Eagles vs Rams. The stage is set for a divisional round matchup this Sunday at 3 pm. The Eagles will play host, likely in gross weather, at the Linc, with a chance to advance to the NFC Championship game on the line.

They enter the weekend as heavy favorites. As of Thursday, the line stands at -6.5 on some apps. It opened up at -5. Which makes sense given they beat this team 37-20 back in week 12. And the Rams only scored 20 because of a last-minute TD that meant nothing. After a slow start, they dominated the game for the final 3 quarters.

Related: Eagles Impose Their Will On Rams Like They Do Every Week

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

From that point on both teams went 6-1. The Eagles only lost a game Jalen Hurts was knocked out of early, and the Rams only lost a game where they didn’t play their starters. So it has been smooth sailing for both teams since they last met.

But the nature of those wins is another matter. The Eagles scored at least 20 points in every game, the Rams only did that twice, and once was with the backups. Their defense has stepped up its game, but the offense never quite hit its stride. The big outburst vs the Bills was the only standout performance. Otherwise, they struggled to put points on the board.

So will they cruise to a victory like they did in week 12? Which players need to step up to make sure they advance to the next round? Are there any matchups the Eagles need to worry about? We broke down which players will face the biggest tests on Sunday, and what they need to do to pass those tests.

Here Are The Eagles Players Who Need To Have Great Games vs. the Rams:

• Jalen Hurts

  Obviously, the QB needs to be good every week, and he certainly can improve on his performance from last week. But I included Hurts here for one reason, how he handles the Ram’s pass rush. He has sometimes gotten himself into trouble for holding the ball too long. Even the Eagles O-Line can only protect him for so long. He needs to be better at getting the ball out this week. This Rams Pass Rush is too good. We saw what they did to the Vikings Gameplan. Hurts is more mobile than Darnold, but he can’t be holding the ball for 3 seconds vs this team.

  That also falls on Kellen Moore. Even while the Packers were blitzing at a high rate, he continued to call long-developing pass plays. If the Rams are getting pressure, he needs to help Hurts get rid of it quickly. More slants. More quick routes. Let Hurts get into a rhythm.

  NFL on X (formerly Twitter): "27 yards and 3 broken tackles 💪 @1kalwaysopen_📺: #PHIvsLAR on NBC/Peacock📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/irYyrQjMjZ / X"

  27 yards and 3 broken tackles 💪 @1kalwaysopen_📺: #PHIvsLAR on NBC/Peacock📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/irYyrQjMjZ

• The O-Line

  In that same vein, the O-Line needs to step up too. Now we are well used to them stepping up, so this is not really a concern. But the Rams get pressure from all over the line. Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, Byron Young. This is not about any 1 Eagles O-Linemen shutting down his man, they will be tested as a unit by one of the best young Defensive Lines in the league.

  If the Eagles can neutralize the pass rush, the Rams’ defense does not have a whole lot else it can offer. Think of them as a much lesser version of the 2022 Eagles team that went to the Super Bowl. When that pass rush was stifled in the Super Bowl, thanks in part to the awful field, the Eagles’ defense had no answers. The back of the Rams’ defense is vulnerable, their linebackers are vulnerable. Their great pass rush has led to great success, but their corners can’t keep up with the Eagles’ weapons for very long. Keep Hurts clean, and things should go very well for the Eagles in the passing game.

  John Clark on X (formerly Twitter): "This was posted at Lane Johnson's locker to show he deserved to be a first team All Pro pic.twitter.com/Uazeu952YW / X"

  This was posted at Lane Johnson's locker to show he deserved to be a first team All Pro pic.twitter.com/Uazeu952YW

• Jalen Carter And Milton Williams

  Matthew Stafford is 36 and moves like a 36-year-old man. He is not going to be bobbing and weaving, or scrambling out of the pocket. That said, he is still a wily veteran. It does not take great athletics to step up into the pocket to dodge an edge rusher. He still does that well, and then quickly gets rid of it. PFF tracks how many sacks are because of the QB, and Stafford has only taken 3.

  But the best way to get an immobile QB down is internal pressure. If Jalen Carter is barrelling toward you, you can’t just step up and deliver a quick pass. This also goes for Milton Williams, who had 2 sacks the last time these two teams faced each other back in week 2. The Eagles had 5 sacks total in that game. And while 3 of those came off the Edge, it was in part because Stafford had no room to step up, because there was that internal pressure. If Jalen Carter and Milton Williams are winning, everyone will win.

  Shane Haff on X (formerly Twitter): "Jalen Carter dominates the double team and Milton Williams ends up with a sack. pic.twitter.com/QtEm3PbeTY / X"

  Jalen Carter dominates the double team and Milton Williams ends up with a sack. pic.twitter.com/QtEm3PbeTY

• Saquon Barkley

  The other way you shut down a good pass rush, is you just run the ball. The more you make them stay back to play the run, the less they can get off and get after the QB. Instead of having your O-Line react, you let them dictate. They can now go downhill and beat their man up.

  Running the ball went very well for the Eagles in the week 12 game vs the Rams. They had over 300 total rushing yards, 255 of which came from Saquon Barkley. He had 2 70 yard TD runs. He averaged 9.8 yards per carry. The Rams had no prayer of stopping him in that game. Why not go back to that well? Let Saquon, and occasionally Kenny Gainwell, just carry the rock and never give the Rams’ young D-Linemen a chance to get after the QB. You obviously keep it balanced, but the Rams struggle to stop the run, and you run better than anyone. Seems like an easy game plan.

  NFL on X (formerly Twitter): "WOW SAQUON WOW pic.twitter.com/DliVWBTUVn / X"

  WOW SAQUON WOW pic.twitter.com/DliVWBTUVn

• All of The Corners

  Puka Nacua is the guy you have to watch on the Rams offense. He has arguably been the best WR in the league this season. he is the only WR with more Yards Per Route Run than AJ Brown. Cooper Kupp meanwhile has fallen off a bit. he has been good for one play in a big moment per game, but the overall production has tailed off big time.

  Nacua moves around a ton. He spends most of his time outside but will slide into the slot from time to time. Every Eagles corner is going to get a taste of him this week, just like what happened in week 12. He gave the Eagles a tough time in that game too. 117 yards and 5 first downs.

  He picked on DeJean a bit, but also Isaiah Rodgers and Darius Slay before Slay was knocked out of the game. Mitchell only gave up 1 catch, but it was for 14 yards and a TD. No one person was dominated, but they all let him get his a bit.

  You can’t really hope to shut him down. But can they keep him under 100? He went off a bit in that first game, and still still lost by a ton, so maybe they don’t have to stop him as long as they stop everyone else. But containing Nacua is still your biggest challenge this weekend on defense.

  The 33rd Team on X (formerly Twitter): "Jordan Love on throws with Quinyon Mitchell, Darius Slay or Cooper DeJean as the nearest defender in coverage:* 7/16, 81 yards* 0 TD/2 INT* 20.05 passer rating H/T @NextGenStats https://t.co/UXQFrd9Fee pic.twitter.com/mhZIxDSAvR / X"

  Jordan Love on throws with Quinyon Mitchell, Darius Slay or Cooper DeJean as the nearest defender in coverage:* 7/16, 81 yards* 0 TD/2 INT* 20.05 passer rating H/T @NextGenStats https://t.co/UXQFrd9Fee pic.twitter.com/mhZIxDSAvR

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