- WHERE: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
- WHEN: 3 p.m. ET | NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo, TeleXitos, NFL+
The Eagles welcome the Rams to the City of Brotherly Love for an intriguing Divisional Round showdown between a team most expected to be there (the Eagles) and an opponent that surprised the football world with a dominant victory over a 14-win club to reach this point (the Rams).
Matthew Stafford broke out of his offensive slump in the Rams' win over the Vikings on Monday, powering an emphatic and wildly impressive opening drive that set the tone for the entire night. Los Angeles' defense rose to the occasion, too, harassing the Vikings and limiting them to just nine points. When Jared Verse returned a fumble for a touchdown, the energy was palpable well beyond the confines of State Farm Stadium, and by the time Stafford found Davis Allen for a touchdown just before half, it felt as if the game had officially been decided.
They aren't likely to find the going as easy this week. The Eagles have won 13 of their last 14 games and aim to add another tally to the win column Sunday. They're on a bit of a memorable march themselves, winning 15 games (including playoffs) for just the fourth time in franchise history. Each time they've done so in the past, they've reached the Super Bowl.
The Rams stand in their way of making it happen again.
Here are three things to watch for in Sunday's Divisional Round showdown at Lincoln Financial Field:
1) Defensive battle awaits? The Eagles enjoyed their defensive coming-out party way back in Week 7 when they suffocated the Giants in a 28-3 win in New York. That was way back in mid-October, 11 days before Halloween, but the Eagles' defensive elevation wasn't just a costume party. Their unit is the real deal, finishing the 2024 regular season with the NFL's best group in total defense and passing defense, and the second-best scoring defense. Defense became the strength of this Eagles squad and once again proved to be an essential component of Philadelphia's winning formula in a 22-10 win over the Packers on Wild Card Weekend. On the other sideline, though, another defense is rounding into form. Los Angeles shut down the explosive Minnesota Vikings in their Wild Card Round triumph, limiting the Vikings to nine points in a game in which they sacked Sam Darnold nine times. In the last four games in which their starters played, the Rams allowed an average of 8.25 points per game, a perfect counter to an offense that encountered some difficulties in December. With the Eagles' offense struggling a bit in recent weeks, are we setting up for a low-scoring, defensive showdown made for traditionalists?
2) Eagles need to spread their wings. We know Saquon Barkley is among the most valuable players in this matchup, and we're well aware of how capable he is of closing a game emphatically. The rest of Philadelphia's offense causes concerns, though. The Eagles rank 29th in passing, converted just 2 of 11 third downs last weekend and quarterback Jalen Hurts showed some signs of rust after missing a two weeks due to a concussion. At one point earlier this season, Lane Johnson described the unit as feeling "constipated," and they sure looked like it for most of their wild-card win over the Packers. Then again, much of the consternation back then was related to the temporary absence(s) of A.J. Brown and/or DeVonta Smith. They're both back and readily available this weekend, just as they were last weekend, and will look to improve the Eagles' win-loss record to 11-0 when the pair are on the field with Hurts. In order to do that, they'll need to jolt the passing game against an ascending Rams defense, which could present issues with its pass rush and quality coverage on the back end. Barkley is understandably the top focus for any defense facing these Eagles, and it will be crucial for Hurts to find a rhythm through the air -- and stop holding on to the ball for extended periods -- in order to properly balance Philly's offense and take some of the bite out of a suddenly intimidating Rams defense.
3) Rams continue to play for L.A. Los Angeles has been battling tragic wildfires for more than a week now, which forced the ¹ú²úÍâÁ÷Íøto move the Rams' Wild Card Game from SoFi Stadium to the Arizona Cardinals' home of State Farm Stadium. Thirty buses carried Rams fans from Inglewood, California, to Glendale, Arizona, for the game, and the Cardinals did a tremendous job of making it feel as close to home as possible. The Rams played inspired football from the opening kickoff, riding the emotion to a runaway win over the Vikings and a trip to Philadelphia. Sometimes, it's just bigger than football, and it certainly was Monday. Expect the Rams to carry the same motivation and intent with them to Philadelphia, where they'll once again play for more than just a professional football club -- they'll be laying it on the line for the entire Los Angeles region.
