Though the Los Angeles Rams aren’t undefeated like the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday’s game between these two teams is a big one. The Eagles have looked somewhat vulnerable lately, while the Rams are playing better than initially expected.
Both teams are coming off overtime wins and will now square off at SoFi Stadium where the Rams will try to hand the Eagles their first loss of the season. If they’re to do that, they’ll need to win these individual matchups on the field, including a few in the trenches where Philadelphia is among the best in the NFL.
1
Ahkello Witherspoon vs. A.J. Brown
Witherspoon is in his first season with the Rams but he faced Brown and the Eagles just last season as a member of the Steelers. It’s probably a game he’d like to forget, though. Not only was it his last game of the season due to a hamstring injury, but he gave up seven catches on nine targets for a total of 73 yards and two touchdowns.
Witherspoon is playing some of the best football of his career right now and has allowed just six catches on 16 targets this season, but he’ll be tested by Brown (and DeVonta Smith) on Sunday. The Rams need him to shut down his side of the field and limit Brown’s production.
2
Aaron Donald vs. Eagles’ entire offensive line
The Rams have done a good job moving Donald around this season, putting him at either defensive tackle spot, as well as outside the offensive tackles as an edge rusher. Left guard Landon Dickerson will get the brunt of Donald’s attack but don’t be surprised to see the All-Pro pass rusher lined up across from Jordan Mailata at left tackle and Lane Johnson at right tackle.
Donald wrecked the Colts’ game plan last week and while the Eagles’ offensive line is much better than Indianapolis’, he has a chance to dominate once again and help disrupt Philadelphia’s game plan.
The Eagles are only one of two teams that Donald doesn’t have a sack against so you can bet he wants to cross them off his list.
3
Steve Avila vs. Jalen Carter
This is a marquee matchup between two stud rookies. Avila is having a solid season for the Rams at left guard, but there are few defensive tackles playing better than Carter right now. His defensive grade of 92.2 is the fourth-highest of any player in the NFL on that side of the ball – yes, better than even Donald. His 20 total pressures are the second-most among interior defenders (Donald has 22) so you can probably get a sense of how well he’s playing at the moment.
The Rams can’t allow Carter to live in the backfield and create pressure consistently because we saw against the Bengals what that does to Los Angeles’ offense.
4
Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp vs. James Bradberry
We don’t officially know whether Kupp will play, though it seems highly likely that he will. Whether it’s Nacua or Kupp in the slot, the Rams should have an advantage against Bradberry, who’s playing inside because of injuries to Avonte Maddox and Zech McPhearson, the Eagles’ top two slot defenders.
Bradberry is traditionally an outside corner who doesn’t necessarily have the best quickness to cover slot receivers, so he’ll be tested against Nacua and Kupp. Expect to see both receivers get a lot of looks against Bradberry on Sunday.
5
Rams LT vs. Josh Sweat
One of the biggest injury questions for the Rams this week is at left tackle, where Alaric Jackson and Joe Noteboom are both banged up. The hope is that one of them will be healthy enough to play, ideally Jackson, but whoever starts at left tackle will face a major test against Sweat.
Sweat has 16 pressures this season, second on the Eagles. He’s a disruptive player on the outside and typically lines up across from the left tackle, which will likely continue to be the case against the Rams. Los Angeles doesn’t have a great option at left tackle if Jackson and Noteboom both remain sidelined, so they really need one of them to be available this week.
