RAMS (1-2) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (2-1)
When: Sunday, 10 a.m. PT
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 264, 195
Line: Rams by 3½ points
Notable injury designations
Rams: OUT: DT Aaron Donald (back), TE Terrance Ferguson (ankle), CB Jaylen Watson (shoulder); QUESTIONABLE: TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder), OLB Josaiah Stewart (groin).
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Eagles: OUT: WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring), LB Zack Baun (concussion), TE Dallas Goedert (knee), S Marcus Epps (groin), WR Marquise Brown (ankle), OT Fred Johnson (knee).
What’s at stake? For the Rams, revenge for the three losses over the past two seasons that they suffered at the talons of the Eagles. And a chance to get past some of the adversity that has plagued them through the first three weeks of this season. For both teams, the chance to steal a win with an injured roster, something that can’t be overlooked in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Who’s better? Both teams are pretty banged up coming into this game. The Eagles’ offense is down Goedert and Smith, while the Rams’ pass rush is down Donald and Myles Garrett. Let’s give the nod to the team with a four-game winning streak in the series, the Eagles.
Matchup to watch: Rams WRs Puka Nacua and Davante Adams vs. Eagles CBs Quinyon Mitchell and Riq Woolen. The Eagles’ offense is running out of pass catchers and will only have running back Saquon Barkley as a reliable means of running the ball. Philadelphia will have to slow down the Rams’ offense to stay in the game, so these battles between the Rams’ receivers and the Eagles’ corners on the outside will be pivotal to the direction of this game. If Nacua and Adams can consistently win and keep the Rams moving down the field, it’s going to be hard for the Eagles to keep up.
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Rams win if: They do not allow Barkley to have more than one explosive (10-plus yards) run. … The Rams convert 60% of their red-zone trips into touchdowns. … The Rams get at least 40 yards of receiving production out of their tight ends.
Fantasy sleeper: Rams TE Tyler Higbee. No Ferguson, possibly no Parkinson. Higbee will have an opportunity to be Stafford’s underneath option again and put up some points in his teammates’ absence.
Prediction: Rams 24, Eagles 17. Beat reporter’s record: 0-1 overall; 0-1 against the spread.
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