The 2024 NFC Playoffs continue for the Eagles in the Divisional Round as they host Los Angeles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday at 3 PM. The teams played in Week 12, with the Eagles winning 37-20 at SoFi Stadium. This time, the Eagles are coming off a confident win over Green Bay last Sunday, while the Rams walloped the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.
Now, they come together for a second time this season. There are plenty of points to talk about, so let's dive right in as the Eagles look to reach 7-0 in the Divisional Round at home in their franchise history and advance to another NFC Championship Game.
- Take QB Matthew Stafford out of his comfort zone
When the Rams have it going offensively, it usually means that quarterback Matthew Stafford is dealing. He's got all the tools and the Rams' offense is multi-pronged, and when Los Angeles is able to establish the running game and give Stafford time to set up in the pocket, he's lethal with that outstanding group of pass catchers.
So, what do the Eagles need to do? They need to be assignment sound, create some negative plays, and take Stafford off his spot. It's what they did on November 24 when the Rams moved the ball on their first two possessions and then went without a first down for the entire second quarter, a total of three possessions (plus a final play before the half). That changed the course of the game and the Los Angeles offense couldn't catch up.
The Eagles sacked Stafford five times and pressured him throughout the game, so a repeat performance is what Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio seeks.
- Oren Burks and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: What does that mean for D?
Along with the above, the loss of Nakobe Dean at linebacker is something the Eagles need to overcome. It's fair to expect the Rams and Head Coach Sean McVay to test the Eagles with Oren Burks and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. replacing Dean, who had a sensational season before his knee injury. Will Fangio use either player in the blitz game? How effective can they be in making plays in the backfield? What about defending the screen game? There is a lot on the line here with a new look at linebacker, although both Burks and Trotter have played well when on the field.
- The offensive line has a big-time challenge
Everyone watched on Monday night when the Rams sacked Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold nine times. It was an overpowering performance by a young, aggressive, and powerful Rams front. Led by rookie edge player Jared Verse and a host of excellent players inside, Los Angeles poses a threat to Jalen Hurts and the Eagles' offense.
Philadelphia handled that in Week 12, as running back Saquon Barkley ran for a franchise-record 255 yards and the Eagles gained 314 yards on the ground. Hurts had plenty of time to throw the football and the Eagles moved the ball up and down the field to the tune of 481 net yards.
The Rams were humbled by that experience and they have since rebounded. So, what's going to be different here? How will the Eagles deal with the hard-charging Rams?
- Will the weather be a factor?
The variability is pretty wild at this point – from mid-30s temperatures all the way to several inches of snow – so everything is in play on Sunday. Head Coach Nick Sirianni addressed this topic on Friday and, basically, the Eagles are going to be ready for anything and everything. But from a game standpoint, the weather could impact how the teams go after it – would a lot of snow mean a run-heavy approach, for example? As for the fans, the message is simple. Bundle up. It's gonna be cold no matter how much the forecast changes.
- The turnover ratio battle is real
We saw it last week once again: The Eagles won the turnover battle against the Packers, 4-0. And, not surprisingly, the Eagles won the football game. Not only that, they scored a touchdown after the first takeaway to set the tone for the game – thanks, Oren Burks and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. for that – and you understand in more ways than one how much it means to have the advantage in this category. This is nothing new. When the Eagles played at Los Angeles, the defense created an early takeaway and it helped the team jump out on the Rams. It is a topic every week of the season, and it again is a point of emphasis in this game. Create takeaways on defense. Protect the football on offense. Win on special teams.
- A fast start makes everything better
The Eagles want to take away the running game from Los Angeles, and one of the great ways to do that is to jump out to an early advantage on the scoreboard. In that Week 12 game, the Eagles were in control by halftime and Los Angeles had to throw the football and, well, the defense had its hits on Stafford. A similar blueprint would be fantastic here. It worked last weekend, right? Everything fell into place after the Eagles took a 7-0 lead. The goal for Sunday is to do the same thing and play it the same way. Start fast, finish strong. Always the approach.
