EAGLES AT RAMS: WHO HAS THE EDGE?
When: Today, 1:05 p.m.
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/radio: Ch. 11 /710AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish)
Line: Eagles by 4
Notable injury designations: Eagles: DT Fletcher Cox (out; back), G Cam Jurgens (out; foot), S Sydney Brown (out; hamstring), DT Marlon Tuipulotu (out; triceps), WR Britain Covey (questionable; concussion). Rams: G Joe Noteboom (out; groin), DE Desjuan Johnson (doubtful; thumb), T Alaric Jackson (questionable; hamstring) What's at stake? For the Eagles (4-0), maintaining their perfect start to the season and their advantage over a climbing Cowboys team in the NFC East standings. For the Rams (2-2), the opportunity to climb back over .500and truly announce themselves as a legitimate playoff contender with a win over one of the Super Bowl favorites.
Who's better? Again, the Eagles entered the season as Super Bowl contenders and have done nothing across the past four weeks to dispel that perception. The Rams have a ways to go to match the Eagles' organizational depth and overall top-end talent. But they did take a big step toward evening the playing field this weekend with the activation of star wide receiver Cooper Kupp off injured reserve.
Matchup to watch: DTs Aaron Donald and Kobie Turner vs. the Tush Push. Otherwise known as “the Brotherly Shove”, the Eagles' rugby-like short-yardage play, in which they push QB Jalen Hurts across the spot to reach, has become one of the most reliable calls in football the past two seasons. The Rams tried to replicate it in Week 1against Seattle, coach Sean McVay said this week, but with significantly less success. Responsibility will be on all of the Rams' defensive front when the time comes, but Donald and Turner will be the first line of defense. “You got to be stout in the middle. Obviously, offensive line tries to get as low as you can. I think it all starts from the center, you get under his pads and pop him up and then guys crowd the ball,” Donald said.
Rams win if: They bottle up the Eagles' running backs and hold them below 75 yards on the ground. In Philadelphia's two losses last season with a healthy Hurts, opponents held the Eagles' RBs to 55.5rushing yards per game . ... WRs Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell combine for 100 yards. Kupp is back, but he'll still likely have rust to knock off. The Rams need the two young receivers to continue to move the ball down the field.
Fantasy sleeper: Can Kupp be a sleeper after leading the NFL in all receiving categories in 2021? There might be concern about his ceiling after missing four weeks with a hamstring pull, but his floor should be high enough still with his connection with Matthew Stafford that he's worth a start.
Prediction: Eagles 30, Rams 20. Beat reporter's record: 2-2 for the season; 2-2against the spread.