Last week, the Philadelphia Eagles visited SoFi Stadium to meet the Los Angeles Rams in a game that featured a pair of recent Super Bowl competitors. Two years ago, the Eagles were edged by the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. A year earlier, the Rams clipped the Cincinnati Bengals to win their first Vince Lombardi Trophy while their franchise was located in Los Angeles.
Both these teams have gone through some major shifts in the past couple seasons. In 2023, the Eagles dropped out of contention for the top seed in defense of the NFC title with five losses in their final six regular season games. Then lost their only playoff game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Rams 2022 season marked the worst record for a defending Super Bowl team in history. Sean McVay’s squad finished their defense of their only Super Bowl title in Los Angeles with a regular campaign of five wins and a dozen losses.
This season didn't start much better for the Rams, as they suffered losses in four of their first five games headed into their October 13th bye week. Injuries were a big early season problem for Los Angeles, but not the only liability. They were also saddled with trying to replace their future Hall of Fame defensive lineman, Aaron Donald, who called it a career after establishing himself as one of the most feared defenders in the league over the past decade.
Off their bye, and with injured players regaining time on the field, the Rams won four of five games entering last week’s Sunday night meeting with the Eagles.
Meanwhile, the Eagles overcame early season strife among players and coaches to find their footing and for the past two months have played to a level that can be argued marks them the best team in football.
Jalen Hurts continues to run an efficient offense that now has the addition of the best runningback in the NFC, Saquon Barkley. There will be those that contend Derek Henry is the best runner in the game, and you’ll find no argument from me, but last week Barkley ran through the Rams defense while the Eagles amassed a season high 314 rushing yards against the seemingly overmatched Rams. Barkley’s big night put him ahead of Henry for the National Football League 2024 rushing title.
Okay, last week we may have got notice that the Eagles are better than the Rams, but is Los Angeles really as overmatched by their next opponent as they were their last?
No.
This week, off that thumping and with motivation to run through buildings, the Rams head to New Orleans to meet a Saints team looking to extend a two-game winning streak.
The Rams are favored in the Big Easy. Why?
Because they are going to win.
By how many?
By more than the 2½ points offered New Orleans by the books.
Qoxhi Picks: Los Angeles Rams (-2½) over New Orleans Saints