Rams @ Eagles
Final Score: Rams 24, Eagles 2o
Senior Writer: Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1.bsky.social on Bluesky)
The polarizing Los Angeles Rams left it late to overcome a moribund Philadelphia Eagles team that struggled mightily on offense in front of their never-forgiving fanbase. Holding a deserved 10-point lead at the half, Jalen Hurts crumbled under pressure in the second half as the Rams impressive defensive front kept their team in the contest until the fourth quarter, when a failed “tush-push” handed the momentum to Matthew Stafford, who made excellent use of the returning Puka Nacua, and the illusive Kyren Williams to snatch an unlikely win at the death.
Three Up
- Kyren Williams – a statement performance from the Rams’ lead back, dominant on the ground with two determined scores to go alongside 10 catches in the passing game. Blake who?
- Puka Nacua – banged up? bang bang fantasy gang! Puka once again shows that even if he’s carrying an injury, he can still be a monster and have a huge fantasy day.
- Darius Cooper – a name on nobody’s fantasy radar, Cooper now has three scores across the past three games and he’s putting together a spectacular highlight reel. Think flex if DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and Dallas Goedert (knee) continue to miss time.
Two Down
- Saquon Barkley – an early injury ruined the star running back’s day early, and by the way he was gingerly limping off the field it could be some time before we see him again.
- Dontayvion Wicks – after an encouraging display across the first few games of the season, Wicks went missing for large portions of this context.
- Jalen Hurts – the Sean Mannion experiement is not going well. Despite his twho touchdown passes, Hurts threw for less than 100 yards and did not look threatening as a runner. Not the fantasy recipe we want to whip up.
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford: 32/51, 317 Yards, 2 INT, 1 Sack | 3 Carries, 10 Yards
Stafford came into the game 0-4 against the Eagles since Nick Sirianni took over, and he was immediately made to feel uncomfortable in an erratic first half. The veteran was caught throwing into triple coverage under pressure in wet conditions and was picked off easily as the ball sailed over the head of Konata Mumpfield, who didn’t have a chance at making a play. Stafford should have been rewarded for his dime of a throw into the back of the endzone late in the first quarter but Davante Adams couldn’t quite make the grab, with good coverage and the wet conditions playing a part once again.
In truth, there were too many throws off target, or off speed in the first half and his receivers were not at fault for the wide majority. His second pick was on a scrambled play near the end of the half, in which he looked to throw back deep and over the middle – Cooper DeJean nabbing the ball and taking it back the other way to give the Eagles a chance at a score. His struggles continued into the second half, and Stafford was lucky to get away with a tipped pass that ballooned up in the air midway through the third quarter. Back-to-back 10-play drives in the fourth quarter turned the game on its head as Stafford managed to make key plays on short passes to just about do enough to see the Rams over the line.
Running Back
Kyren Williams: 16 Carries, 80 Yards, 2 TD | 13 Targets, 10 Receptions, 67 Yards
Don’t be fooled, it was a tough day at the office for Williams through three quarters. Still, the Rams’ lead back ran hard and had plenty of check downs to keep his fantasy score relevant despite the Rams’ offensive struggles. And, it was a strong, determined run at the end of the third quarter gave his team the spark the Rams needed to go and win the game in the fourth quarter. Williams bounced off two defenders to push down the field on a run that was negated by a coach on the field that drew a penalty. It summed the Rams’ day up. However, it all came together at the end though as he scored two touchdowns to win the game for the Rams in the fourth quarter. Williams rumbled in from one-yard to cap a 10-play, 98-yard drive in which he had five touches and drew a penalty on a strong catch-and-run on third down to keep the drive alive. Williams then showed a brilliant second effort from seven yards out to give the Rams the lead after a 10-play, 79-yard drive with just 1:10 left in the contest.
Kyren Williams fights for the TD and the Rams take the lead 😳
📺: FOX/FOX One pic.twitter.com/bOuKLX1aJM
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 4, 2026
Blake Corum: 5 Carries, 14 Yards | 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Puka Nacua: 12 Targets, 9 Receptions, 125 Yards | 1 Carry, 2 Yards, TD
After two games absent with injury, Nacua announced himself with a ridiculous contested catch on a wheel route down the sideline late in the first quarter. He showed off his entire skillset as he twisted, turned, even ended up on his bum under heavy contact with arms everywhere – but still hauled it in and it was one of many keys plays. With the Rams down 10 points going into the fourth quarter, Puka stepped up to haul in impressive catches for 16 yards and 12 yards on the winning drive alongside a remarkable 32-yard grab on the previous touchdown drive. The Rams would have not been near this win without their star wideout.
Jesus.
Puka Nacua FRIED Tariq Woolen pic.twitter.com/BBgr8ByJja
— JPA (@jasrifootball) October 4, 2026
Tyler Higbee: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 67 Yards
The big tight end was huge last week but only saw his first target at the two minute warning in the first half. It was worth the wait as he went up to secure a lovely back shoulder throw from Stafford inside the 5-yard line. Puka scored on an end around on the following play. A key contribution from the veteran tight end, and he made another couple of nice grabs over the middle late in the game as the Rams went down the field twice to win the game.
Davante Adams: 9 Targets, 4 Receptions, 32 Yards
The stat line is disappointing but Adams suffered from poor quarterback play at times in this game as well as his own indisrection, a drop in the endzone. He made a brilliant catch on third and long down the sideline midway through the first half with a nifty move to the outside to burn Quinyon Mitchell. To his own standards, he should have caught the ball from Stafford late in the first quarter but answered back on the next drive with another impressive grab on third down late in the first half to move the sticks. Adams was quiet in the second half as the Rams engineered their comeback through Nacua and Williams.
Tutu Atwell: 1 Target, 1 Reception, 8 Yards
Konata Mumpfield: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Jordan Whittington: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 4 Yards
Davis Allen: 2 Targets
Phildelphia Eagles
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts: 12/27, 93 Yards, 2 TD, 4 Sacks | 5 Carries, 18 Yards
Without DeVonta Smith, the passing game was a struggle for Hurts outside the numbers as it sank to a new low with the Eagles generating their lowest EVER yards total in a game. He made some effective throws over the middle but often found himself wheeling out to the sides with nothing open downfield on third downs. And when he stuck in the pocket, he was devoured by an elite pass rush that a patchwork Eagles offensive line was no match for. Hurts was 0/12 on third down in the game (another franchise worse performance), and a failed “tush push” on fourth down in their own territory proved to be the undoing late in the third quarter in this game as they twice turned the ball over on downs in the second half. Hurts then failed to punch the ball in from a couple of yards out with his legs and then on a throw to Darius Cooper that went incomplete on fourth down at the 2-yard line. Another dismal day at the office for Hurts in a scheme he is clearly uncomfortable in.
Running Back
Saquon Barkley: 2 Carries, 8 Yards | 1 Targets, 1 Receptions, 2 Yards
Disaster! Barkley only played 10 snaps two weeks ago because of a stinger, and early in this game he popped his hamstring on the Eagles’ second drive on an outside zone run. He played no further part and was ruled out before the half. He’s very likely to miss time and a trip to London next week will likely not be advised.
Tank Bigsby: 14 Carries, 55 Yards | 1 Target
As we saw two weeks ago, Bigsby stepped in for the injured Barkley and carried the majority of the load for the Eagles. His immediate contribution was a big loss on third down inside the Rams’ 10-yard line on a poor play call from Offensive Coordinator Sean Mannion after coming in for Barkley. It’s the type of call that has plagued the Eagles and taken away some of those 4th & short situations that the “tush push” was made for in recent seasons. Bigsby had a lovely 19-yd run to the outside chalked off by a blatant, unnecessary hold that would have put his team inside the 10-yard line midway through the second half too. Will Shipley also mixed in more in the second half but to little effect. Bigsby left the game late in the fourth quarter with an apparent injury. He would be an uninspiring add this week on waivers given his track record, though pundits out there are bullish on the perennial backup running back.
Will Shipley: 6 Carries, 23 Yards | 1 Target
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Darius Cooper: 7 Targets, 3 Receptions, 33 Yards, 2 TD
A small light in a dark place, Cooper was the standout Eagles player on the offensive side of the ball despite his limited role. On the back of a wonderful catch two weeks ago to win the game against the Titans, Cooper came from nowhere to come behind and over Quentin Lake for a touchdown catch on a ball that could have easily been picked off. It was a dreadful lob into the endzone from Hurts but Cooper is riding the adrenaline right now and made the ball his. And on his second target…another touchdown! A simple route down the middle, the Rams lost track of the undrafted second year man and he made a simple catch to put his team up by 10 at the half. Cooper was only targeted once in the second half as the Eagles offense fell totally flat.
OH MY DARIUS COOPER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/adE7VVSDSo
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 4, 2026
Makai Lemon: 6 Targets, 3 Receptions, 27 Yards
Despite Cooper hogging the limelight, Lemon was more impressive on his route running than Cooper but didn’t get the same chances. He got lit up on his first catch over the middle by Kam Kitchens but shook it off to show his speed and ability to find space on a key fourth down a few plays later to move the sticks. Hurts twice through under pressure towards the rookie but he had little chance of catching either ball. The potential is there, but will the volume be?
Makai Lemon 4th down conversion!
Build that trust! #Eagles pic.twitter.com/p150MyOVod
— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) October 4, 2026
Dontayvion Wicks: 5 Targets, 3 Receptions, 18 Yards
Wicks had a couple of catches short of the line in the first half over the middle and then drew a defensive pass interference call on a deep ball which he just got his fingertips on late at the end of the first half. The next play resulted in a touchdown to Cooper. He has a specific role in this offense but his boom or bust potential is leading to the later more often.
Zach Ertz: 4 Targets, 2 Receptions, 13 Yards