NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Los Angeles Rams may have made a huge error in their defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday. Let’s put the so-called rivalry or revenge game aside here for a moment and focus on what transpired in the second half.
Jalen Hurts walked into the locker room at the end of the 2nd quarter with fewer than 25 passing yards. Say what?? The Rams were turning this game into an afterthought and led the team that put them out of the playoffs last season by the score of 26-7 in the 3rd quarter. This game was over, and we could already see the headlines come Monday morning.
Jalen would have been pressed in the media regarding his performance. Questions would have come regarding what is going on with the offense and why AJ Brown continues to be overlooked. And what’s the issue with Saquon Barkley? This is the same guy who rushed for over 2000 yards just a season ago.
But that’s why the game is 4 quarters long. What the Rams did was awaken a sleeping giant. After a championship, there is a lull period. While the Eagles entered the game 2-0, they did so with many questions yet to be answered. The defense was not up to par from that Super Bowl run, and the offense, well, they were looking more Cleveland Brown-ish than Philadelphia Eagles-ish.
But then it happened, the lights came on for the players, the fans, and the reason they have rings, came oozing out. The Linc was now electric, and all the Rams could do was pray they would fall back asleep.
They didn’t, and what they did do was prove to the naysayers just what could happen if their backs were against the wall, yet again.
The Rams failed to take advantage of the Eagles at what many believe to be a low point for them. The media was on the asses regarding missed calls with the Tush Push. Brown didn’t appear to be pleased with the lack of touches, and the defense was going through a bit of an identity crisis, according to the media.
If there was any time for a team to knock them off, it was Sunday. However, all the Rams accomplished was pissing them off, and provided the Eagles time to rediscover why they are the champs.
There is a saying, “Never kick a person when they are down.” Well, this was one of those times where they should have. 22 yards passing in the first half. The Rams had Barkley and Brown bottled up, and they were carving up the defense of the Philadelphia Eagles.
By the end of the game, Hurts had accumulated 226 yards and 3 TDs. Brown managed 6 receptions for 109 yards and 1 TD, and Barkey contributed to the ground game when it mattered most. But most importantly, the defense found its groove. Not just stopping the run and the pass, they managed 2 blocked FGs in the 4th quarter alone, and one that was run back for a TD as time expired to ice the game.
This is the team-wide performance the Philadelphia Eagles and the fans were waiting for. But also the type of performance the rest of the NFL did not want to see. Sometimes it’s just better to let sleeping giants sleep while you creep up from behind and make your move. Well, the Rams and the media made too much noise, and now, there could be trouble brewing.
