November 22, 2024
Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has an ankle injury but is expected to be good to go for Sunday night against the Rams.
The Eagles are approaching Sunday night looking for seven wins in a row and to keep pace with the Lions at the top of the NFC.
The Rams will be fighting to keep up in what's been a tight, and unpredictable, NFC West race.
The Eagles have Saquon Barkley as the conference's leading rusher and what's become one of the NFL's top defensive units led by breakout linebacker Zack Baun and rookie stars Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
The Rams, while not the powerhouse they once were, still boast a solid receiving duo in Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, and a veteran quarterback in Matt Stafford who is still going strong.
So how will Week 12 go on Sunday night in LA?
Here's how our staff is feeling...
TV: NBC, Peacock (Mike Tirico, Cris Colinsworth, Melissa Stark)
RADIO: 94.1 WIP (Merrill Reese, Mike Quick)
| Sportsbook | Spread | Money Line | Total O/U |
| DraftKings | PHI -3 | PHI -162 LAR +136 | 48.5 |
| FanDuel | PHI -3 | PHI -162 LAR +136 | 47.5 |
| BetRivers | PHI -3 | PHI -159 LAR +132 | 48 |
| BetMGM | PHI -3 | PHI -160 LAR +130 | 48 |
| bet365 | PHI -3 | PHI -150 LAR +125 | 48 |
Most years, Eagles fans might look at this matchup and think, "Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Matthew Stafford... Uh oh! 😬." But not in 2024, as the Eagles' cornerback trio of Darius Slay, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean have been excellent. Similarly, the Rams' strength on the defensive side of the ball is on the edges, with rookie Jared Verse (4.5 sacks) and Byron Young (6 sacks). Meh. Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson will take care of those guys.
The matchup that I think could be lopsided is A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith vs. the Rams' small corners, Darious Williams (5'9, 187), and Cobie Durant (5'11, 180). There could be opportunities for Jalen Hurts to air the ball out down the field, letting Brown and Smith win against those guys down the sideline.
The Rams are a formidable opponent, and probably better than anyone the Eagles have faced during their six-game winning streak, but the Eagles are simply rolling right now, and I think that will carry over into L.A., where the Eagles typically have a home field advantage with traveling fans..
MORE: Eagles Week 12 power ranking roundup
I picked last this week, and it felt like an opportunity to be "that guy" and pick the Rams to win. But after seeing them the last few weeks in stark contrast to the Eagles all around domination, I just don't really see it. The true tests are coming up soon, with the Ravens, Steelers and Commanders again still ahead, but Sunday night Philly should roll again under the bright lights.
A couple extra days of rest coming off a big Thursday Night Football win will bode well for the Birds. Jalen Hurts was added to the Eagles’ injury report on Wednesday, but with this Saquon Barkley-led run game destroying opponents and the team’s defense playing like an elite unit, that may ultimately not matter much.
MORE: Eagles-Rams Week 12 injury report, with analysis
I don't think the Rams can be a team so easily dismissed, especially not in such an unpredictable NFC West, but the Eagles are the better team right now.
If they stick to their plan offensively and run the ball, then let the secondary handle Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua – as it has with opposing teams' top pass-catching targets for weeks now – the Eagles are going to be all right.
Is it going to look clean? Probably not. At this point, that is just how this team operates. But they'll get that big play to pull away and be golden from there.
MORE: The Eagles' six-game win streak by the numbers
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