and defensive tackle Milton Williams (foot) did not participate in practice this week.
For the Rams, right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) appears to be on track to return after missing the last two games due to injury.
Historical notes show that the Eagles have won all three games played in Los Angeles since the Rams relocated back in 2016.
Philadelphia has been successful overall, winning seven of the last eight matchups, with their only loss occurring in Week 2 of the 2020 pandemic season.
Statistically, Barkley has exceeded 100 scrimmage yards in eight out of ten games this season, tying with LeSean McCoy (2011) and Brian Westbrook (2007) for the most by an Eagle in the first ten games.
His performance against Washington marked the second-highest total for him as an Eagle.
The Eagles’ defense has allowed just two passing touchdowns during their current winning streak, with very few opponents surpassing 200 passing yards.
Hurts leads NFL quarterbacks with 11 rushing touchdowns, closely following Derrick Henry’s 13 scores.
Receiver A.J. Brown leads the league in 30-plus yard receptions and boasts the best average per catch among players with over 30 receptions.
Fantasy players might want to consider using Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, along with receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
Despite Philadelphia’s formidable pass defense, all three produced solid fantasy points in last season’s matchup. Stafford recorded 222 yards and two touchdowns, while Kupp caught eight passes for 118 yards and Nacua added seven catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
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