Matthew Stafford and Rams can’t rekindle any late-game magic in loss to Eagles
This time the deficit was too great, the time too short.
And the opponent was just too strong.
A week after winning in Indianapolis with a touchdown drive in overtime, the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford could not work similar late-game magic.
With the Rams trailing by nine points with just more than four minutes left, the Philadelphia Eagles unloaded on Stafford and extinguished any hope of a comeback, sending the Rams to a 23-14 defeat on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
The loss dropped the Rams’ record to 2-3, and took some of the shine off the return of star receiver Cooper Kupp.
Rams’ offense goes silent in second half in loss to Eagles
🏈 Eagles 23, Rams 14 — FINAL
After an encouraging first half, Matthew Stafford and the Rams struggled to generate offense in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the defending NFC champions.
On the Rams’ next-to-last possession, Stafford was sacked on consecutive snaps by Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick to annihilate any hope of a Rams comeback. Out of timeouts, the Rams got the ball back with just over a minute left, but couldn’t move the ball.
Stafford competed 21 of 37 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns — one caught by Tutu Atwell, the other by rookie Puka Nacua. Cooper Kupp had a team-best 118 receiving yards on eight receptions in his return from a hamstring injury.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts connected on 25 of 38 passes for 303 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 72 yards.
The Eagles were 13 for 17 on third downs.
The Rams trailed 17-14 at halftime after Hurts scored on a one-yard “Brotherly Shove” touchdown plunge as time expired. Two field goals by Jake Elliott in the second half provided the final scoring margin.
Rams nose tackle Bobby Brown III was carted off in the final minutes after sustaining an undisclosed injury.
Eagles kick another field goal to take 23-14 late in fourth quarter
🏈 Eagles 23, Rams 14 — 4:06 left in the fourth quarter
Another long drive by the Eagles ended in another 26-yard field goal for Jake Elliott, putting pressure on the Rams to find the end zone before the two-minute warning.
With a gassed Rams’ pass rush unable to pressure him, Jalen Hurts found A.J. Brown wide open on a 36-yard pass. The Eagles got into the red zone on a 17-yard run up the gut by D’Andre Swift.
The Eagles have dominated time of possession (36:10 to 19:44) and have mostly shut down the Rams in the second half. The Rams have all three of their timeouts.
Eagles extend lead on field goal in the fourth quarter
🏈 Eagles 20, Rams 14 — 12:29 left in the fourth quarter
Jake Elliott kicked a 26-yard field goal to extend the Eagles’ lead after an impressive red-zone stand by the Rams.
Rams cornerback Duke Shelley broke up a pass intended for Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith in the end zone on third down to force Philadelphia to settle for a field goal.
The biggest play of the drive came on third-and-seven when Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts ran through broken tackles by Cobie Durant and Byron Young to pick up 17 yards in an impressive display of athleticism.
The Rams couldn’t capitalize on their second possession of the half after Ahkello Witherspoon’s interception. Puka Nacua fumbled after a short catch on third down (Cooper Kupp recovered the ball), ending the Rams’ five-play, 28-yard drive at midfield.
Hurts has connected on 23 of 36 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is 17 for 27 with 173 yards and two touchdowns.
Ahkello Witherspoon intercepts Jalen Hurts in end zone
🏈 Eagles 17, Rams 14 — 7:04 left in the third quarter
Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon intercepted a deep Jalen Hurts pass in the end zone, managing to get his feet down just before falling out of bounds.
The pick, on a pass intended for A.J. Brown, ended a good-looking drive by the Eagles that was spurred by a 49-yard catch by tight end Dallas Goedert.
The Rams sputtered out at midfield on the opening possession of the second half despite converting on third-and-26 following an 11-yard run by Kyren Williams coupled with a Zach Cunningham facemask penalty.
Rams guard Coleman Shelton was injured on the drive, jogging off straight to the locker room while holding his left hand.
Eagles take halftime lead with a big ‘Brotherly Shove’ TD
🏈 Eagles 17, Rams 14 — HALFTIME
Jalen Hurts sneaked one yard on the Eagles’ “Brotherly Shove” play to end a 75-yard drive that took only 32 seconds.
Hurts’ 36-yard pass to A.J. Brown and two penalties against Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick enabled the Eagles to set up for their trademark play, in which players in the backfield push Hurts forward.
Hurts has completed 16 of 23 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. He has rushed for 50 yards and a touchdown in eight carries.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 12 of 17 passes for 147 yards, including touchdown passes to Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell.
Kupp has six catches for 95 yards, Nacua three for 34.
Spectacular Puka Nacua TD catch puts Rams ahead
🏈 Rams 14, Eagles 10 — 32 seconds left in the second quarter
Puka Nacua caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to give the Rams the lead in the final minute of the first half.
The Rams got the ball with 2:15 left and moved down the field, the big play coming on Stafford’s 39-yard pass to Cooper Kupp.
Stafford has completed 12 of 17 passes for 147 yards, including touchdown passes to Nacua and Tutu Atwell.
Kupp has six catches for 95 yards, Nacua three for 34.
Eagles retake lead on Jake Elliott field goal late in second quarter
🏈 Eagles 10, Rams 7 — 2:15 left in the second quarter
Jake Elliott kicked a 34-yard field goal to cap a 15-play drive that consumed 8 minutes and 24 seconds.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts made the key play of the drive when he ran for 12 yards on a third-and-nine play at the Rams’ 46-yard line.
Hurts has completed 15 of 21 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. He has rushed for 40 yards in six carries.
Cooper Kupp makes an impact on Rams’ first scoring drive
🏈 Rams 7, Eagles 7 — 2:01 left in the first quarter
Cooper Kupp made his presence felt in his return for the Rams.
The star receiver caught five passes for 56 yards during a scoring drive that ended with Tutu Atwell’s three-yard touchdown catch.
Kupp, who missed the first four games while on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, caught two third-down passes to keep alive the drive.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford completed seven of 10 passes for 65 yards during the 14-play, 75-yard drive.
Jalen Hurts and Dallas Goedert fuel Eagles’ opening TD drive
🏈 Eagles 7, Rams 0 — 8:37 left in the first quarter
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was unflappable during a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to tight end Dallas Goedert.
Hurts completed six of seven passes for 57 yards, and rushed for 12 yards in two carries.
Hurts and Goedert connected four times for 45 yards, including the six-yard touchdown.
Pooo-kah Nah-kooo-ahhh already becoming word of mouth among NFL receivers
The name, like the mane, is wavy and lyrical.
“It flows so wonderfully,” said Sam Lagana, Rams stadium announcer. “Pooo-kah Nah-kooo-ahhh. To give it that Polynesian flair with respect to his culture, and you can just see that smile come busting through his helmet.”
What’s not to love?
The rookie receiver from Brigham Young has made NFL history — 39 receptions for 501 yards, both records for a player’s first four career games — and last Sunday he made the game-winning reception in overtime at Indianapolis.
How will Cooper Kupp’s return affect Rams rookie sensation Puka Nacua against Eagles?
Cooper Kupp is an established NFL star, an All-Pro receiver who in 2021 led the league in receptions, yards receiving and touchdown catches.
Puka Nacua is a burgeoning star, a rookie off to a historic start for the Rams in part because of a hamstring injury that sidelined Kupp for the first four games of the season.
So how will coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford blend the two Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles and beyond? It’s an intriguing subplot as the Rams (2-2) prepare to face the defending NFC champion Eagles (4-0).
Can Aaron Donald help Rams stop the Eagles’ ‘Brotherly Shove’?
Rams star defensive lineman Aaron Donald can beat almost any scheme designed to stop him.
He is a three-time NFL defensive player of the year. A certain Hall of Famer.
But even Donald will be challenged Sunday at SoFi Stadium if the Philadelphia Eagles run a play dubbed, generally, the “Tush Push,” or, Philly-specifically, the “Brotherly Shove.”
The short-yardage play, nearly always a success for the Eagles, begins with quarterback Jalen Hurts under center and ready to take a snap from five-time All-Pro Jason Kelce. Two or three teammates line up behind Hurts. When the ball is snapped, the Eagles’ outstanding line and the 6-foot-1, 223-pound Hurts surge forward as players in the backfield push the quarterback.
Rams vs. Eagles matchups: How to watch, start time and prediction
Breaking down how the Rams (2-2) and the Philadelphia Eagles (4-0) match up heading into their game Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PDT at SoFi Stadium. The game will be shown on Fox.
When Rams have the ball
For the first time this season, quarterback Matthew Stafford will have star receiver Cooper Kupp to target. Kupp returns after sitting out four games because of a hamstring injury.
Coach Sean McVay now will be challenged to mix Kupp with rookie Puka Nacua, who has 39 catches for 501 yards.