Eagles vs. Rams predictions for Week 3 of the NFL season
Eagles vs. Rams predictions for Week 3 of the NFL season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Eagles (2-0) will host the Los Angeles Rams (2-0) on Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.
Let's get to the predictions:
Reuben Frank (2-0)
The Rams scare me. Matt Stafford has 16 touchdowns and one interception vs. the Eagles, and I have no idea how the Eagles are going to cover both Puca Nacua and Davante Adams or stop Kyren Williams, who ran for over 100 yards at the Linc in the playoffs last year. The Rams have allowed one touchdown in two games and they're 4thin yards allowed and passing yards allowed and 1stin points allowed. And they're led by a coach in Sean McVay who's taken six teams to the playoffs in eight years and like Nick Sirianni has been to two Super Bowls and won one. It took a couple superhuman plays by Jalen Carter at the end of the playoff game for the Eagles to hang on at the Linc in January, and the Eagles aren't playing as well - mainly on offense - as they were back then. I have no idea how on Earth how the Eagles win this game, but I'm not quite sure how they beat the Cowboys and Chiefs either without a passing game. Very tough opponent, but the Eagles have won eight straight, they're 18-1 in their last 19 games and they're 30-6in their last 36 home games. So I have no clue how they're going to beat the Rams, but I'm confident they will. Because that's what they do. They win. And I'm not picking against them until they don't.
Eagles 26, Rams 24
Dave Zangaro (2-0)
This one gave me pause. The Rams game in the divisional round was as close as the Eagles came to getting knocked out of the playoffs last year before they demolished the Commanders and Chiefs to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. It took some late game heroics from Jalen Carter to survive in advance. So we know the Rams are a dangerous team with a good veteran quarterback in Matthew Stafford, two dynamic receivers in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams and a young and deep defensive line. But the Eagles are the better team and they still have some matchups that really favor them too. Saquon Barkley ran wild on the Rams in two games last season and broke off three runs of 70+ yards in the two wins over the Rams. Even if he doesn't run for 200 on Sunday, I expect him to have a big game. And if he doesn't, that might be OK too. Sure, the Eagles' passing game has been stuck in the mud but they'll have advantageous matchups in this game against corners we've seen them beat before. The Eagles will likely need to score more points to win this game but I think they have that in them.
Eagles 31, Rams 27
Barrett Brooks (2-0)
This Rams team was the best competitionthe Eagles faced during their Super Bowl campaign last year. They have a young, talented defense, with a very experiencedQB. Mother nature and Saquon Barkley won the day in the playoffgame. The snow definitely helped the Birds' cause in that game.
This game will be won by Barkley and the O-line. I knoweveryone is worried aboutA.J. Brown and the passing game. It will take care of itself as the season progresses. The run game must be emphasized in this game. Controlling the clock and keeping the Rams' offense off the field is a must. There is no question that theEagles will score, but ball control is the key.
Defensively, Vic Fangio will have to be as aggressiveas they were last week. Blitzing Matthew Stafford and makinghim uncomfortable fleeing from the pocket. The Rams' passing game is mostly set up with play action, meaning the run game has to be stopped. Put Stafford in catch-up mode and he will make mistakes. I believe in the Eagles' pass rush. This should be a multi-sack game!
Eagles 27, Rams 21
Mike Mulhern (2-0)
The Eagles have lost once in the last 19 games so it's difficult to ever pick against them. However, this is a spot against a good team where I could see a letdown. The Birds are coming off an emotional road win in Kansas City and facing a Rams team out for revenge from last season's playoff ouster. In that game, Saquon Barkley ran wild for a second time, but Jalen Hurts was sacked seven times. The Rams racked up those sacks without defensive tackle Braden Fiske, who was injured early on that snowy day. So, expect there to be plenty of pressure once again.
This time around, the Rams are without starting cornerback Akhello Witherspoon,
meaning A.J. Brown should get a chance to feast on former first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes. Brown abused the slender corner when Forbes was still with Washington, and surely Brown will get the ball plenty on Sunday. In the end, the Eagles don't lose and Sean McVay almost never beats them. So I'm sticking with the Birds.
Eagles 28, Rams 26
Ashlyn Sullivan (1-1)
I did not realize how oddly the same these two football teamsare until I looked into the Rams' stats so far this season. The Rams are playing basically the same style of football that the Eagles have seemed to define - control the ball on offense, don't turn it over, have a strongdefensive line and frankly ... don't score a lot of points. The Rams have been held to under 20 points in four of the last seven games. I think this will be a low scoring game that fans will say is boring football,and I can't blame them. I am curious if the Rams' defense overcompensates to stop Saquon Barkley after he burned them last season. Something to pay attention to: The Rams have not given up a touchdown on the ground yet, let us remember they played the Texans and the Titans. This could be a game where Jalen Hurts has the opportunity to beat a team with his arm against a very depletedRams secondary.
Eagles 24, Rams 17