The Eagles will play their first home game of the season this week against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are coming off a victory against the Dallas Cowboys, while the Eagles suffered a heartbreaking loss against The Washington Football Team.
Can the Eagles find a way to earn their first win of the year?
Los Angeles Rams (1-0):
The Rams lost Todd Gurley this offseason, but they were still able to generate enough offense to get past the Cowboys’ stout defense. Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and other talented receivers and tight ends will test the Eagles’ revamped secondary.
The Rams have plenty of young running backs to choose from including Malcolm Brown, Cam Akers, and Darrell Henderson Jr. Additionally, the Eagles suffered because of Chase Young’s ferocity last week, so will Aaron Donald be able to cause even more havoc against the Eagles’ offense that gave up eight sacks?
Philadelphia Eagles (0-1):
The Eagles gave up 27 unanswered points last week in their horrific loss against The Washington Football Team. The Rams are much better offensively, and the Eagles need to find a way to get the job done, especially in the secondary and from the pass rushers.
Injuries continue to plague the Eagles. With Miles Sanders, Lane Johnson, Javon Hargrave, and many others spending time recovering this week, who will be available to play. More importantly, who will step up if they can’t because someone needs to be that catalyst.
Also, this is Carson Wentz’s time to shine. Wentz needs to prove that he can lead this franchise to victory, and he needs to do it with two things against him: a potent defense and some of his own fans.
Predictions:
Eagles win (23-21), Eagles (+1.5), under 46.5
This is a game that means so much more to the Eagles than the Rams. The Eagles need to keep the faith of their fanbase with a victory here, and they can’t afford to start 0-1 at home.
Wentz will be looking to correct his mistakes from the week before, and the Eagles’ defense will try to shut down the Rams’ receivers. It won’t be an easy game for the Eagles to win, but they have to.
It’s not a must-win game by any stretch, but it feels like it to some fans. Aaron Donald will find a way to get to Wentz, but the Eagles rag-tag O-line will be able to create enough of a wall for Wentz to succeed.
Eric Fenstermaker 