The Philadelphia Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, and I could break this matchup down every which way. Honestly, though, I’m tired of doing that. At this point, the question isn’t how Philadelphia exploits the Rams. It’s whether the Eagles can stop shooting themselves in the foot. We can talk about the talent on this roster all day long, and we have. You still have to go out and do it on the football field. That loss on Monday did not sit well with me, and this weekend sets up as a tough spot for the Birds.

DeVonta Smith and Zack Baun headline a brutal Eagles injury report

Start with the biggest news. DeVonta Smith is probably not playing Sunday. He has been on the injury report with that hamstring every week, and he has been sidelined all week. The expectation is he will not suit up, and there isn’t much optimism around it.

Some reporters have even suggested he could miss a couple of weeks. If he gets back on the practice field Friday and everything is fine, great. I hope so. But Philadelphia is likely missing one of its biggest offensive weapons.

Meanwhile, the Rams are trending the other way. Los Angeles appears ready to get Puka Nacua back. Pair him with Davante Adams, who sits third in the NFL in receiving. Adams is closing in on 34, and he looks like prime Davante. The Rams are 1-2 coming off a tough loss. They need a win, and they’re hungry. The timing for this one just stinks.

Now, Zack Baun is in concussion protocol. I doubt he gets cleared for Sunday. That means we get to see Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Jihaad Campbell needs to play a lot better. Who knows? Maybe Trotter turns this into an audition for that spot even after Baun returns.

The list keeps going. Dallas Goedert is still out. Hollywood Brown is out. Jalen Carter has a hairline fracture in his wrist. Jordan Davis has a calf issue, and Marcus Epps is dealing with a groin injury. Guys are banged up everywhere, and I’m not convinced this team has the depth to cover for all of it.

The one matchup Philadelphia should attack

The Rams are dealing with injuries of their own, and the second cornerback spot is where the Eagles can do damage. My assumption was Trent McDuffie, who L.A. traded for and who has been phenomenal, would shadow Smith. That would have opened things up for Dontayvion Wicks. Jaylen Watson, who also came over from Kansas City, got hurt last week and doesn’t look like he’ll play. Josh Wallace filled in, but now he’s on the injury report too. That likely means Emmanuel Forbes. And if you remember those Eagles-Commanders games, you know Philly knows how to pick on Forbes.

Here’s the problem. Without Smith, McDuffie probably shadows Wicks instead, and I don’t know where the offense comes from after that. The Rams might also be down to their third-string tight end, since Colby Parkinson and Terrance Ferguson both missed practice.

The offensive line has to show up

Again, this comes back to the Eagles more than anybody else. Is the offensive line going to block or not? Cam Jurgens is a two-time Pro Bowler who has done a lot for this team. Nothing personal. But he has not looked healthy, and when he isn’t, it wrecks so much of this offense. Drew Kendall, meanwhile, was balling in the first couple of games and might be a hidden gem. Lane Johnson isn’t playing up to his standard, Jordan Mailata has been okay, and Tyler Steen has committed too many penalties. Clean it up.

History is on Philly’s side. The Eagles are 4-0 against the Rams in the Sirianni era. Remember the NFC Divisional Round, when the defense made the big stop? Then last year, Philadelphia trailed 26-7 and looked dead in the water before blocking two field goals in the fourth quarter. The last one came with the game on the line, and Jordan Davis took it to the house. Thrilling. But that win needed heroics, just like the first couple of games this season did. That’s not a formula.

There is one opening. Matthew Stafford holds the ball against this defense. He was sacked five times in one meeting and four times in another in 2024. The problem? This defense has three sacks in three weeks and zero takeaways. Figure it out, or this gets ugly.

Prediction: Rams vs. Eagles

To me, this is a must-win statement game. If you want to show you mean business, you show up banged up or not. I do think the offense plays better against a Rams defense that hasn’t been sharp, and I think we finally see that first takeaway.

But I have to keep it real. Stafford gets the ball out quick, both Rams running backs are averaging over five yards per carry, and Adams might have Nacua back beside him. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is likely without Smith, Baun, Goedert, and more. All the cards are in L.A.’s favor. I’m taking Sean McVay to finally get his first win over the Eagles in the Sirianni era, 34-26, in a shootout. I hope I’m wrong.