The Los Angeles Rams are hoping to stay in the win column as they get set to hit the road for their matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2 of the 2020 NFL season.
The Rams managed to secure an impressive victory in the hope opener at SoFi Stadium against a revamped Dallas Cowboys team. They have also managed to take care of business off the field with wide receiver Robert Woods joining cornerback Jalen Ramsey and wide receiver Cooper Kupp as the latest long-term signing.
Meanwhile, the Eagles are coming off a disappointing outing against the Washington Football Team that saw the latter score 27 unanswered points during an impressive comeback. A win this week would pay huge dividends for getting them back on track.
The quarterback matchup is a good one as it features the two top picks from the 2016 draft in Jared Goff and Carson Wentz, who will forever be linked and compared.
Rams Offense Vs. Eagles Defense
Rams head coach Sean McVay indicated that he would be going with a committee in the backfield this season and largely stuck to his guns by splitting up the carries versus the Cowboys. Malcolm Brown managed to steal the show, however, with 79 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. While the rookie Cam Akers may have gotten the start, his mere 39 yards on 14 carries indicates that the veteran is poised to maintain his role as the primary option until further notice.
Woods proved once again why he is one of the main pillars of this offense after hauling in six receptions for 105 yards. The receiving corps is expected to be fully intact Goff should tight end Gerald Everett manage to overcome a questionable designation on the injury report.
The Eagles were severely bitten by the injury bug to start the season with multiple, key players sidelined in Week 1. Their fortunes turn around this week now that defensive tackles Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave have been cleared to play.
Despite the stability on the interior, there is a chance that Philadelphia will be shorthanded on the edge with starters Derek Barnett and Brandon Graham listed as questionable.
Eagles Offense Vs. Rams Defense
The Rams took a bit of a risk by relying on a bevy of young, unproven talent to fill the notable voids in their defense left from the offseason. Fortunately, the efforts of players such as linebacker Micah Kiser and safety Jordan Fuller have justified their optimism with strong performances in the season opener.
Both players should have their work cut out trying to contain the 1-2 punch at tight end between Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.
Philadelphia is relishing in the return of back Miles Sanders to the backfield since they struggled to get any sort of run game going between Boston Scott and Corey Clement in Week 1. Having right tackle Lane Johnson back in the mix only helps to solidify this notion.
The receiving corps remains thin with Alshon Jefferey not expected to be back until some point in October. Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson is expected to play despite having to undergo routine maintenance this week.
The defensive front for Los Angeles should be foaming at the mouth for this favorable matchup against a Philadelphia offensive line that allowed Wentz to be sacked eight times and hit 14 times against Washington. While the return of Johnson should help serve as a stabilizing factor, Nate Herbig starting at right guard could prove to be a glaring weakness for Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Three Keys To Victory
1. Make Wentz uncomfortable
Despite a strong start from Wentz, Philadelphia’s offensive line simply could not keep him on his feet in Week 1 and it eventually took its toll as the offense was shut out in the second half. Like Washington, Los Angeles is well-equipped to take advantage of this middling group with Donald, Michael Brockers and Leonard Floyd generating consistent pressure under center.
2. Maintain balanced approach on offense
McVay showed once again why he is considered to be one of the best offensive minds ion the NFL after debuting a number of different looks against the Cowboys. The Rams managed to establish the run early on which opened up the play action while the constant misdirection kept the defense on their toes.
Goff is at his best when the defense is not saving defenders for pass coverage as evidenced by his underwhelming performance in the 2019 campaign.
3. Capitalize in red zone
Despite their ability to get in scoring position, Los Angeles’ struggles in the red zone from last season carried over versus Dallas as they were forced to settle for field goals on three solid drives. It made the game much closer than it needed to be and will eventually come back to haunt them down the road should they fail to get this issue fixed.
How to watch
Time: Sunday, 10 a.m. PT
Location: Lincoln Financial Field
TV: FOX
