FINAL: Philadelphia Eagles Defeat Los Angeles Rams 23-14
It is game day in Los Angeles as the Rams welcome the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles to SoFi Stadium. The Rams, who have been surprisingly successful through the first month of NFL action, have a chance to give the defending NFC Champion Eagles their first loss of the season.
Both teams are fresh off overtime victories. The Rams defeated the Indianapolis Colts 29-23 on the road in Week 4. The Eagles went toe-to-toe with the Washington Commanders and gutted out a 34-31 overtime win against their NFC East division foe.
Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts is now 22-3 in his last 25 starts. Against Washington, Hurts finished 25-of-37 for 319 yards and two touchdowns, both to receiver AJ Brown. Brown missed his career-high in receiving by six yards, settling for 175 yards with touchdowns covering 59 and 28 yards.
The Eagles defense looks to get after Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford is working through a left hip pointer injury that he suffered during the team's Week 4 win. However, the 35-year-old says that he intends to play against the NFC foe Eagles.
The Rams have elevated wide receiver Cooper Kupp into the 21-day practice window. All eyes are on if Kupp enters the lineup. In Kupp's absence, rookie receiver Puka Nucua has been incredible. In Week 4, Nucua caught nine receptions for 163 yards, marking his third time going over the century mark in four career games. Nacua hauled in his first-career touchdown pass in overtime to beat the Colts.
Upsetting the Eagles would help Los Angeles' playoff aspirations in Sean McVay's seventh season coaching the Rams.
WHAT: Philadelphia Eagles (4-0) at Los Angeles Rams (2-2)
WHERE: SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California (71,500)
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, 1:05 p.m. PT
TELEVISION: FOX / FuboTV (try it free)
RADIO: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM) | 100.3 The Bull
TICKETS: SI Tickets
BETTING: SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Rams +4.5
TOTAL: 50.5
MONEYLINE: Eagles -213, Rams +170
First Quarter
The Eagles got off to a fast start as they drove 75 yards in 12 plays, where Jalen Hurts found Dallas Goedart for a six-yard touchdown. The drive saw the Eagles lean heavily on Hurts as he completed six of his seven passes for 57 yards.
TOUCHDOWN EAGLES
Eagles 7, Rams 0
Change of Possession
In the first game back this season from injury, Cooper Kupp got a heavy dose of action on the first drive. Quarterback Matthew Stafford looked the way of Kupp six times, connecting with him on five of those passes for 56 yards. Before Stafford found TuTu Atwell for a three-yard touchdown pass.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS
Eagles 7, Rams 7
Change of Possession
Second Quarter
After being unable to get off the field in the first two third-down attempts, the Rams defense forced a punt after Jalen Hurts suffered three straight incompletions.
Change of Possession
A six-yard run from Kyren Williams converted the first third-down of the drive for the Rams, but a Stafford pass intended for Nacua fell incomplete on the next attempt.
Change of Possession
The Eagles put together another long drive, spanning 15 plays as they drove 56 yards before being forced to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Jake Elliott. Rams' cornerback Derion Kendrick's tackle on Quez Watkins for no gain got the defense off the field on third-and-two.
FIELD GOAL EAGLES
Eagles 10, Rams 7
Change of Possession
Taking the field with a little over two minutes left in the half, the Rams drove 75 yards in six plays, as Stafford and the passing game took the top off the Eagles' defense on two different occasions. First, Stafford found Kupp for a 39-yard completion. Then, three plays later, he hit Nacua for a 22-yard touchdown pass.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS
Rams 14, Eagles 10
Change of Possession
Despite having only 32 seconds to work with the Eagles took back the lead on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Jalen Hurts for a touchdown. The touchdown was set up by two big plays featuring A.J. Brown. First, Hurts found Brown for a big 38-yard completion that put them in field goal range. However, they weren't done, as they went back to Brown on a deep-ball to the endzone, where he drew a defensive pass interference penalty from Derion Kendrick to set up the score.
TOUCHDOWN EAGLES
Eagles 17, Rams 14
Third Quarter
After overcoming a third and 26, thanks to an 11-yard run from Kyren Williams and a facemask penalty, the Rams were forced to punt on the next set of downs.
Change of Possession
A promising drive for the Eagles was upended by Ahkello Witherspoon who picked off a pass from Jalen Hurts intended for Brown
Change of Possession
The Eagles almost answered with an interception of their own but settled for forcing a Rams punt.
Change of Possession
Fourth Quarter
The Eagles went on a long 17-play drive that chewed over eight minutes on the clock before settling for a 26-yard field goal.
FIELD GOAL EAGLES
Eagles 20, Rams 14
Change of Possession
The Rams got a first-down thanks to Williams' run, but couldn't get another on the next set of downs.
Change of Possession
The Rams' defense surrendered a 26-yard field goal after giving up a 36-yard completion to Brown, which helped put Philadelphia in scoring range
FIELD GOAL EAGLES
Eagles 23, Rams 14
Change of Possession
After a missed deep-ball intended for Kupp, Stafford is sacked on third-down, which brought up a fourth-and-long that ended with the same result ... a sack.
Change of Possession
The Eagles picked up a pair of first-downs but couldn't get a third before the Rams stopped a quarterback sneak on fourth down to force a turnover on downs.
Change of Possession
The last-ditch effort by the Rams to put more points on the board comes up short, as the final play of the game was an incomplete pass to Nacua.
FINAL: Philadelphia Eagles 23, Los Angeles Rams 14
