Following their 28-22 win over the New England Patriots in Week 11, the Rams will aim to build on their success as they face a challenging Philadelphia Eagles team at home.

With the season reaching this point, the NFC West remains wide open, as the Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and San Francisco 49ers are all tied at 5-5, while the Arizona Cardinals currently lead the division with a 6-4 record.

The 2021 Super Bowl champions were riding a three-game win streak following their Week 6 bye, with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp both returning after injury setbacks. However, their momentum was interrupted by a Week 10 defeat to the Miami Dolphins, and no team has yet solidified itself as the clear frontrunner in the division.

Despite the loss to the Dolphins, there were positive signs for head coach Sean McVay’s team. Quarterback Matthew Stafford delivered his best performance of the season last week, throwing for 295 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. While the impressive showing came against a rebuilding Patriots squad, seeing the offense operate at full capacity was a promising sign for a team pushing for a playoff spot.

The Rams’ two standout receivers were central to the offense, with both Kupp and Nacua surpassing 100 receiving yards. Nacua caught two touchdown passes, while Kupp hauled in one.

On the defensive side, Rams fans had reasons for concern as five different Patriots players recorded 30 or more receiving yards, continuing a troubling trend in the secondary that has persisted all season. As they approach Week 12, the Rams rank 22nd in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (222.3). However, the Eagles will be missing one of their key playmakers on Sunday.

The Eagles, sitting at the top of the NFC East with an 8-2 record, will be without wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who has been ruled out for Sunday’s game due to a hamstring injury. As a result, wide receiver A.J. Brown and tight end Dallas Goedert will take on the majority of the receiving duties.

Brown has battled through his own injury concerns in 2024 and hasn’t seen the same volume of targets as in previous years. Through seven games this season, Brown has yet to surpass six receptions in a single game, a feat he achieved eight times in 2023 when he racked up over 1,400 receiving yards.

The Eagles have leaned less on the passing game this season, ranking last in the NFL in passing attempts. The addition of free-agent Saquon Barkley has significantly strengthened their running game, complementing their already successful use of the “tush push.” Barkley is enjoying a career-best season in a more favorable environment than his previous stint with the New York Giants, already surpassing 1,100 rushing yards with six games still to play.

Barkley has eased the pressure on quarterback Jalen Hurts, contributing to a more balanced offensive attack. During the Eagles’ ongoing six-game win streak, which began with their Week 6 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Hurts has not been required to throw more than 28 passes in any game.

During this stretch, the Eagles benefited from facing several of the league’s less formidable opponents in 2024, such as the Giants, Jaguars, and Cowboys. As a result, the Rams’ young and skilled front seven could present a tough test for a team vying for the NFC’s top seed.

Recently, the Rams have excelled in drafting defensive prospects to fill the void left by future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald’s retirement. Over the past two drafts, they have brought in Byron Young, Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, and Kobie Turner, each of whom has recorded at least 4.5 sacks this season.

While the challenge of containing Barkley and Hurts, two of the league’s top rushing threats at their positions, looms large, this defensive front has shown they are capable of competing with the best teams in the NFC.

In a comparable move, the Eagles looked to the draft to address their struggling secondary from 2023, and their 2024 draft class has been a strong success so far. In the first round, they picked cornerback Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo and later added corner Cooper DeJean from the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Mitchell has quickly established himself as one of the top corners in the league, recording eight pass breakups while covering some of the NFL’s elite receivers. DeJean has also seen his role expand as the season has advanced, with his consistent ability to make impactful plays giving head coach Nick Sirianni strong reasons to keep him on the field.

Mitchell and DeJean have played a key role in the revamped Eagles secondary, which currently ranks first in the NFL in passing yards allowed (273.1) and has given up just 18 passing touchdowns. While Stafford is coming off his best performance of the season, the Eagles’ secondary, coupled with their formidable pass rush featuring Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Zach Baun, and Josh Sweat, will apply significant pressure on the veteran quarterback.

The Rams have a chance to make a statement with a win, signaling to the league that they can compete with one of the NFL’s top teams. In a tight divisional battle where every game counts, it will be vital for the Rams to execute flawlessly on offense while forcing mistakes on defense. Hurts has an impressive 23-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but he’s been vulnerable to key sacks and turnovers at crucial moments. For the Rams to have a shot, their defense will need to continue its strong play to end the Eagles’ win streak.