No. 4 RAMS at No. 2 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
When: Noon Sunday
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
TV/Radio: NBC (Ch. 4), Peacock/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 225, 226
Line: Eagles by 6
Notable injury designations
Rams: QUESTIONABLE: LT Alaric Jackson (chest/knee), CB Ahkello Witherspoon (thigh), NT Bobby Brown III (shoulder), OL Justin Dedich (illness).
Eagles: OUT: DT Byron Young (hamstring).
What’s at stake? Another game to play, a trip to the NFC title game, two wins away from a Super Bowl title.
Who’s better? Look no further than the Eagles’ 37-20 win over the Rams in Week 12 to answer this question, and that’s fair. The Rams were without right tackle Rob Havenstein in that game, but the Eagles didn’t have receiver DeVonta Smith. The Rams have certainly improved since this meeting, with the defense holding opponents to 14 or fewer points in five of the last seven games. But they have to prove it on the field against the Eagles to change this answer.
Matchup to watch: Rams’ front vs. Eagles’ offensive line. If the Rams are going to limit the damage Philadelphia can inflict running the ball, the front five are going to have to absorb blocks and double-teams and allow linebackers Omar Speights and Christian Rozeboom to make plays. If the Eagles’ offensive linemen are able to get up to the second level of the defense, it’s going to be a long day for the Rams.
Rams win if: They hold Barkley below 80 yards rushing. … K Joshua Karty doesn’t miss any field goals or extra points in slushy conditions. … the Rams don’t turn the ball over.
Fantasy sleeper: TE Tyler Higbee was on his way to a big night in Monday’s wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings before he went to the hospital for a chest contusion. Expect the Rams to try to get him the ball again in the early going, especially in the red zone after going 2 for 4 in that area in the first meeting with the Eagles.
Prediction: Eagles 20, Rams 17. Beat reporter’s record: 14-4 for the season; 11-7 against the spread.