NFL expert weighs in on how Matthew Stafford and Rams can beat Eagles in the playoffs
The Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams are set to square off at Lincoln Financial Field in the divisional round of the playoffs. Whichever team comes out on top will advance to the NFC championship game and play the winner of Saturday night's Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders divisional round game. Philly enters the matchup as […]
The Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams are set to square off at Lincoln Financial Field in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Whichever team comes out on top will advance to the NFC championship game and play the winner of Saturday night's Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders divisional round game.
Philly enters the matchup as 6-point favorites over LA with the over/under total set at 43.5 points.
The Eagles last faced the Rams in Week 12 in LA where they pulled off a 37-20 victory. However, a lot has changed for both teams since then.
A to Z Sports' NFL expert, Wendell Ferreira, answers what the Rams need to do to beat the Eagles and more in three burning questions ahead of this divisional round showdown.
1. Matthew Stafford had a great game against the Minnesota Vikings in the wild card round. Do you think he can repeat those efforts against Philly’s defense?
He can repeat this because Stafford has some heaters that are impossible to stop. But the fact that he was so good against the Vikings doesn't mean he will be against the Eagles. Those are two completely different schematic philosophies, and my perception is that Stafford's strengths align better to play against Brian Flores' scheme. Stafford is ultra-aggressive, and the Rams had an excellent plan to attack the blitz. The Eagles play with a two-high shell and disguise moving to cover 3 from it sometimes, getting pressure with their front four. This style of defense tends to be more challenging for Stafford, even though he is still capable of eventually playing at a high level against it.
2. How has the Rams' defense changed since they last played in Week 12?
It hasn't changed much, despite the great performance against the Minnesota Vikings. The Rams' defense is full of players in their first or second year in the NFL, and it's also defensive coordinator Chris Shula's first year in his job. So you would expect some type of development throughout the season. That's exactly what has happened. Shula has been with the Rams since 2017, making him an influence on Wade Phillips, Brandon Staley, and Raheem Morris. In terms of defensive coverages, it hasn't changed much. The Rams have primarily played cover 3 and cover 6 at a high rate. You can also see a lot of quarters. When it's man, Shula mostly calls cover 1. The Rams were 21st in EPA/play in the first half of the season and 23rd in the second, so the performance hasn't been all that different either. It's a matter of game planning in the playoffs to take the most out of these young players.
3. What is your final prediction for this highly-anticipated divisional round showdown?
The matchup, talent level and experience all favor the Philadelphia Eagles. The Rams have a big advantage in offensive coaching, but Vic Fangio has the advantage on the defensive side. It's hard to imagine the Rams being blown out, but it's going to be a big challenge for them to win. For Los Angeles to win, they will have to balance things up front to make Stafford's life easier. If the quarterback is able to exploit the favorable matchup of their wide receivers, and the defense can punch above their weight class to stop the run, the Rams will be in it. Easier said than done.
