Know Your Enemy: Are the Eagles in for an upset against the Rams in week 5?

The Eagles are now 4-0 and are heading to the West Coast for a late afternoon matchup against the Rams. Hurts and the offense will look to continue polishing the passing game against the Rams’ defense while the Eagles’ defense tries to make up for their effort last Sunday.

The team’s defensive line has been doing everything that’s asked of them but the secondary has been wounded by injuries which may be the reason as to why they’ve been playing so much stick defense. Now they’ll be facing the return of Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford.

Let’s take a look at the matchup at hand for the Eagles, Who are the 2023 LA Rams?

Rams Coaching Staff

Head Coach: Sean McVay

Offensive Coordinator: Mike LaFluer

Defensive Coordinator(s): Raheem Morris

The Eagles have a 21-18-1 all-time regular season record against the Rams and have won 4 of their last 5 regular-season matchups against Washington.

Eagles vs Rams — Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) warms up before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Rams Offense:

The Rams are 2-2 without their best offensive playmaker this season. Stafford has found a way to win with the available players. Of those players is Puka Nacua, who has made a name for himself early on. Nacua has 39 receptions for 501 yards already in just four games. The question will be how the Rams manage to integrate Kupp into this offense without subtraction by addition.

PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) looks on during the NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 10, 2019 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire)

Rams Defense:

This isn’t the same defense as they once were. While Donald is still a force to be reckoned with, they’ve lost almost every other piece from their once-good defense. They ranked in the middle of the pack defensively at the moment with only allowing three passing touchdowns but they’ve allowed 5 rushing touchdowns. Which plays right into the hand of the Eagles if they can be efficient in the red zone.

It could be a big day for D’Andre Swift as the Rams have allowed 444 rushing yards already this season with opponents averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

X-factor: Aaron Donald

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 08: Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) during the NFL game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams on December 08, 2019, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire)

Aaron Donald is still Aaron Donald. The Eagles’ offense line will be without their starting right guard Cam Jurgens as Sua Opeta will be replacing him due to a foot injury. The Rams could line Donald up against Opeta all game long and that could be a cause for concern.

Photo by Icon Sportswire