Eagles Outclass Rams 23–14 to Remain Unbeaten

Eagles Outclass Rams 23–14 to Remain Unbeaten
Jalen Hurts (1) of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2023. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Field Level Media
10/8/2023
Updated:
12/30/2023
0:00

Jalen Hurts threw for 303 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 72 yards and another score, and the Philadelphia Eagles stayed unbeaten by knocking off the Los Angeles Rams 23–14 in Inglewood, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 8.

Dallas Goedert made eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown for the Eagles (5–0). A.J. Brown racked up 127 yards on six catches, including a 36-yard reception in the fourth quarter as Philadelphia went ahead by nine on Jake Elliott’s 26-yard field goal with 4:06 to play.

Haason Reddick sacked Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford twice on their final drive to ice the victory.

Los Angeles (2–3) welcomed back wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who missed the first four games with a hamstring injury. He made eight catches for 118 yards. Stafford went 21-of-37 passing for a season-low 222 yards and two touchdowns.

Cooper Kupp (10) and Puka Nacua (17) of the Los Angeles Rams prepare for a play in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2023. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Cooper Kupp (10) and Puka Nacua (17) of the Los Angeles Rams prepare for a play in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2023. (Harry How/Getty Images)

Hurts completed 25 of 38 passes and threw one interception as Philadelphia dominated in total yards (454–249) and time of possession (37:55–22:05).

After a scoreless third quarter, Philadelphia extended its 17–14 lead by going 83 yards on 17 plays, chewing up more than eight minutes. Elliott’s field goal, also a 26-yarder, made it 20–14 with 12:29 to play.

Jalen Hurts (1) of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2023. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Jalen Hurts (1) of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2023. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Trailing 10–7 in the second quarter, the Rams turned to rookie sensation Puka Nacua, who carried the load in Kupp’s absence.

Stafford found Nacua in single coverage down the right sideline for a 22-yard touchdown for Los Angeles’ only lead of the day at 14–10 with 32 seconds left before halftime. A 39-yard pass to Kupp got the Rams deep into Philadelphia territory.

Nacua finished with seven catches for 71 yards.

Matthew Stafford (9) of the Los Angeles Rams throws a pass in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2023. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Matthew Stafford (9) of the Los Angeles Rams throws a pass in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2023. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Aided greatly by two Rams’ penalties, however, the Eagles had time to respond. A 38-yard pass to Brown, with a Rams’ personal foul added on, moved the ball to the Los Angeles 14-yard line.

An incomplete pass was negated by a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone, putting the Eagles on the 1 with two seconds left. They scored on Hurts’ quarterback sneak as time expired for a 17–14 lead.

The teams traded touchdowns on their first possessions of the game.

The Eagles went 75 yards on 12 plays, capped by Hurts’ 6-yard scoring toss to Goedert. The Rams responded with a 14-play drive and cashed in on Stafford’s 3-yard completion to Tutu Atwell with 2:01 left in the first quarter.

Elliott kicked a 34-yard field goal with 2:15 left in the first half.