Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams: 10 Thoughts from Philly's 'Home Game'
Here are 10 thoughts from the Philadelphia Eagles’ 23-14 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday that moved their record to 5-0 with a trip to MetLife Stadium to play the New York Jets up next:
Jalen Hurts. Isn’t it ironic that, just a few days earlier, the quarterback was being questioned about his lack of success in the run game before carrying the ball 15 times for a team-high and individual season-best 72 yards? Asked about it Hurts said: “Things come when they're supposed to, you know? I think it's as simple as that. Things come when they're supposed to.”
Five of the QB’s runs went for first downs as the Eagles converted a robust 13-for-18 on third down (72.2 percent). He was also 6-for-8 passing for 67 yards and one touchdown on third down.
“There's going to be games he's got to get freaky out there,” said head coach Nick Sirianni. “I think that's how he says it, right? And I thought he did a really nice job today of making some plays that only he can make.”
Fletcher Cox. You never would have known he didn’t play. That’s not a slight on one of the greatest players in team history, but it shows that this defensive line, with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, is in good hands whenever Cox or the Eagles decide it’s time to move on.
Speaking of Carter. He recorded the first multi-sack game of his career. It won’t be his last. Now, the 22-year-old rookie needs to figure out a signature sack dance, a la Javon Hargrave’s karate kick after he made a sack and his teammates would join him.
Run D. The Eagles came into Sunday’s game allowing just 63 yards per game on the ground. The Rams got just 54 yards rushing. The New York Jets, who the Eagles play Sunday, will be a strong test with Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook. The Jets shredded the Denver Broncos' defense for 234 yards on the ground, with Hall getting 177.
Fan-damonium. SoFi Stadium was overrun by Eagles fans. There may have even been more of them there than Rams fans. No surprise, really, except to get to L.A. isn’t like driving south to FedEx Field or north to MetLife Stadium.
The love wasn’t lost on receiver A.J. Brown.
“Coming into this stadium, I said today is going to be a home game, and that’s what it was,” he said. “... We appreciate them. They’re all the way out here in LA, across the world. It doesn’t go unnoticed. We love them. They started chanting, Eagles. We hear that. It was like a home game.”
Eagles fans took over SoFi Stadium in Week 5's win over the L.A. Rams.
USA Today
More Brown. With 127 receiving yards on six catches, Brown became the sixth player in team history to have three straight games with more than 100 yards since the 1970 merger. He joins DeVonta Smith (2023), Terrell Owens (2004), Irving Fryar (1996), Mike Quick (1983 and 1985), and Harold Jackson (1971-72).
He also reached 5,000 career receiving yards, making him just the 13th player since 1970 to do so in their first 65 games.
Acquiring Brown is the best trade GM Howie Roseman has ever made.
Make the calls, Howie. There were three trades in the league last week. The trade deadline is Oct. 31 at 4 p.m., so there is time for Roseman to work the phones, but after watching Quez Watkins botch a screen pass that would’ve picked up a first down had he turned it up the field instead of running to the sidelines, it’s time to find a third receiver.
Olamide Zaccheaus could be that guy, but the Eagles believe so much in Watkins that he got 52 snaps against the Rams while Zaccheaus took just nine. Sirianni continues to stand firmly in Watkins’ corner, too, saying after the game, “I know this, when (Watkins’) speed is on the field, it changes us as an offense.”
It’s probably more likely Roseman looks for secondary help in the trade market.
Bradley Roby played 25 snaps in the slot on Sunday, and maybe he’s the answer but more help there wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Gainwell’s dirty work. Can’t move on here without mentioning the play made by Kenny Gainwell on the Eagles’ second-quarter field goal march. Facing third-and-six, the Eagles got a blitz from the Rams.
Gainwell made a nice block on linebacker Christian Rozeboom on the edge and then, as Hurts scrambled to his right, Gainwell found an open area where Hurts hit him with a pass.
Gainwell was short of the first down when he was hit by DB Cobie Durant, but ran through Durant's tackle that would've prevented the first and rumbled for seven yards and a fresh set of downs.
Swifty. It’s no secret that D’Andre Swift has taken control of the RB1 job. He accounted for 108 yards of the Eagles' 454 total yards offense, with 17 carries for 70 yards and six catches for 38 yards. It might be time to start thinking about a contract extension.
Aaron who? The Hall of Fame will call the Rams’ defensive tackle one day after he retires, but the Eagles can say they didn’t play a hand in his enshrinement. Donald has played five games against the Eagles in his fantastic career but has yet to have a sack.
Sua Opeta did terrific work on Donald, but the Eagles had Jason Kelce always nearby as a just-in-case insurance policy.
“Great job by the offensive line,” said Sirianni. “We got a great offensive line. That falls a lot on them, right? It's hard to help on that guy with tight ends or backs when he's lined up inside.
“Now they do a good job of moving him all over the field, but the onus falls all on the offensive line. And so, nobody I'd else I'd rather have than those 5, 6, 7 guys that are in the rotation and (Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line) Coach (Jeff) Stoutland coaching them up.”
