Round 2: Rams vs Eagles Divisional Playoff Matchup

After an underwhelming win against the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Wild Card Playoff Round, the Philadelphia Eagles will look to defeat the red-hot Los Angeles Rams for the second time this year. The last time the Eagles and Rams squared off was in Week 12, when Saquon Barkley led the way with 302 total yards from scrimmage. Will something like that happen again? I don't think so, but I do believe the Eagles will win comfortably.

The Rams' offense is absolutely dangerous; they destroyed the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. Their defense also looked hungry, sacking Sam Darnold nine times and forcing six fumbles to stretch their lead to 17-3 in the second quarter. However, in my opinion, the Vikings' spirit was crushed the week prior when they emphatically lost to the Lions, costing them the number one seed in the NFC. So how do we gauge how the Eagles will fare against the Rams in the Divisional Round?

The Eagles have one aspect of their team that not many others possess: pure physicality. Physicality is something you cannot coach in practice or prepare for ahead of time. Your team either has it or it doesn’t. On Sunday, the Eagles didn’t have their best game on offense, but how they won and controlled the game was all about their physicality against the Packers. It started from the very first play, when the Packers’ kick returner fumbled the ball after a huge hit from Oren Burks, giving the Eagles immediate momentum. This type of physicality is what the Eagles will need to rely on if they want to beat the Rams on Sunday.

The Rams also have one of the youngest front sevens in the NFL. What that tells me is that they’re streaky. In one game, they might record nine sacks on Sam Darnold, and in another, generate no pressure at all. This is why the Eagles need to punch them in the mouth early and often. I also looked into the Rams' wins and losses. Six of their ten total wins came in domed stadiums, while three of their seven losses occurred in outdoor stadiums (a majority of their games were played indoors). How will this young defense handle Lincoln Financial Field with a projected forecast of 38 degrees and a 30% chance of rain or snow? Only time will tell but I think this will greatly benefit the Eagles.

I’m not overly concerned about Jalen Hurts. Hurts obviously looked rusty, but he was also working with two receivers who have been vocal about not being 100% healthy. I think they’ll be much healthier this Sunday and will have a huge impact on the game. I’m more concerned about Kellen Moore’s playcalling. Moore, dating back to his time with the Cowboys, has often gotten conservative with his playcalling in the playoffs. On Sunday, there were no creative run plays and less than the usual amount of RPOs the Eagles typically run. Was this due to Hurts' health? Who knows. But if Moore can address this and if Jalen Hurts looks more comfortable in the pocket, I don’t see why the Eagles can’t handle the Rams.

Eagles vs. Rams on Sunday at 3:00 will be one of the most hotly contested games of the weekend. However, I think the Eagles pull this one out, winning comfortably with a score of 30-17, led by the legs of Saquon Barkley.