4. Defensive adjustment clamps down on Rams
Los Angeles moved the ball on its first two possessions – 5 plays, 53 yards, and then 9 plays, 64 yards, and a touchdown to take a 7-3 lead – and then the Eagles revved up the defense. It was a litmus-test kind of game for this defense and what happened? Prior to garbage time late, Los Angeles had 222 total net yards, went 0-for-7 on third down, averaged just 4.4 yards per offensive play, and limited Matthew Stafford to 186 passing yards – 141 net passing yards after taking into account 5 quarterback sacks for -45 yards. Masterful performance by a group that is a force – deep and talented and playing with great confidence.
5. Brandon Graham has a tremendous performance before suffering injury
Great game for defensive end Brandon Graham as he continues to get it done. Graham had a quarterback sack, reached Stafford a second time to tip the ball as he threw it – he had three quarterback hits in all – had a pair of tackles for loss, and played with great energy and jump off the ball. Terrific performance from Graham, who was yapping it up and having a ball out there at SoFi Stadium.
Unfortunately, Graham told reporters in the locker room after the game that he suffered a torn triceps muscle. Sirianni said that Graham is “one of my favorite guys I’ve ever been able to coach. We’ll see where he is at. Not ready to talk about it yet. Holding out hope and we’ll see.”
6. Saquon leads a running game that just keeps delivering
First play of the second half, Barkley takes a handoff, starts right, jump cuts outside, and uses his speed – excellent blocking from left guard Landon Dickerson, among others – and takes it to the house, an electrifying 70-yard touchdown that gave the Eagles a two-score lead. He finished the night with an Eagles-record 255 yards, gaining yards after contract, eluding defenders, making great decisions. Another game, another dominating performance from Barkley, who added 47 yards on 4 receptions in the passing game. Barkley, the league’s leading rusher (1,392 yards) and yards gained from the line of scrimmage (1,649), headlined a running game that picked up 314 yards, just overpowering the Rams.
• Huge decision late in the third quarter: The Eagles accepted a holding penalty against Los Angeles at the Philadelphia 14-yard line – linebacker Nakobe Dean was perfect with a blitz, as he was all night – and instead of a fourth-and-3 from there, the Rams were moved back 10 yards and faced a third-and-13 play. Milton Williams reached quarterback Matthew Stafford for a huge sack and then placekicker Joshua Karty pushed a 47-yard field goal attempt wide right and the Eagles kept their 27-14 advantage.
• The entire front seven really got after it, delivering good pressure on Stafford, doing a nice job against the run, and staying disciplined against the Rams’ eye-candy offense. Josh Sweat added a sack, Jalen Carter was disruptive despite added attention all night, Moro Ojomo won with his get-off at the line of scrimmage, and the Eagles stuffed Los Angeles. This is the key statistic: Los Angeles was zero for the game (0-for-8) on third downs. Fantastic defensive effort.
• Rookie cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean had their biggest tests against the Rams’ receiving corps and again played very, very well. No flinching. Incredible maturity and excellent technique limiting the Rams, who had one receiving play of +20 yards (29 yards to Puka Nacua).
• Jake Elliott: 3 field goals and 4 PAT kicks. A perfect night.
• And how about Hurts? He was outstanding, completing 15 of 22 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. He ran when he had a chance, gaining 39 yards on 12 attempts before the late-game clock-killing and sustained drives with accuracy in the passing game. Zero giveaways once again, a key number to remember.
