Birds hope for bounce-back win against Rams
After loss in Seattle, Eagles have chance to bounce back on West Coast vs. Rams
ANAHEIM, CALIF. » The Eagles had a lot of time to think this week, the typical distractions leading up to games all but forgotten during their stay in Southern California.
And they’ve not just dwelled on the disappointing loss to the Seahawks that exposed them as an outfit that can’t just show up and beat good teams by 23 or more points every week.
Rejuvenated by the sunny, 75-degree weather, the Eagles have been visualizing what they’d done since September — at least before the Seahawks. That would be celebrating. There could be some new wrinkles providing the Eagles do what they think they can do to the Rams Sunday.
“We’ve got some things in store, man,” linebacker Nigel Bradham said. “But the thing is we don’t even practice it. We just say it on the sideline and we go do it. I think that makes it a little more fun because it’s not as routine. We’ve all seen the choreographed dances. So we don’t want to look like that. We want everybody to add their own little personality to it.”
Two weeks ago, the Eagles made Good Morning America with a series of celebrations from a 31-3 rout of the Bears, their ninth straight victory. It included two electric slides following interceptions, the game safely in hand.
The growing sense was that the Eagles were overdoing it.
“There’s a difference between being cocky and confident,” offensive tackle Lane Johnson said. “I don’t think there was a line crossed. I mean, I never really felt like that. But outsiders looking in, I could see that. But like I said, sometimes a loss is a good thing for us. I think we learned a lot from it.”
Bradham absolutely thinks the Eagles are entitled to as many group celebrations as they desire.
“This is the league,” Bradham said. “We’re not trying to rub nothing in. I don’t think it does because I’ll tell you what, it’s hard to score in this league. Any chance you score, and you’re going against the top players in this league, you deserve to celebrate. Whether you’re up 30 or seven. It’s excitement for us. We enjoy it. Any time you get a chance to celebrate together there’s definitely something good going on.
“So, we want to continue keeping that going. People made jokes or whatnot, saying some things. But we really don’t care. You can say what you want to say — as long as we get that win.”
*** Eagles defensive back Jaylen Watkins and Rams receiver Sammy Watkins are half-brothers.
Jaylen, 25, is unlikely to get a chance to cover his younger brother unless a teammate gets banged-up. Which is a shame because nobody knows 24-year-old Sammy, who leads the Rams with six touchdown receptions and a 17.7 average yards per catch, as well as he does.
“The biggest challenge with him is obviously his speed,” Jaylen said. “But he’s also a bigger body guy. You have little guys who are quick. You have bigger guys who are big and physical. He’s that tweener. He’s quick and he’s big and very physical. It’s tough. Guys would prefer to cover a smaller receiver who’s quick or a bigger receiver. With him, he’s both.”
Sammy Watkins is 6-1, 205 and a deep threat that the Eagles need to account for on every play. He was a championship sprinter in high school. And the best friend of Jaylen Watkins in Cape Coral, Fla.
“We grew up in the same neighborhood,” Jaylen said. “We didn’t grow up in the same household. We had the same father, different mother. We were never on the same team in Pop Warner. And we were both quarterbacks. So we didn’t get to go against each other, really. It’s like a best friend story. Like a neighborhood friend, all those friends you grow up with when you’re little, only we’re brothers, best friends.
The Watkins’ brothers were on the Bills briefly in 2015: Sammy, a first-round draft choice on the 53-man roster; Jaylen on the practice squad. The Eagles resigned Jaylen, previously one of their fourth-round picks.
Sammy Watkins, acquired by the Rams in a trade in August, is on a roll. Only quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley are more critical to the offense.
“He’s a special talent,” Jaylen Watkins said. “Once him and Goff get going … I think they have a lot of weapons.”
*** NOTES » Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (concussion) and linebacker Joe Walker (neck stinger) are questionable for the Rams . … The Rams listed linebackers Alec Ogletree (elbow) and Connor Barwin (forearm), and wide receiver Robert Woods (shoulder) questionable. … The Eagles entered the game having played the softest schedule in the NFC, the combined record of their opponents 5985 (.409). The Eagles have beaten just one team that has a winning record, in the Panthers (8-4). The collective record of the Rams’ opponents is 67-78 (.462). The Rams have defeated two teams with winning records, the Jaguars and the Saints.