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Eagles vs. Rams Week 14 Observations and Reaction with Videos

Adrian Fedkiw|

The Philadelphia Eagles just reclaimed the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a thrilling 43-35 win over the Los Angeles Rams. They won the NFC East. Yet, none of that seems to matter at the moment.

The Eagles are fearing that Carson Wentz suffered a torn ACL during the victory, one where he tossed four touchdowns and set the franchise’s single-season with 33. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the team is “concerned” Wentz tore his ACL.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is saying that the Eagles believe Wentz injured his ACL, but initial tests didn’t definitively show a full tear.

Wentz was seen walking with a soft knee brace after the game.

It’s gut-wrenching.

It’s devastating.

It’s the most depressing NFC East title ever.

All we can do at this point is hope for the best following Monday’s MRI and attempt to talk about this game right now. Wentz finished 23-of-41 for 291 yards with those four touchdowns and an interception. He passed Sonny Jurgensen’s (1961) mark of 32 touchdown passes on this 4th-and-goal throw to Jeffery, which gave the Eagles a 31-28 lead late in the third quarter.

The Eagles’ defense had no answer for the Rams’ Todd Gurley and Cooper Kupp. Gurley accounted for 96 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, while the third-round rookie Kupp hauled in five receptions for 118 yards and a score. Gurley’s 1-yard TD plunge put the Rams back in front 35-31 early in the fourth.

With Wentz now out, Foles led the Eagles on a field goal drive. Foles hit Trey Burton on a key 16-yard reception to get the Eagles in field goal range and Jay Ajayi’s 10-yard run put the ball a little closer for Jake Elliott, who wound up connecting from 41 yards out and clawing Philly within 35-34.

Once the Wentz news began to surface, the Eagles’ defense flipped the switch and stepped up. Chris Long came around the edge to force a strip-sack, his third of the season. The turnover led to an Elliott 33-yard field goal and a 37-35 Eagles advantage with 3:45 to go.

Then the defense forced a three-and-out on the Rams’ ensuing series.

Nelson Agholor, who posted eight receptions for 64 yards, snatched this critical 3rd-and-8 pass to move the chains on third down. The Eagles then ran the clock down to seven seconds before punting and Brandon Graham’s fumble return touchdown accounted for the final score.

Wentz threw 30 passes in the first half, completing 16 of them against a stingy secondary and havoc-causing front seven. All three of his TD passes went to tight ends and none of them were named Zach Ertz, who did not suit up due to his concussion. Burton had two of those scores, while Brent Celek hauled in the other.

Torrey Smith had his best game of the season. He had six receptions for 100 yards, including this key 46-yard reception near the end of the half. Wentz did a great job of stepping into the pocket to elude Alec Ogletree coming off the edge, set his feet and fired the completion to Smith. The play led to a 22-yard Elliott field goal and a 24-14 cushion heading into the break.

Los Angeles came out of the locker room and scored the first 14 points of the second half. Gurley galloped for 17 yards along the left boundary after making several tacklers whiff, then darted for 20 on a screen. Kupp hauled in a 23-yard reception and Sammy Watkins’ 1-yard TD catch capped the brisk six-play, 71-yard drive.

The Rams possess the best special teams unit in the NFL and a blocked punt helped them claim the lead.

Ajayi wound up finishing with 15 carries for 78 yards, but had just four totes in the first half, despite picking up 49 yards. LeGarrette Blount, meanwhile, tallied 10 yards rushing on six rushes in the first half. The Rams defense came in allowing 4.7 yards per carry, 30th in the NFL, and the way to beat them is to run the ball along the edges. Philadelphia did use Ajayi more over the final 30 minutes, but some of that was due to Wentz’s injury. I thought he should’ve gotten the bulk of the load and not Blount in the first half.

The Eagles did a solid job of pressuring Goff, who wound up being sacked twice. Fletcher Cox was in the backfield causing havoc on a consistent basis.

If what the Eagles fear is true and Wentz tore his ACL, expect a ball-control offense where they’d control the clock and rely on the running backs, offensive line and defense to win games. A No. 1 seed for the Eagles is certainly still in the realm of possibility so the home crowd would be on their side. The defense, however, does need to step up. Maybe the loss of Wentz would motivate them.

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