The Philadelphia Eagles (0-1) Week 2 opponent is the Los Angeles Rams (1-0). The Rams come into Philadelphia after a solid Sunday Night victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The Philadelphia Eagles are reeling after an embarrassing loss to the Washington Football Team. Will they be able to rebound? Let’s check out my Keys to the Game for Eagles vs Rams!
1. Aaron Donald and the Eagles Offensive Line
Aaron Donald is an absolute monster who can line up inside and outside via some Wide 9 looks. The Rams like to move him around to confuse protections and quarterbacks. He takes on double and triple teams weekly yet still disrupts the entire line of scrimmage play after play. The Eagles offensive line better be ready or it is going to be a long afternoon. The good news for the birds is they should get Lane Johnson. Also, Doug Pederson confirmed that Nate Herbig would start at right guard. The Eagles gave up 8 sacks last Sunday and Aaron Donald is arguably the best defensive lineman in the game.
2. Stop the Run
The Ram’s entire offense is built on the foundation of running the football. Under Sean McVay, the Rams don’t do much as far as running many different formations to try to confuse the defense. The flipside that is there isn’t much of a tell to identify of what they are going to do because look coming out of the huddle is often the same. The Rams will try to establish the outside zone and stretch run game with Malcolm Brown, Cam Akers, and Daryl Henderson, Jr. The Eagles totally shut down the run last week and under Schwartz have been a very good run defense. If the Eagles can stop the run it will make the Rams one dimensional which will open up the pass rush to tee off. We all know what Jared Goff looks like under pressure.
3. Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods
I think both of these guys are very underrated receivers around the league. In 2019, both had 90 plus catches and were 1000 yard receivers combining for 184 catches for 2,295 yards. The Eagles went out and got Darius Slay and Nickel Robey Coleman. Sunday is probably going to be a time to prove their worth. It will be interesting to see how this pans out on Sunday.
4. Carson Wentz
Carson Wentz started out last week looking like the MVP but as the pass rush grew became erratic and inaccurate. Now, the Reagor bomb and Hightower picks weren’t on him (Contrary to popular opinion) but he did miss a ton of easy throws that can’t happen. Carson needs to continue to be the aggressive player we love to see but he also has to learn when the play is dead which is a fine line. As Greg Cosell on Eagle Eye in the Sky said, “You can’t miss the layups.” And Doug, Could you throw Carson a bone and roll the guy out away from the pressure?
Prediction Time
Ugh, I don’t see it everyone. I really want to see it but I don’t think the Eagles can win this game on Sunday. The offensive line is going to need much more time to gel. Lane Johnson will have had no preseason on top of being his first game of the season. Cooper Kupp & Robert Woods will be too much. My pick for the Eagles vs Rams week 2 matchup:
Rams 31 – Eagles 21
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Freddy Burns
Co-Host & Writer for Edge of Philly Sports
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Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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