PREGAME Rams at Eagles Divisional Round Pregame

  • To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

View attachment 69354
On Sunday, Shawn Smith will officiate the matchup between either the Los Angeles Rams or Minnesota Vikings against the Philadelphia Eagles at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.
Hes the Guy that has a vendetta vs CJ Gardner-Johnson
 
It's going to be interesting to see what Shula has in mind for a game plan. This game will have a huge impact on his future, although it shouldn't. I have never based a coach's credibility, or a player's, on 1 game although that's how the media works (see Sam Darnold).

The Rams have nothing to lose here. If they can hold the eagles to 15 points or less, Shula will instantly become the greatest defensive coordinator of all time. If the Rams get blown out, it's because they are young and inexperienced and Shula was schooled.

I'm picking the Rams. Sometimes these "Cinderella stories" have a way of carrying a team. I'm not saying the Rams will win the super bowl, but I'm betting that their season will not end on Sunday.
 
Brutal game for the Rams unfortunately. Weather doesn't favor our Offense. 40 or colder with possible winds. Not terrible but not ideal either. Eagle offense is built to exploit a young defense with read options, rpo's, off schedule plays with hurts scrambling around while we chase him. We have to score early to have a chance. Stafford has to be on and play one of his best games for us to stay in this one. TE's have to step up again. Our OLine has to lean on the eagles front and get some push for Kyren.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Elmgrovegnome
Since losing to the Commodes, in the game where Hurts got concussed, Philly has been cruising along with a flat tire.

In that time they have played the Giants, Cowboys and the Packers. None of those teams where competitive.

And for those of you who saw the Packers game, it was clear that Hurts is not himself. I wouldn`t go as far as comparing him to a punch-drunk boxer, but not far off.

Point being:

Philly will have to raise their level of play to beat us.

And we will have to lower our level of play to be beaten.

There is a path.

What do you guys think; what are the keys to victory against Philly?
 
I think we shouldn't underestimate Hurts. We need to be disciplined against the run and the pass. Don't give Hurts lanes. Don't make those one or two screwups against the run we seem to make each week. Minnesota nearly popped a couple long ones on us due to errors. Saquon will pop those long ones if we make those same errors. Shula has his hands full this week.
 
We got whupped in the last matchup. But in the NFL things change after a couple months. Adjustments are made. By now the better teams are left. So one really isn't that much better than the other. We're underdogs. As we should be. But they are not clearly better than us. Its all about matchups and game plan. Our coaches are certainly capable of coming up with a winning plan.
 
I hope we don't play down to their level then !
Since losing to the Commodes, in the game where Hurts got concussed, Philly has been cruising along with a flat tire.

In that time they have played the Giants, Cowboys and the Packers. None of those teams where competitive.

And for those of you who saw the Packers game, it was clear that Hurts is not himself. I wouldn`t go as far as comparing him to a punch-drunk boxer, but not far off.

Point being:

Philly will have to raise their level of play to beat us.

And we will have to lower our level of play to be beaten.

There is a path.

What do you guys think; what are the keys to victory against Philly?
-- the Fatboy !
 
  • High Five
  • HaHa
Reactions: OnceARam and Ram Ts
We got whupped in the last matchup. But in the NFL things change after a couple months. Adjustments are made. By now the better teams are left. So one really isn't that much better than the other. We're underdogs. As we should be. But they are not clearly better than us. Its all about matchups and game plan. Our coaches are certainly capable of coming up with a winning plan.
I look at it differently. The farther a team goes in the playoffs, the more difficult the games become.

However, how a team matches up can be a significant factor. I think the Eagles are the worst team for the Rams to face in all of the NFL. Worse than any AFC team that they could possibly face in the Super Bowl. Poor weather conditions will exacerbate the situation.
 
I look at it differently. The farther a team goes in the playoffs, the more difficult the games become.

However, how a team matches up can be a significant factor. I think the Eagles are the worst team for the Rams to face in all of the NFL. Worse than any AFC team that they could possibly face in the Super Bowl. Poor weather conditions will exacerbate the situation.
I have to agree with you. This is a brutal matchup for our team. Cold weather, possible wind, maybe rain. Those conditions favor the eagles. Home field not a problem though, the Rams do well on the road in loud stadiums. Our Offense has to have their best game of the year for us to win. Stafford has to be dialed in and very accurate. We have a chance. I see us getting an early lead then holding on and getting a close win.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JonRam99
I have to agree with you. This is a brutal matchup for our team. Cold weather, possible wind, maybe rain. Those conditions favor the eagles. Home field not a problem though, the Rams do well on the road in loud stadiums. Our Offense has to have their best game of the year for us to win. Stafford has to be dialed in and very accurate. We have a chance. I see us getting an early lead then holding on and getting a close win.
Getting an early lead and maintaining it is the only hope. Once the Eagles get a lead they just pound on teams. Barkley and that Oline can wear a defense out. The best start would be to get the ball first and score then get a three and out, just like they did with Minnesota. The Rams ran on the Eagles. If Kyren doesn’t fumble I think it would have been a closer game.
 
1. Maintain gap integrity on runs. Set the edge.

2. Put Philly into 3rd and longs. Make Hurts beat you with his arm.

3. On offense, get out to an early lead and win time of possession. Lots of runs and passes into the short and intermediate. Get Philly into situations where they need to win the game with Hurts in the pocket.
 
I think we shouldn't underestimate Hurts. We need to be disciplined against the run and the pass. Don't give Hurts lanes. Don't make those one or two screwups against the run we seem to make each week. Minnesota nearly popped a couple long ones on us due to errors. Saquon will pop those long ones if we make those same errors. Shula has his hands full this week.
They need a spy for Hurts and it cannot be one of the linebackers because they are not fast or athletic enough to contain him. Lake would be phenomenal in this role, but he does too many other things. Jaylen McCollough would be my choice because if he hits Hurts, well, it will hurt.