Eagles Offensive Production Key in Week 3 vs. Rams

After a mediocre performance offensively in week 2 against Kansas City, the Eagles need to take it up a notch in their upcoming game against the Rams.

Los Angeles put up 33 points against Tennessee last week, demonstrating their offensive starpower with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Nacua leads the NFL in receptions with 18, but showed his diversity on the field with a 45-yard rushing touchdown this past week. Adams, on the other hand, has 157 yards in the past two weeks combined, as well as a touchdown.

With an infirmed secondary, attention focuses on the offensive production for Philadelphia.

It should be expected that Los Angeles takes advantage of our weak defensive backs, but Philly needs to respond with offensive explosions of their own. A stalemate showing like we saw in week 2 cannot happen again.

The Rams’ struggles in the secondary are just as much as Philadelphia’s, a weakness that the Eagles can take advantage of.

The LA secondary consists of Cobie Durant, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Nick Hampton, and Tre Brown, all of whom are yet to prove themself in the NFL. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have been quiet in the first two weeks of the year, but this game gives them an opportunity to add to their stat sheet.

That being said, Rams head coach Sean McVay likely will gameplan for this and stick with a pass-heavy defensive scheme to combat this weakness of his. This can open up chances for Saquon Barkley, who was absolutely dominant against LA last season. In the two weeks that Philly took on the Rams, Barkley combined for an astounding 460 yards and 4 touchdowns, including 3 70+ yard and a 62-yard score.

The main issue for Philadelphia is that its offense just hasn’t been the same as it used to be. With a poor Chiefs defense in their path, the Birds were only able to squeak out a 3-point victory in week 2. As stated prior, Brown has been quiet and simply a non-factor recently, picking up just 6 receptions for 35 yards this season. In his defense, Brown isn’t getting a whole lot of targets, but 35 yards in 2 weeks for an All-Pro receiver is unacceptable. His counterpart, Smith, hasn’t been much better. He has recorded just 7 receptions for 69 yards with no touchdowns so far. The production out of these elite receivers has been abysmal to say the least.

One of the only positives we’ve seen out of this offense so far has been the poise of Jalen Hurts. Hurts has thrown for 253 yards and has had no turnovers so far this season, a stat he wants to carry through week 3 against LA. His completion percentage is upwards of 75% and his comfort in the pocket has been a sight to see.

However, it’s been his rushing that has been impressive. Hurts has run for 77 yards and 3 touchdowns already, displaying his versatility. With Los Angeles’s weak DBs along with their questionable inside linebacker room, Hurts could have a field day in Philadelphia this Sunday.

A key takeaway we can look back on for the defensive side of the ball is the disappointing showings from Adoree’ Jackson, who was picked up in free agency this past offseason. Jackson, who is the cousin of Lamar Jackson once removed, hasn’t kept up the family lineage with his performances lately, as he has been the cause of poor coverage after poor coverage. As the replacement for Darius Slay, much more is expected out of him. If he and the rest of the defense can stay strong and hold the Rams to minimal scores, Philadelphia should come out on top.

As a whole, if the Birds can improve upon their offensive production and hold their own defensively, a 3-0 start won’t be an issue.

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