setting up “E-gals” game–roster stuff, injuries, comments, broadcast map

from Nate Atkins, To contend with Eagles, Rams must learn to solve their Saquon Barkley problem — https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6642172/2025/09/19/rams-eagles-saquon-barkley/?source=emp_shared_article

The Los Angeles Rams thought they had a plan for Saquon Barkley: Stack the box. Play 11 defenders as one. Wrap up. Force the pass.

And yet one explosive gain after another in two matchups last season — 70 yards up the middle with a jump cut to the right sideline, 72 yards off the left edge, 62 yards off the right edge, 78 yards up the middle and through the snow — brought a sinking reality as the Rams’ defenders stared at his last name as he galloped to the end zone

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Los Angeles suffered the worst of it by taking the stacked-box approach to an unhealthy extreme. The Rams used eight-plus defenders in the box on 17 of his 52 carries, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. And that was often when Barkley hit his explosive creases, such as the 72-yarder off the left edge in Week 12 when all but one Rams defender lined up within 7 yards of the line of scrimmage and between the tackles.

“You try to load the box to stop the run and the next thing you know, he gets a seam and there’s nobody else to tackle him,” Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula said. “You need some levels and layers to the defense and vision on him that goes to the pursuit and the gang tackling with everyone there.”

The problem is that the Eagles defy the math it normally takes to stop the run. In addition to an elite offensive line, they have Hurts’ rushing threat to freeze defensive ends on zone-read concepts. They also have a back in Barkley who, at 232 pounds, ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and offers one of the best jump cuts in the NFL.

A stacked box can actually create those cutback lanes for him. “It’s a numbers game,” Barkley told reporters in January. “When you load the box and bring extra people into the box, it’s a beautiful thing. Because it’s hard to run, and you got to be gap disciplined, and if we’re in the right gaps — it’s hard to run against, don’t get me wrong — but I feel like myself as a back, being patient and having that home run speed, if you load the box and we get through, there’s no one back there.”

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Ford is here to make his life easier by demanding double-teams and keeping blockers out of his face. He’s here to let the Rams play in less-stacked boxes. Through two games, he’s played 25 run snaps versus 27 against the pass, making him the kind of run-stopper an offense can’t dictate playing time for based on personnel sets or downs and distances.

That doesn’t mean the Rams suddenly have an answer for the Eagles’ tush push in short-yardage situations, but they hope they have some of it for Barkley.

“He has all the tools: home run speed, balance, breaking tackles, everything,” Ford said.

“Just keep my eyes on my key and don’t try to do anything extra, nothing out of the ordinary,” Ford continued. “Wherever he is, we all have to get to the ball and get hats on him.”

Through two games, the new-look Rams run defense has given up an average of 4.2 yards per carry but has not allowed a run of 15 yards or more. As a result, the defense ranks in the top five in yards per play and expected points added per play, according to Next Gen Stats. They have allowed just one touchdown.

But the running backs they’ve faced, Nick Chubb and Tony Pollard, aren’t Barkley.

3 Keys to Winning for the Rams against the Eagles in Week 3

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/3-keys-to-winning-for-the-rams-against-the-eagles-in-week-3-2025

Ahead of the contest, here are 3 Keys to Winning for the Rams.

1) Limit explosive runs

This was the biggest difference-maker in both the playoff game in January and last year’s regular season meeting, starting with running back Saquon Barkley. The additions of inside linebacker Nate Landman and nose tackle Poona Ford were meant to help shore that up, but it will obviously take all 11 on the field to ensure those explosive runs are erased.

2) Stay disciplined within both pass rush lanes and gap integrity

Along the lines of the first key, it only takes one missed gap assignment for Barkley to break off a big run. Similarly, undisciplined pass rushes can be a recipe for quarterback Jalen Hurts to make out-of-structure plays as a passer and a runner. Staying sound in both phases will be important on Sunday.

3) Give Stafford a clean pocket to operate from, especially along the interior

6-foot-6, 336-pound Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis and 6-3, 314 defensive tackle Jalen Carter await the Rams’ interior offensive line, which will have starting center Coleman Shelton and starting right guard Kevin Dotson, but has starting left guard Steve Avila listed as doubtful. Holding up at that part of the line of scrimmage will be especially critical if the Rams want to capitalize on a young Eagles secondary that, while talented, has still had some ups and downs through the first two weeks of the season.