Two teams in the thick of the NFC playoff picture featuring explosive offenses and defenses that are thriving with an infusion of youth meet in prime time for Sunday Night Football on NBC as the 8-2 Eagles play at the 5-5 Los Angeles Rams.

Prime-time teams, with star power.

Prime-time game, for a second straight week for the Eagles.

Let's get right to it and talk about the storylines and matchups to watch as the Eagles go for their seventh straight win and continue their push to strengthen their grip on the NFC East and vie for the top of the conference's playoff seedings …

1. The Eagles have been here before

Last year, in fact. Philadelphia made the trip to Los Angeles and beat the Rams in the 2023 season, clamping down on the Los Angeles offense with a shutout in the second half of a 23-14 victory. Philadelphia has won all three road games against the Rams since the franchise moved back to Los Angeles, seven of eight in the series and, in fact, hasn't lost to the Rams in Los Angeles since, gulp, Joe Namath and a stout Rams team defeated the Eagles 20-0 back in 1977. What does all of that past history mean for this game? That remains to be seen, but certainly the Eagles know how to handle the cross-country flight. It isn't an easy one, but the Eagles have been up to the challenge and they have their plan in place again for Sunday night.

2. This is a matchup to watch: Eagles secondary against Rams wide receivers

Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are healthy, playing together, and dynamic and last week in the team's win over New England the pair combined for 13 receptions, 229 yards, and three touchdowns.

Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio knows the challenge that awaits on Sunday for his No. 2-ranked pass defense.

"Two really good receivers," Fangio said. "They really have good karma, both of them, with (quarterback Matthew) Stafford. They're strong at the catch point. Both of them are strong receivers. Both of them are excellent runners after the catch.

"They'll be a tough group to defend."

Along with those two, the Eagles will have to contend with receivers Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson, so the Rams have plenty of targets for Stafford. Philadelphia's secondary has been stellar since the Week 4 loss in Tampa Bay, but this is its biggest test of the season.

3. Los Angeles attacks with its defensive front

A new-look defense has been stellar for the Rams, led by a front group featuring edge standout Jared Verse, the team's first-round draft pick this season. He has 4.5 quarterback sacks and is stout and physical against the run and is the best rookie edge player in the league. Inside, another rookie, Braden Fiske, has recorded 5 sacks and is quick and powerful off the line of scrimmage. Those two work in concert with other young players, Byron Young (a team-high 6 sacks) and Kobie Turner and bring an aggressive, attacking approach that the Eagles will have to contend with. The way the Eagles have handled fronts this season is to run the ball, to win with brute force, and wear teams down. That could be the plan against because …

4. Philadelphia leads the league in running the football

This has been a linchpin of the Eagles' attack with running back Saquon Barkley leading the way. He paces the NFL in rushing and in yards from scrimmage and there is every reason to think that the Eagles will feature him in prime time. It is very possible that the Rams will load the box and try to minimize Barkley and take their chances working against the Eagles' passing game, but other teams have tried that and had the defense wear down late in the game. The Eagles love to play physical, grind-it-out football and that is one possible approach here. Brute force is really hard to stop for four quarters. The Rams are 18th in the NFL against the run, allowing 127.3 yards per game.

5. This quarterback matchup is going to be a treat to watch

Both Jalen Hurts and Matthew Stafford have the ability to do everything, make every throw, and drive defenses crazy. As much as the receivers and running backs and skill position players are featured, it's usually about the quarterbacks in games like this. In last season's game in Los Angeles, Hurts passed for 303 yards and ran for 72 yards and directed the offense well in tough circumstances. Stafford threw a pair of first-half touchdowns and was shut down after that. This time? DeVonta Smith has been battling a hamstring injury and is out, so that means Jahan Dotson moves into a starting role opposite A.J. Brown and the Eagles have to shuffle their wide receiver order. Look out for Stafford in a close game: He has 35 fourth-quarter comeback victories in his career.

6. What are some intangibles to consider?

Many, actually …

• Rams running back Kyren Williams is a dual-threat player who has 25 receptions for 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns on top of 750 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns scored. He is going to be a focus for the Eagles' linebackers. The Eagles have allowed fewer than 100 rushing yards in the last five games.

• Similarly, Kenneth Gainwell showed in the win over Washington the explosiveness he brings to the table and on the season Gainwell has averaged 4.7 yards per carry with his downhill running style.

• How about some big plays from tight end Dallas Goedert? He could be a big part of things here, as the veteran is fourth among NFL tight ends with 55 receiving yards per game.

• Philadelphia's defense has cranked up the intensity with takeaways in each of the last four games and will look to pressure Stafford, who has not been sacked in three of the last four games. The Eagles sacked him four times in their 2023 matchup.

• Los Angeles is a league-worst -50 in point differential in the first quarter of games this season, so if there is ever a good time to jump out on a team, Sunday night is the moment. A good start on the road here and you will hear all of the Eagles fans in attendance – and there will be so, so many of them – chanting and turning SoFi Stadium Eagles green.