The Philadelphia Eagles have hopefully put Monday Night Football's implosion behind them. There is no further time to dwell on what happened against the Chicago Bears. This is the NFL, and one disappointing loss cannot fuel another.
Sure, the Bears exposed several issues that must be corrected quickly. The challenge doesn't get any easierwith the Los Angeles Rams coming to town.
Philadelphia has won four straight meetings in this series, and 10 of the last 11 overall, but recent history won't matter much on Sunday. TheRamsremain one of the NFC's most talented teams, and the Eagles enter Week 4 searching for answers after an uneven start to the season. Several matchups and situations could ultimately determine who leaves Lincoln Financial Field
with a victory.
Jalen Hurts may have to extend plays and gain yards with his legs
The Eagles would undoubtedly prefer to win from the pocket with a balanced offensive attack. The reality is that the offensive line remains a work in progress, and Philadelphia could once again find itself dealing with pressure from a talented defensive front.
Aaron Donald is dealing with a back injury. If he plays, he, Kobie Turner, and Braden Fiske can create problems for any offense. If protection breaks down, Hurts may need to rely on one of his greatest strengths: creating offense when the play doesn't go as planned.
Hurts' ability to escape pressure, extend plays, and pick up critical first downs with his legs could be one of the biggest differences in this game, especially if the Rams succeed in limiting Philadelphia's receiving options.
Can the Eagles get more from the tight end position?
We acknowledge that Zach Ertz is a little rusty and, through no fault of his own, needs time to understand Sean Mannion's offense better. At the same time, he's partially here to help replace Dallas Goedert's production.
Johnny Mundt is here primarily for his blocking, but even that leaves a little to be desired. He fails the eyeball test at times and isn't ranked among the better NFL pass blockers. Pro Football Focus grades him at 53.2 in that metric.
The New York Giants enjoyed success targeting Isaiah Likely in Week 2 against this Rams defense. Perhaps Philadelphia can make some inroads there as well.
The Eagles cannot lose the battle up front.
Few teams can match the Rams' defensive line talent. Donald remains one of the most disruptive defenders in football when healthy, while Turner and Fiske provide plenty of support. If Los Angeles consistently wins at the line of scrimmage, Philadelphia's offense could spend the afternoon operating behind schedule.
The Eagles don't necessarily need complete domination from their offensive line. They do, however, need to hold up well enough to establish the run and give Hurts enough time to operate.
Win on third down
Third down often separates winning teams from losing teams, and both offenses have been reasonably effective in those situations this season. The Eagles are converting more than 46% of their third-down attempts, while the Rams sit just above 42%.
Sustaining drives, controlling possession, and finishing possessions with points become much easier when teams convert third-down opportunities. Whichever team performs better in these situations will likely gain a significant advantage.
Slow the Rams' rushing attack.
Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, Tyler Higbee, and a returning Puka Nacua headline the conversation, but Los Angeles becomes far more dangerous when it establishes balance offensively.
If the Rams consistently run the football, Stafford gains access to the entire playbook, and Sean McVay can dictate terms offensively. That puts added stress on Philadelphia's defense and creates more opportunities for explosive plays.
The Eagles don't have to shut down the Rams' ground game completely, but they must prevent it from becoming the foundation of Los Angeles' offensive success.
Final analysis
Philadelphia's margin for error feels smaller than it did a few weeks ago. If the Eagles can get enough from their tight ends, hold up in the trenches, win key third-down situations, contain the Rams' rushing attack, and let Hurts create when necessary, they'll have a strong chance to put Monday night's disappointment behind them.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles vs. Rams: 5 keys to a Philadelphia victory over Los Angeles
