The Los Angeles Rams were unable to upset the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5 at home, losing the game, 23-14. With the loss on Sunday, the Rams have now fallen to 2-3 on the season ahead of a Week 6 meeting with the Arizona Cardinals.
The defense failed to get off of the field at times as the Eagles converted 13 of their 18 third downs. On top of that, the Eagles had the ball for nearly 38 minutes in the game, controlling the time of possession throughout Sunday’s matchup.
Buy Rams TicketsFollowing the team’s third loss of the season, here are our studs and duds from the Rams’ 23-14 loss to the Eagles in Week 5.
Stud: Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupp made his season debut on Sunday versus the Eagles, and he still looked to be in All-Pro form. The veteran wideout led the Rams in receptions (8), receiving yards (118), and targets (12) in the loss. This was the first time we saw Kupp take the field with rookie Puka Nacua and both of them showed they could coexist in the offense. After getting his feet wet against the Eagles, Kupp will look to be even more involved in an impending matchup with the Cardinals.
Stud: Puka Nacua
Once again, Sunday’s loss was the first game we got a chance to see Kupp and Nacua take the field together. While Kupp led the way in receptions, yards, and targets, Nacua still managed to record six catches, 57 yards, and a touchdown on nine targets himself. The rookie receiver continued to make plays in the passing game and it’s clear that Matthew Stafford trusts him. If this week is any indication of how the receivers will be deployed, Kupp and Nacua can both feast in this offense.
Dud: Kyren Williams
Kyren Williams has gotten off to a fast start this season, but he was quiet in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles. The second-year back carried the ball 13 times for 53 yards, while he hauled in only two passes for four yards. The Rams got down early, which somewhat game-scripted Williams out of the contest, especially with Kupp returning as the go-to target on crucial downs. Williams will look to bounce back in Week 6 versus the Cardinals.
Dud: Derion Kendrick
When the Eagles put the ball in the air, Jalen Hurts was consistently targeting Derion Kendrick. Kendrick found himself on A.J. Brown often in the loss for the Rams, with the superstar wideout finishing with six receptions for 127 yards on eight targets. The worst sequence came at the end of the first half when Kendrick got burned by Brown and committed a horse-collar penalty. Just the play after, he would then commit defensive pass interference to give the Eagles the ball at the one-yard line, where they would score a touchdown.
Dud: Michael Hoecht
Upon looking at the box score, you would assume Michael Hoecht had a solid game with six combined tackles. However, Hoecht failed to generate consistent pressure — which has been an issue all season — and he continues to struggle when asked to cover the opposing team’s skill players. Hoecht has been a liability off of the edge all season and the Rams need to give someone else snaps on the opposite side of Byron Young. Whether it’s giving Ochaun Mathis snaps, or making a move for a veteran, the Rams need to replace Hoecht.
Dud: Tyler Higbee
Everyone was curious to see who would see their role decline with Kupp back on the field, and Tyler Higbee was among the players to see less usage. The experienced tight end registered only two receptions for 20 yards on three targets, with one of his catches coming on the last play when the game was already over. Outside of the red zone, Higbee likely won’t have a large role in the Rams’ offense moving forward as long as Kupp is healthy.
Dud: Van Jefferson
Van Jefferson was struggling before Kupp made his season debut, and he saw an even smaller role with the All-Pro receiver being available. The former second-round pick didn’t see a single target in the loss. Through the first five weeks, Jefferson now has just eight receptions for 108 yards for the Rams. Considering that Kupp, Nacua, and Tutu Atwell are the top three receivers, Jefferson is slowly getting phased out of the aerial attack.
