The Rams head to Philadelphia for a Divisional Round showdown with the Eagles. Kickoff on Sunday is scheduled for 12 p.m. pacific time on NBC, Peacock, Telemundo and Universo.
In advance of the contest, here are 3 Keys to Winning for the Rams, presented by The Law Offices of Jacob Emrani (CallJacob.com).
1) Limit Saquon Barkley's impact
The Eagles running back went for 255 rushing yards and 302 yards from scrimmage overall in their Week 12 win over the Rams. The NFL Offensive Player of the Year candidate will have the full attention of Los Angeles' defense, just as he did the first time.
2) Win the battle at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball
This is two-fold for the Rams.
For the offensive line, it's about giving quarterback Matthew Stafford ample time to throw and a clean pocket, especially against a stout interior Eagles defensive line featuring defensive tackles Jordan Davis (6-foot-6, 336 pounds) and Jalen Carter (6-3, 314). And, depending on how the weather forecast shakes out, creating holes for running back Kyren Williams.
For the defensive line, it's about playing disciplined and maximizing opportunities against an experienced Philadelphia offensive line, one widely regarded as the best in the league. Especially against the run, it will be critical for the defensive front to avoid the same errors that led to game-breaking runs by the Barkley.
3) Take advantage of being at full strength, especially on offense
The Rams did not have right tackle Rob Havenstein when the two teams first met in Week 12; the Eagles did not have wide receiver Devonta Smith.
Collectively, both offenses should be at full strength for this playoff game, which means the Rams need to capitalize on that not only for maximizing possessions, but also the time of possession battle, knowing what this Eagles offense is capable of at full strength.
