Eagles’ Jordan Davis blocked two Rams field goal attempts to secure a thrilling victory over Los Angeles.

The Rams were back in South Philly, and the Eagles reminded the league how they handled Los Angeles twice in 2024, once under the bright California sun and then again in the middle of a snowstorm that blanketed Lincoln Financial Field during the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

That game felt like a heavyweight fight. The Birds were wearing their white jerseys for the first time at home since 2015, and playing the Rams, 245 days and a second Super Bowl banner later. This was a nice late-summer afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field, which felt like a loss for the first 2 hours of the game. 

The Eagles didn’t sprint past the Rams so much as lean on them, stacking drives and stops until another inevitable victory. Philadelphia aimed to prove that last season’s dominance wasn’t a fluke. The team showed perseverance and pulled out a win in an absolute thriller at the Linc! 

First Half

The defense picked up right where they left off against the Rams last year, with an early mistake by Rams QB Matthew Stafford. Zack Baun was the recipient of the early interception on LA’s first drive, giving the Eagles the ball at the Rams’ 38. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts found DeVonta Smith with the first target, good for 5 yards, and then Hurts used his legs to gain 2 yards, setting up a 4th and 2, and another 18 yards to get down to the Rams’ 12 the following play. The Rams seemed unable to stop QB1 early.

The Birds converted a 4th and one from the 3-yard line, successfully, via America’s favorite play, the Tush Push, followed by a second tush push good for six points and a 7–0 lead. AJ Brown was targeted in the end zone and would have had a TD reception if not for a pass-interference.

The Eagles are six for six scoring touchdowns in the red zone to start the season.

The Rams’ second drive stalled at the Eagles’ 33, setting up a 51-yard field goal and a 7–3 score. Still, they followed that up with Stafford, aiming to expose the weaknesses and youth in parts of the Eagles’ defensive backfield, throwing a 44-yard touchdown pass to DaVante Adams, who Reed Blankenship covered. It appeared as if Adams got away with a push-off.

The first quarter ended with a second sack on Hurts, and the Rams leading 10–7.

The Rams dominated the second quarter with three scoring drives, all of which found the Eagles’ defense unable to stop the run or contain the edge, leading to their second, third, and fourth field goals of the half, and extending their lead to 19 to 7.

The offensive line, following the loss of Lane Johnson, who Matt Pryor replaced, struggled. Saquon and the running game did not have positive yards after Lane left the game, and Jalen Hurts struggled to find the time to read and reset. The Eagles’ defense was stingy inside the red zone, forcing field goals. Otherwise, the Rams’ lead may have been insurmountable. Philly ended the half with only four first downs. 

Second Half

The third quarter started off with another sack on Jalen Hurts, leading to the team’s first turnover of the season and the Rams starting their drive at the 10-yard line. LA scored a touchdown on the first play, on a ten-yard pass to RB, Kyren Williams. 

On the Eagles’ second drive of the half, A.J Brown caught his first pass of the game, and the crowd responded with a sarcastic cheer. They finished the drive off with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert, which gave the team and the crowd life and a glimpse into what the passing game is capable of. 

With them being behind and unfraid to commit their first turnover of the year, the Eagles finally unleashed the passing attack for the first time this season. Fred Johnson taking over right tackle also solidified the leaky line and paved running lanes.

The Eagles’ third drive of the half ended with another touchdown, and was aided by a Tush Push in the red zone to keep the drive going. A.J Brown finished it off by hauling in a 9-yard touchdown pass, his first of the new season, tightening the score to 26–21. The third period ended with the Birds trailing by five. 

The fourth quarter began with the Rams continuing their drive on second down and with the ball at their 49-yard line, but it ended with a failed rushing attempt on fourth down, giving the ball to the Eagles, suddenly hot, offense at their 47.

Philadelphia responded by going four and out and giving the ball right back to LA around midfield. A questionable decision, especially factoring in how well Mann has been punting the ball and flipping the field. The Rams failed to capitalize when Eagles DT Jalen Carter blocked their field goal attempt with 8:42 left in the game.

A.J Brown electrified the crowd on the next drive with a powerful tackle-breaking, 25-yard reception, which led to the chains moving and an eventual score, capped by a 4-yard TD catch by DeVonta Smith, to give the Eagles a 27–26 lead with 1:48 remaining. 

The defense allowed the Rams to move down the field and into position to attempt a game-winning field goal that was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Jordan Davis!