The Philadelphia Eagles are back on the field after their mini-bye week, taking on the Los Angeles Rams in a highly anticipated Sunday Night Football matchup at SoFi Stadium. This game marks another primetime opportunity for the Eagles, who last played on Thursday, securing a 26-18 win over Washington. The Rams come into this contest on a strong run, having won four of their last five games.
Regarding injuries, the Eagles are without wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who is sidelined due to a hamstring issue. Meanwhile, the Rams are missing starting right tackle Rob Havenstein, who will not play due to an ankle injury. The game promises to be a hard-fought contest as both teams look to stay in playoff contention.
First Quarter Highlights:
The game started with the Eagles’ offense taking the field first, but their opening drive stalled when they reached the Rams’ 3-yard line. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott came on to convert a 21-yard field goal, capping a solid drive that saw quarterback Jalen Hurts complete all four passes for 43 yards. Running back Saquon Barkley also had a strong start, carrying the ball five times for 26 yards (5.2 yards per carry).
In response, the Rams quickly answered back with a methodical 9-play drive that consumed 4:11 of game time. The drive was highlighted by two key receptions from wide receiver Puka Nacua, who hauled in catches totaling 32 yards. A pass interference call on Eagles cornerback Darius Slay on 2nd-and-goal moved the Rams to the 1-yard line, and they capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Williams, taking a 7-3 lead.
Second Quarter Highlights:
The second quarter opened with a tough play for Hurts, who was sacked for a loss of 12 yards on 3rd-and-6, forcing the Eagles to punt the ball back to the Rams. However, the Eagles’ defense responded swiftly, forcing the Rams to go three-and-out and regaining possession at their own 36-yard line with 11:48 left in the half.
Saquon Barkley, who had been shaken up after a hard hit earlier in the game, briefly left the field but returned to action shortly after. Hurts connected with wide receiver A.J. Brown on a 27-yard comeback route, setting the Eagles up at the Rams’ 13-yard line. However, penalties on the Eagles, including an offsides penalty on Jahan Dotson and an ineligible player downfield penalty on Landon Dickerson, pushed them back, making it more difficult to capitalize. Still, Elliott managed to hit a 31-yard field goal to cut the Rams’ lead to just one point, 7-6, with 6:17 left in the half.
The Eagles’ defense then stepped up again, with veteran Brandon Graham coming through with a big sack of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford for a loss of 9 yards on 3rd-and-9. Graham’s sack moved him into third place all-time on the Eagles’ career sack list with 76.5 sacks, further solidifying his status as one of the team’s all-time greats.
Later in the quarter, Hurts led the Eagles on a brilliant drive that saw him throw a well-placed ball to A.J. Brown in the corner of the end zone. Initially ruled incomplete, the play was overturned after review, confirming that Brown had secured the catch before the ball was knocked loose. The 10-play, 62-yard drive took just 2:46 off the clock, and the Eagles took a 13-7 lead with 1:27 remaining in the half.
The defense continued to shine, with rookie linebacker Dean sacking Stafford for an 8-yard loss on 2nd-and-5, and Josh Sweat adding another sack, bringing down Stafford for a 9-yard loss to end the half.
Third Quarter Highlights:
The second half began with an explosive play from Barkley, who took the first offensive snap of the third quarter 70 yards to the house for a touchdown. Barkley’s burst up the middle, followed by a cut to the right side, allowed him to break free and extend the Eagles’ lead to 20-7.
However, the Rams weren’t done yet. Eagles cornerback Darius Slay, who had already been battling through a few injuries, went down after a hit to the head while making a tackle. He was later ruled out for the rest of the game with a concussion, leaving a significant hole in the Eagles’ secondary. Slay’s injury prompted rookie safety Rodgers to step in and fill the void.
Despite the setback, the Eagles’ defense continued to apply pressure. Brandon Graham tackled Rams running back Williams for a loss of 6 yards on the next series, and then he and the defense helped force an incomplete pass from Stafford. A pass interference penalty on Rodgers gave the Rams new life, and they capitalized with Stafford connecting with wide receiver Demarcus Robinson for a 2-yard touchdown pass, trimming the Eagles’ lead to 20-14.
Fourth Quarter Highlights:
The Eagles answered back with a touchdown of their own, as running back Kenneth Gainwell broke through several tackles to score on a 13-yard run, putting the Eagles up 27-14. The Rams attempted to keep pace, converting a crucial 4th-and-1 from midfield on a 29-yard completion to Nacua. However, the Eagles’ defense held strong once again, with Milton Williams and Brandon Graham teaming up to sack Stafford and force a 47-yard field goal attempt, which Rams kicker Joshua Karty missed.
The Eagles took control of the game in the final quarter, forcing the Rams into several difficult situations and maintaining their lead as time wound down.
Final Thoughts:
The Eagles’ defense, led by Graham and the pass-rush unit, played a major role in the team’s success, keeping the Rams’ offense from gaining any significant momentum after the first half. The offense, fueled by Hurts’ steady play and Barkley’s explosive runs, capitalized on key moments to extend their lead. With Slay out for the rest of the game, the Eagles’ secondary will need to dig deep in the weeks ahead, but tonight, they were able to hold on for an important victory.
As the game concluded, the Eagles continued their impressive season, improving their record and positioning themselves for the stretch run of the playoffs. The Rams, despite their strong performance in parts of the game, were unable to overcome the Eagles’ balanced attack and relentless defense.