In a rematch of a Week 12 battle that occurred at SoFi Stadium, the Philadelphia Eagles are internet hosting the Los Angeles Rams for a playoff recreation at Lincoln Monetary Area on Sunday afternoon.
In an effort to preview this Divisional Spherical matchup, I reached out to our enemies over at Turf Present Occasions. The superb Evan Craig kindly took the time to reply my questions on this upcoming battle. Let’s check out the solutions.
[For my answers about the Eagles, stay tuned to TST.]
1 – After permitting the Eagles to provide 37 factors and 314 dashing yards in Week 12, the Rams’ protection is permitting simply 15 factors per recreation and 100.5 dashing yards per recreation since then (excluding Week 18 when LA rested starters). What’s gone into the defensive enchancment?
Why the spirit of Aaron Donald after all!
Considerably joking there…perhaps…I dunno. Anyway, first-year defensive coordinator Chris Shula shared his ideas on the turnaround and mentioned that improved communication has been the principle purpose. Early within the season, each Shula and his unit have been discovering their means and because the bye, all the pieces began to click on. Their worst displaying by far was the primary Eagles recreation which was extra a flat-out domination relatively than an absence of communication. The place coaches have equally discovered the place to place their gamers in the perfect place to succeed and it’s labored wonders. No matter how Sunday goes, there’s a lot potential on this unit that they’ll be one of many NFL’s greatest defenses very quickly in any respect. Shula deserves his flowers and needs to be a number one head teaching candidate in subsequent 12 months’s hiring cycle if his protection continues rising.
2 – What’s your confidence degree within the Rams with the ability to decelerate Saquon Barkley this time round? How do you anticipate the Rams to attempt to restrict him?
I used to be studying a CBS Sports activities article earlier the place they anticipate the Rams to surrender one other 200 dashing yards to Saquon on Sunday. That doesn’t encourage a lot confidence in Chris Shula’s unit but it surely’s not precisely onerous to see. The Eagles have one of many NFL’s greatest offensive strains and have the dimensions benefit over the Rams, which is why Barkley was in a position to thrive a lot within the first assembly. Sure, LA has actually grown defensively over the second half of the season however I don’t see them doing sufficient to decelerate Barkley. In contrast to CBS Sports activities, I don’t see one other 200-yard effort from him. Nonetheless, he ought to acquire over 100+ yards simply on this unit.
I anticipate the Rams to attempt to stack the field on early downs to restrict a number of the harm. LA also needs to power the Eagles to go the ball and see if they’ll power Jalen Hurts into some errors. This can be a very opportunistic protection that may disguise appears and confuse Hurts even when they’re unable to get constant stress on him. My solely different suggestion is for the Rams to hope Barkley oversleeps his alarm after consuming one too many KFC Well-known Bowls.
3 – Matthew Stafford has thrown 13 landing passes to only one interception over his final eight begins. What’s the important thing to stopping him and the Rams’ offense?
Matthew Stafford has in no way been good this season, however his regular presence within the Rams’ offense has helped the workforce return to the playoffs for the second straight 12 months. Within the works of famous thinker Forrest Gump, the Rams’ offense is sort of a field of sweets because you by no means know what you’re going to get. LA scored 44 factors in an exciting win over the Payments and adopted that up by scoring 44 complete of their subsequent three video games. When the offense is on, it’s harmful however that’s a giant “if” with this 12 months’s workforce.
The important thing to stopping Stafford and the Rams’ offense is to disrupt their timing. Sean McVay’s scheme is well-known for its timing and if the Eagles can mess that up, they’ll rattle Stafford. Philly also needs to remember to stress him early and infrequently and never permit him to sit down again comfortably within the pocket. Generally when pressured, Stafford decides to be a superhero and forces a nasty throw that ought to’ve by no means been made within the first place. Drive him into making errors and the Eagles can win this one. Plus, they’ve the personnel alongside the line of defense to bully LA’s O-line and get to Stafford.
4 – Final time we talked, I requested you in regards to the Rams’ kicker struggles. Positive sufficient, Joshua Karty missed a 47-yard discipline purpose try towards the Eagles. How are you feeling about him now and is there concern about how he’ll fare exterior this weekend?
Joshua Karty should have taken any previous criticisms I mentioned about him to coronary heart since he’s been excellent because the Eagles recreation. Since lacking that 47-yarder, Karty has made all 15 of his discipline purpose makes an attempt, together with three from 50+ yards out. He was even named the NFC Particular Groups Participant of the Month for December/January. The Rams have largely whiffed on kickers since letting former Professional Bowler Matt Homosexual stroll after the 2022 season. Kicker is a kind of positions the place groups don’t have a lot endurance and it’s comprehensible. Rams followers ought to really feel fairly good about Karty long-term since he’s simply one other member of LA’s particular rookie class.
5 – Who wins this recreation and why? With the Eagles at the moment listed as 5.5-point dwelling favorites, what’s your rating prediction?
This needs to be a a lot totally different recreation from the final time these groups confronted off. Whoever wins within the trenches will advance to the NFC Championship because it’ll be a matchup between the Eagles’ robust O-line versus the Rams’ younger line of defense. LA was humbled the final time round and can do a greater job at “containing” Saquon Barkley. And by “containing” Barkley, I imply holding him below 200 yards once more which needs to be an extremely low bar to clear. If that occurs and the Rams by some means safe the upset, Sean McVay shall be taking all people out for victory cheesesteaks. I’m not anxious in regards to the Eagles’ passing assault and bookworm A.J. Brown. Philly advances on a late discipline purpose in a defensive grind as Barkley does sufficient to safe the win.
Eagles 19, Rams 17
Bonus: Do you could have some good assets to share in terms of supporting LA wildfire aid?
Earlier than answering this, I wish to say what an aesthetic group the Cardinals are for making the Rams really feel at dwelling over the weekend. That is a kind of conditions that’s above soccer and so they actually bent over backwards to assist a workforce in want. It restored somewhat of my religion in humanity and what they did can’t be overstated. Due to that, I promise to by no means write a nasty factor in regards to the Cardinals once more. As an alternative, I’ll protect my power and convert it into further 49ers hate.
Anybody fascinated about supporting LA wildfire aid, please take a look at the American Crimson Cross or the California Hearth Basis to learn the way to get entangled. My coronary heart goes out to everybody coping with this tragedy. I’m positive any assist they’ll get shall be a lot appreciated.
