The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles this week, with the team in need of a win to avoid the dreaded 1-3 start to the season. The issue is that the Eagles have had the Rams' number in the Sean McVay era, with Philadelphia winning four games over Los Angeles in the last three seasons.
If the Rams wish to write a new chapter, here are five keys that should lead them to victory.
Force all the action inside
Star receiver DeVonta Smith will miss the contest, meaning a struggling Eagles offense will be down another playmaker. The Rams will also be down Jaylen Watson, meaning one of their bigger presences on the outside will be absent.
The Eagles' top weapons are Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts. Their entire offense is predicated on using their speed to force the opposition
to guard the flats, allowing the team to attack inside. That is Philadelphia's best shot at offensive success, as the Rams should have the talent to shut down their pass catchers. Don't allow them to have success on the outside; force the run inside for Los Angeles' defensive line to blow up, and make the Eagles earn tough yards, instead of letting them take advantage of their ability to turn the corner.
Blitz Hurts on third down
Hurts' status as a dual-threat quarterback has somehow been used as a negative, due to his arm strength compared to his counterparts. He might not be the best quarterback, but he wins games, and he's outlasted Matthew Stafford on four different occasions.
His ability to create plays out of nothing will be his greatest strength, as he will lack talent in the pass-catcher department. Quentin Lake and Jaylen McCollough are excellent blitzers, while Trent McDuffie is one of the best man corners in football. Use the blitz to take away lanes for Hurts to escape, forcing him to make quick throws under duress.
The more the Rams bring heat, the less the Eagles can turn to Barkley, and on third down, it will paralyze Philadelphia's play-calling ability.
Bend but don't break...then suffocate
No matter what, the defense has to understand that they only need to hold Philadelphia to under 20 points. The Eagles are averaging a little over 18 points per game, while the Rams are averaging a little over 20. Their big offensive blunder came in Australia; they've averaged 27 points in their last two contests, both played on the U.S. mainland.
All the defense needs to do is make sure Barkley and Hurts are unable to strike with their acceleration that turns openings into touchdowns while maintaining the top of their defense. The Eagles will move the ball, especially on crossing routes off play action. The key is to force Philadelphia to grind drives out, and when the field shrinks, Los Angeles must turn up the pressure, forcing Hurts to throw to difficult spots on the field.
Make them take field goals in the red zone.
Low and slow on offense
Last week, the Eagles got burnt as they devoted everything to stopping the run, allowing Case Keenum to attack in the air. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio bet on Keenum being rusty and lost. He will not give Stafford those looks. With Zack Baun out as well, Fangio's light box will be even more susceptible to the run.
The Eagles can not handle misdirection. Use the run to force Fangio to respect it enough to strike with quick passes and play action. Mirror plays with formations, while 11 personnel could be crucial, as the Eagles do not have the defensive backs to handle their wide receivers' ability to disguise the run and pass.
Plus, the Eagles cannot gain solid field position early. No cheap points.
Low, slow, then attack downfield. Don't take a chance; set it up first. Also, do not throw yourself out of this game, Los Angeles. Wouldn't be the first time.
Take the points in the first half, keep possessions in the second
When it comes to fourth downs, unless it's a yard and under, take the three points if applicable in the first half, and no quarterback sneaks with Stafford. As mentioned, the Rams have the offense to outpace the Eagles; they can't surrender cheap points. Leaving points off the board early would be the same thing.
Philadelphia can't sustain a winning effort on both sides of the ball for an entire game. They need quick swings of momentum to ride off the energy of their fan base in order to beat Los Angeles. Take points, don't waste possessions, and be sound in the first half. Keep the crowd out of the game, and watch them turn on their players.
In the second half, the game becomes attritional. Try to keep the defense on the field, wear them down by staying ahead of the chains, and keep Philadelphia's offense cold because when they're forced to pass because of a winding-down clock, they can't move, especially without Smith.
Use their fanbase's high expectations to amplify pressure on the opposition to perform. They will melt.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' 5 keys to victory vs. Eagles on Sunday
