Los Angeles Rams (11-7) are set to take on the Philadelphia Eagles (15-3) this Sunday at 3 p.m. on NBC. The current betting odds from BetMGM indicate the Eagles are favored by six points. As for their performance against the spread, the Rams have an 10-8 record while the Eagles hold a 12-6 record. This playoff matchup marks the fourth time these two teams have clashed in the postseason, with the Rams having emerged victorious in two of their previous three encounters.
In their last meeting, which took place on November 24, the Eagles dominated the Rams with a scoreline of 37-20. Saquon Barkley had a remarkable game, setting a franchise record with 255 rushing yards, including explosive touchdown runs of 70 and 72 yards. Additionally, A.J. Brown made a significant impact with six receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown. Barkley’s impressive rushing performance positioned him as the ninth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season.
Last week, the Rams secured a convincing 27-9 victory over the Vikings, while the Eagles triumphed over the Packers with a score of 22-10. When examining their statistics, the Rams sit 15th overall in offense, 24th in rushing, 10th in passing, and 20th in scoring. Defensively, they rank 26th overall, 22nd against the run, 20th against the pass, and 17th in scoring. The Eagles, however, rank 8th in overall offense, 2nd in rushing, 29th in passing, and 7th in scoring. On the defensive side, the Eagles boast the top defense overall, 10th against the rush, and 1st against the pass.
An interesting player to watch for the Eagles is Saquon Barkley, who concluded the regular season with a franchise-record 2,005 rushing yards. This impressive total places him just 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s long-standing single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards established in 1984. Barkley was rested during the Eagles’ final regular-season game and ran effectively for 119 yards against the Packers last week.
On the Rams side, wide receiver Cooper Kupp is a key player to keep an eye on. Having earned the Super Bowl MVP title in the 2021 season, Kupp had a subdued performance last week with just one reception for 29 yards. In the past four games, he has recorded only five catches, highlighting the need for him to step up in this crucial matchup.
A pivotal aspect of this game will be the performance of the Rams’ defense against Barkley. In their previous encounter, they struggled to contain him, and statistical evidence suggests a similar challenge ahead. The Rams allowed an average of 353.1 yards of total offense this season, including 130 rushing yards—a statistic that may spell trouble when facing Barkley, who spearheaded the Eagles’ running game, helping them average 179.3 rushing yards per game.
As for injuries, the Rams are facing challenges with tight end Tyler Higbee, who left last week’s game due to a chest injury. He participated minimally in practice leading up to the game. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon is also on the injury report along with defensive tackle Bobby Brown III and left tackle Alaric Jackson. For the Eagles, quarterback Jalen Hurts returns after being sidelined with a concussion earlier in the season and performed well against the Packers. However, linebacker Nakobe Dean will not be making an appearance due to a knee injury.
Historically, these teams last met in the playoffs during the 2001 season when the Rams were stationed in St. Louis. Notably, on December 31, 1989, the Rams thwarted the Eagles 21-7 in a playoff upset, showcasing their competitiveness in previous playoff meetings. Philadelphia has maintained a strong record, winning 13 of the last 14 matchups and 24 of the prior 29 games at home, which includes playoff action.
In terms of team statistics, the Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford excelled last week, completing his first 10 passes and finishing with 209 yards and two touchdowns against the Vikings in a location shift due to wildfires in Southern California. The Rams’ defense performed admirably, sacking the Vikings’ quarterback nine times—a feat that ties an NFL playoff record—and limiting star receiver Justin Jefferson from making a catch in the second half. On the other side, the Eagles’ defense was formidable, as they intercepted three passes from the Packers and recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff. They finished the regular season ranked sixth in the NFL for turnover margin, while kicker Jake Elliott experienced an off day, missing an extra point after performing well throughout the season. Philadelphia also set a franchise record for rushing yards, finishing with a whopping total of 3,048 yards, while their defensive coordination under Vic Fangio led them to a stellar performance ranking first overall in total yards allowed, emphasizing their dominant defensive presence this season.
