Between the glaring revenge factor and its standing as one Week 3's two matchups of two unbeaten teams, Sunday's meeting between the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles had almost all the trappings of a featured game - except, of course, the actual broadcast spotlight.
Despite the significance of the defending champions hosting a team they bested in the divisional playoff round - and rolled in the regular season - the 2025 showdown was relegated to a 1 p.m. time slot in the early September slate. No matter, though. A game that was hardly a reprise of either of last season's outcomes provided plenty of fresh entertainment, with the Eagles scoring a stunning 26 unanswered points in the second half of a 33-26 win, capped by Jordan Davis blocking and returning a would-be game-winning field goal 61 yards with no time left.
And for two teams that once again seem likely to be leading figures in shaping the NFC playoff picture, there was plenty of fallout that could prove meaningful for autumn and beyond.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from Sunday's showdown between the two NFC powers:
His weight and limited statistical impact made him the subject of frequent – and largely unfair – scrutiny early in his career. But the No. 13 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft delivered the kind of signature performance that few defensive tackles ever get to notch. A combine standout, Davis has always been a physical anomaly at 6-6 and 336 pounds. But when he hit a top speed of 18.59 MPH on his return, it was the fastest recorded by any 330-plus-pound player since 2017, per Next Gen Stats. And his contributions weren't isolated to that one play. Davis also had a sack, a fourth-down run stop and five tackles.
Was this the wake-up call that Philadelphia needed to get its dormant passing attack going? Forced into a 26-7 hole early in the third quarter, the Eagles finally opened things up and flourished. After being held without a passing touchdown in the first two weeks, Hurts burned Los Angeles with three scoring strikes while completing 21 of 32 passes. It took some time before the offense could find its footing, as Lane Johnson 's exit due to a neck injury was a major setback. But once Fred Johnson was subbed in at right tackle to replace the struggling Matt Pryor , things looked up. Philadelphia might only operate like this in stretches as determined by certain circumstances, but it was surely heartening to see a previously absent facet finally materialize.
There has to be some catharsis in this performance for Brown, who carried the aerial attack with six catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. In racking up tough yards after the catch, the Eagles receiver made the most of the opportunities that didn't consistently come his way in the two previous games as the team utilized a much more conservative approach. Though he was upset when no pass interference was called on a third-and-goal incompletion, teammate DeVonta Smith completed the comeback with his own 4-yard scoring grab to put Philadelphia up for good.
Last week, the NFL seemed to put the Eagles on notice regarding their polarizing signature play by instructing officials to call the play "tight" moving forward. But Philadelphia didn't flinch, bulldozing ahead with the move twice in the first quarter for a first down and subsequent touchdown. Despite right guard Tyler Steen 's apparent early movement each time, officials didn't throw flags on either rush. The Eagles' long bout of larger offensive woes rendered the play irrelevant for a long stretch, but the play and its accompanying controversies are reliable as ever.
The reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year was already persona non grata in the City of Brotherly Love after declaring ahead of last season's playoff matchup that he hates Eagles fans. His standing surely didn't improve after Sunday. One play after Verse's strip-sack of Jalen Hurts, the Rams cashed in with a touchdown from Matthew Stafford to Kyren Williams to extend the lead to 26-7. Verse finished with six tackles and two tackles for loss.
An immensely promising start didn't end up amounting to enough to beat the reigning champs. Despite outgaining Philadelphia (356 yards to 288), Los Angeles seemed to come up empty when it counted most, repeatedly settling for field-goal attempts after going just three-of-10 on third downs. A rushing attack that racked up 115 yards in the first half with a variety of looks couldn't keep things rolling, with the Rams adding just 45 yards on the ground after halftime. Meanwhile, after Matthew Stafford fired a 44-yard touchdown bomb to Davante Adams in the first quarter, the passing attack never managed to do big damage against Philadelphia's secondary again, with Puka Nacua handling loads of dirty work with 11 catches for 112 yards. Any discussion regarding missed opportunities has to start here.
Los Angeles coasted through its first two games against struggling passing attacks. When Philadelphia got aggressive, the back end of the Rams' defense wilted down the stretch. Sunday served as a reminder that this could be a unit that lives or dies with its pass rush, as things flipped once the group could no longer generate consistent pressure on Hurts. An answer for the injured Ahkello Witherspoon might eventually emerge, but there's none for now.
Karty set the tone early for Los Angeles' success with his knuckleball kickoffs, which repeatedly vexed the Eagles. But two blocked kicks in the fourth quarter are the inescapable bottom line for his game. Unlike other kickers who have struggled early, Karty doesn't have to worry about job security. Still, lots of "what ifs" all around.
It became apparent pretty early that the 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year wasn't headed for another 200-yard day after eclipsing that mark in each of last year's outings against Los Angeles. Between the Rams' defensive focus and the balance of the game tilting early, Barkley logged just 46 yards on 18 carries. A major highlight came in the waning minutes, though, as he spun for a first down on a critical third-and-3 in the red zone. He played an important role in handling blitz pickups, but his contributions as a pass catcher (four receptions for 9 yards) were also muted.
Tearing the plantar fascia in his left foot during last week's win over the Tennessee Titans . This outcome surely smarts in a different way, though. McVay entered the meeting 1-5 (including the playoffs) against the Eagles against his career, with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio occupying a rare space as one of the few figures who has consistently stymied the Rams' offenses at his various stops. Despite how promising things looked in the early going, McVay couldn't summon an answer before things all came crashing down again. Maybe it beats getting trampled by Barkley, but the result is no doubt deflating given how the Eagles are sure to loom over the potential NFC playoff picture once again.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rams vs Eagles winners and losers: Jordan Davis, Jalen Hurts up
