Week 3 vs the Los Angeles Rams
Will Weir | NILvana Sports
This game was a whirlwind. The highs and lows were insane, which is what makes the NFL so interesting and fun to watch. The Eagles overcame an 18-point deficit in the third quarter.
The game started off good for the birds with Matthew Stafford throwing an interception to Zack Baun. It is a good feeling that Zack Baun is still able to perform at an all-pro level and not be a player this amazing one year and not be able to play at the same standard for the following years. His ability to play at such an amazing level is excellent for the Eagles’ defense, which was amazing today. He was really able to keep the Eagles in the game when the offense could not move the ball at all. They were able to hold the Rams to six field goals. If those are touchdowns, the Eagles are out of the game and don’t have a chance to come back.
Jordan Davis was great again, really becoming the player that the Eagles hoped they would get when they picked him up from Georgia in the first round. In this game, he had five tackles, a sack, and a tackle for loss on a 4th down that was able to get the defense off the field. The game’s biggest play was when he could not only block the field goal but also run it back for a touchdown. The field goal before that last one was also blocked. Jalen Carter and Davis blocked it.
Quionyon Mitchell did a good job against Davante Adams. Mitchell was shadowing Adams across the field for most of the game. Adams had eight targets with only three catches for 56 yards, but the 44-yard touchdown was not against Mitchell.
The offense could not figure out how to move the ball in the first half; however, something clicked in the second half. What changed was that they started to push the ball downfield and let some of the top players do what they do best. Jalen Hurts had 226 yards passing, three touchdown passes, and a 117.4 passer rating. This was by far his best passing performance of the young season. The passing game was tested today as both the Eagles and the Rams were down big in the game, so they had to pass, but also the Rams were going to make sure that Saquon Barkley did not beat them again. Last year, Barkley had 460 yards and 4 touchdowns in two games vs the Rams. This game, they sold out to stop Barkley; he only had 46 yards and 2.6 yards per carry. Their selling out to stop him made it so that the passing game could fly.
A.J. Brown had 10 targets, six catches, 109 yards, and a touchdown catch. Brown’s getting going was the momentum swing that the birds needed. He was unstoppable in this game and showed that he is not only one of the best wide receivers in the league but also a part of one of the best wide receiver duos with DeVonta Smith.
Smith had 9 targets with eight catches for 60 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the 4th quarter on 4th and goal with 1:48 left in the game. Smith had multiple catches that got the Eagles a new set of downs.
The Eagles’ offense looked really good against a good Rams defense in the second half. This is why fans are so frustrated, as they know it can look better than it has since the start of the season.
The birds got a comeback win to push them to 3-0 against a very good Rams team. These teams could have a chance to play again in the playoffs. The Eagles move on to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This game will be challenging, as the Buccaneers have had the Eagles’ number over the past few seasons. Will the Eagles be able to stay undefeated or take their first loss of the season?
