ThePhiladelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Ramsshare a rich history. Headlines abound heading into Sunday's matchup at Lincoln Financial Field. This one is littered with stars, on the field and on the sideline. Two NFC contenders meet in a game that matters a lot toboth franchises.
Dig a little deeper, and you'll find several fascinating subplots that could shape how this game unfolds. Some involve coaches. Others involve roster depth, and others still may tell us more about where these teams are headed than the final score will.
Sean Mannion faces his old mentor.
Most fans know Sean Mannion and Sean McVay worked together during their time with the Rams. This, however, marks Mannion's first opportunity to face his former mentor as Philadelphia's offensive coordinator.
The timing makes
the storyline even more interesting. Mannion's offense has come under increased scrutiny after Monday night's loss to the Chicago Bears, and Sunday offers a chance to show progress against one of the league's most respected coaching staffs.
McVay knows Mannion well. Mannion understands many of the offensive principles that helped make the Rams successful for years. They lead their respective offenses. This should be very interesting.
Nick Sirianni's perfect record vs. Sean McVay is on the line
This has quietly become one of the NFL's more surprising trends. Nick Sirianni is 4-0 against McVay since becoming Philadelphia's head coach. The Rams have fielded talented teams during that stretch, yet the Eagles have consistently found ways to come out on top.
Notable Eagles wins include their playoff victory during the Divisional Round of the 2024 postseason and last season's close call, a loss that McVay says still haunts him. If Philadelphia wins again, the conversation about Sirianni's success against McVay only grows louder. He would move to a 5-0 head-to-head record with a win.
The Rams are actually more desperate than the Eagles
Much of the attention this week has centered on Philadelphia's need to bounce back from an embarrassing loss to the Chicago Bears. The Rams, however, enter this game facing significant pressure of their own.
A loss would drop Los Angeles to 1-3 with two losses against NFC competition. It would also leave them with consecutive defeats heading into a difficult portion of their schedule. Both teams desperately need a win, which should create a playoff-like sense of urgency despite the calendar reading October.
Can Sean Mannion finally solve the Eagles' third-quarter issues?
The Eagles have scored just six points in the third quarter through three games, and the trend is hard to ignore. Philadelphia has shown encouraging offensive moments in the first half, only to lose momentum after halftime.
The Eagles have scored only six total points in the third quarter through three weeks. Mannion acknowledged this week that the coaching staff has spent considerable time searching for answers. If the Eagles finally put together a productive third quarter against Los Angeles, it could signal meaningful progress.
The Eagles' receiving depth may finally be tested.
DeVonta Smith and Hollywood Brown have both appeared on the injury report this week. Since then, Smith has been ruled out, creating an interesting subplot heading into Sunday.
The Eagles have expressed confidence in their wide receiver depth before, mostly throughout the offseason and early portion of the regular season. If either veteran is limited, players such as Dontayvion Wicks and Makai Lemon could see expanded roles in a meaningful game.
The Eagles have repeatedly expressed confidence in those options. Week 4 may provide the first real opportunity to prove that confidence is warranted. The stars will dominate the headlines Sunday afternoon, as they always do. Still, these secondary storylines could influence the outcome as much as any individual matchup when the Eagles and Rams meet in a game that suddenly feels much bigger than a typical Week 4 contest.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles vs. Rams: 5 under-the-radar storylines to watch in Week 4
