Philly’s incredible rally, blocked FG beat Rams
Saquon Barkley on ‘grinding out’ yards heading into game vs Rams
Eagles Saquon Barkley, coming off two games of 200-yards plus rushing against the Rams last season, said he’s ready for the Sept. 21, 2025 matchup
PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles know the Rams are focused on stopping Saquon Barkley in their matchup on Sept. 21.
It’s the third time the two teams are playing each other in less than a year. And Barkley has torched the Rams each of the previous two times, with 255 yards last Nov. 24 in the Eagles’ 37-20 win in Los Angeles, and with 205 yards last Jan. 19 in the Eagles’ 28-22 playoff win.
Barkley had four touchdown runs of at least 60 yards in the two games.
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Then again, maybe not.
Barkley was stopped, getting just 46 yards on 18 carries.
But the Eagles rallied from 19 points down in the second half to beat the Rams 33-26. The win was secured when Jordan Davis blocked Joshua Kanty’s 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired. Then Davis picked up the ball and ran the ball into the end zone for a 33-26 Eagles’ victory.
Delaware Online/The News Journal is providing live updates of the Eagles vs. Rams game. Follow along throughout the game.
As the Eagles tried mounting a comeback from 19 points down, they got two huge plays from defensive tackle Jordan Davis. The first came in the first minute of the fourth quarter, when the Rams faced a 4th-and-1 from the Eagles’ 46, leading 26-21. Davis stuff Kyren Williams and the Eagles took over.
The Eagles couldn’t convert their fourth down, and the Rams tried a field goal. That’s when the 6-foot-6 Davis leaped and blocked Joshua Karty’s kick, keeping the Eagles within 5 points with 8:39 left.
Through 2 1/2 games, A.J. Brown had just 6 catches for 35 yards after he was shut out in the first half against the Rams.
But Brown got going after the Eagles fell behind 26-7 early in the third quarter. He had a 38-yard reception on the first drive, leading to a TD. Then he scored from 9 yards out as the Eagles cut the Rams’ lead to 26-21 with 2:16 left in the third quarter.
Brown has 4 catches for 61 yards to that point.
And just like that, the Eagles offense finally got going after falling behind 26-7. A.J. Brown got his first reception of the game, for 8 yards. The fans cheered wildly. A few plays later, Jalen Hurts went deep for Brown, who hauled in a 38-yard reception. On the next play, Hurts hit Dallas Goedert for 33 yards and a touchdown.
The Eagles got their first first down since the opening drive of the game.
Just like that, it was 26-14 with 11:38 left in the third quarter.
It only got worse for the Eagles to start the second half. For the fourth time, Eagles returners bobbled the kickoff and the Eagles started on the 10. One play later, Matt Pryor, playing right tackle for the injured Lane Johnson, was beaten by Rams edge rusher Jared Verse.
Verse sacked Jalen Hurts, forcing a fumble that the Rams recovered at the Eagles’ 10. On the first play, Matthew Stafford hit Kyren Williams for a 10-yard TD, giving L.A. a 26-7 lead.
Apparently, the patience for a Super Bowl champion lasts through five quarters at Lincoln Financial Field. But as the Eagles’ offense struggled, A.J. Brown was called for a personal foul 15-yard penalty, further setting the Eagles’ back. They were 0-for-6 on third down through the first half.
The fans were booing loudly as Barkley had his biggest rush of the day, 7 yards, on 3rd-and-16 from the Eagles’ 8. That gave the Rams the ball back with 1:52 left in the first half.
The Eagles had just 34 yards of total offense in the first half, averaging just 1.6 yards per play. The Rams had 212 yards. The Eagles’ kick return unit wasn’t doing them any favors either, bobbling kickoffs that made the Eagles start inside their 20 yard line on four of six possessions.
Saquon Barkley had just 13 yards on 7 carries, and Jalen Hurts was 4-for-8 passing for only 17 yards.
The Rams led 19-7 at halftime.
Through the midway point of the second quarter, Saquon Barkley has just 5 yards on 5 carries, and Jalen Hurts is just 3-for-7 passing for 18 yards. DeVonta Smith has 2 of the catches for 16 yards. Barkley has the other catch.
Needless to say, the fans are getting restless, booing the Eagles’ offense as Barkley is stymied. The Rams are taking over at midfield, leading 13-7.
Lane Johnson injured. Rams take lead
Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson left the game after the Eagles’ first scoring drive with a neck injury, and it didn’t go well for the Eagles. Jalen Hurts was sacked twice in two series without Johnson, while the Rams got a 44-yard touchdown from Matthew Stafford to Davante Adams over Reed Blankenship.
L.A. led 10-7 as the first quarter came to a close.
The Eagles got an early turnover and eventually converted it into a touchdown. Zack Baun intercepted Matthew Stafford’s pass over the middle intended for Davante Adams. The Eagles took over at the Rams’ 38. They converted a 4th-and-2 as Jalen Hurts ran for 18 yards. Hurts converted a fourth-down tush push at the Rams’ 3, then scored on the same play from the 1.
The Eagles are going with an extra defensive tackle as opposed to an edge rusher against the Rams. Rookie DT Ty Robinson is active for the first time while veteran edge rushers Azeez Ojulari, Ogbo Okoronkwo and Patrick Johnson are not on the game-day roster.
Johnson’s omission is surprising since he is considered a strong special teams player. But the signing of Za’Darius Smith changed that. The Eagles’ other inactives are RB Will Shipley, OL Drew Kendall and G Kenyon Green.
The Rams listed OLB Nick Hampton, TE Terrance Feguson, T D.J. Humphries and G Steve Avila as inactive.
The Eagles gave practice-squad elevations to safety Marcus Epps and tight end Cameron Latu, the same duo who were elevated last week. Epps, however, is out of practice-squad elevations as this is his third. For Latu, it’s his second. Latu is expected to serve in the fullback-type role.
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What time does Eagles vs. Rams start?
- Date: Sept. 21
- Time: 1 p.m.
- Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadephia
What TV channel is Eagles vs. Rams today?
- TV: FOX
- Announcers: Joe Davis (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), Pam Oliver (sideline)
- Radio: 94WIP: Merrill Reese (play-by-play), Mike Quick (analyst), Devan Kaney (sideline)
- Spanish radio: TICO: Rickie Ricardo (play-by-play), Oscar Budejen (analyst)
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Eagles vs. Rams prediction
- Rams 26, Eagles 22: The Eagles were a Jalen Carter sack away from watching Matthew Stafford and the Rams end their season in the NFC divisional playoff round. The Rams, no doubt, will focus on stopping Saquon Barkley, who gashed them for 460 yards in two games last season. If the Eagles can’t get Barkley going, then they won’t be able to keep the Rams’ offense off the field. That will be a problem considering that there won’t be any snow to slow Stafford and his receivers down. – Martin Frank
Eagles injury updates
The Eagles’ final injury report lists RB Will Shipley (oblique) as out. QB Tanner McKee (thumb) is listed as questionable. TE Dallas Goedert (knee) and DT Jalen Carter (shoulder) are cleared to play. Goedert missed last week’s game with the injury. Carter was limited in practice on Sept. 17, but practiced fully the next two days.
Rams injury updates
The Rams listed OL Sam Avila (ankle) as doubtful, while DE Braden Fiske (oblique) and TE Colby Parkinson (shoulder) are questionable.
Weather forecast for Eagles vs Rams
The National Weather Service forecast is calling for partial clearing by game time, with a temperature of 72 degrees going up to 74 late in the game. There is no chance of rain, and not much wind to speak of, at 5-10 mph out of the East.
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Here is the Eagles’ schedule.
- Week 1: Sept. 4, Eagles vs. Cowboys, W, 24-20
- Week 2: Sept. 14, Eagles at Chiefs, W, 20-17
- Week 3: Sept. 21, Eagles vs. Rams, 1 p.m.
- Week 4: Sept. 28, Eagles at Buccaneers, 1 p.m.
- Week 5: Oct. 5, Eagles vs. Broncos, 1 p.m.
- Week 6: Oct. 9, Eagles at Giants, 8:15 p.m.
- Week 7: Oct. 19, Eagles at Vikings, 1 p.m.
- Week 8: Oct. 26, Eagles vs. Giants, 1 p.m.
- Week 9: BYE
- Week 10: Nov. 10, Eagles at Packers, 8:15 p.m.
- Week 11: Nov. 16, Eagles vs. Lions, 8:20 p.m.
- Week 12: Nov. 23, Eagles at Cowboys, 4:25 p.m.
- Week 13: Nov. 28, Eagles vs. Bears, 3 p.m.
- Week 14: Dec. 8, Eagles at Chargers, 8:15 p.m.
- Week 15: Dec. 14, Eagles vs. Raiders, 1 p.m.
- Week 16: Dec. 20, Eagles at Commanders, TBD
- Week 17: Dec. 28, Eagles at Bills, 4:25 p.m.
- Week 18: TBD, Eagles vs. Commanders, TBD
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
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