1 NFL expert believes the Rams have done enough to beat the Eagles in 2025

(4) - Kickoff coverage

While a minor matter in the grand scheme of things, the Rams lost nine yards with every exchange of kickoffs in the game. The Rams returners combined on three kickoffs to put up 66 yards in returns. The Philadelphia Eagles returners combined on three kickoffs to put up 93 return yards, which is 27 more return yards in a vitally important game. That works out to nine more return yards than the Rams had.

On a snowy field against a sensational rushing offense, that is no good.

The Rams were not alone in trying to reconfigure and re-strategize to manage the sweeping changes to the NFL kickoff in 2024. And the NFL will be changing the rules in 2025 as well. The goal of the competition committee is to enhance player safety during the kickoff while ensuring that it remains a dramatic and competitive part of the game.

To negate the poor showing, the team needs to get better at getting down the field and tackling. Thankfully, the Rams aimed at young players who excel in those areas. We know that the Rams added a pair of tackling machines in LBs Chris 'Pooh' Paul Jr. and Sean Dolac. But the team added DTs Ty Hamilton, Bill Norton, Da'Jon Terry, DE Jamil Muhammad, and OLBs Josaiah Stewart and Josh Pearcy.

Not all will make the team. Not all will make the 53-man Rams roster. But they all bring the potential to fit a vital need for this defense and coverage units. The ability to cover kickoffs will only improve if the right players get plenty of practice time in training camp. And this roster is loaded with players who have the raw skillsets to join a formidable coverage unit.

(3) - Turnovers

Mistakes often dictate the outcome of a football game. Even if the favored team is much better on paper, losing the battle of turnovers often dictates the winners and losers. It is that principle that allowed the Rams to defeat rather formidable foes throughout the season. The Rams' defense was very opportunistic. The Rams' defense was the 15th-ranked group in terms of creating takeaways in 2024 by getting 20 turnovers. The offense was relatively ball security conscious, coughing up the football just 14 times, good enough to be the fourth-ranked offense.

But in the playoffs, the Rams lost two fumbles, and the Eagles didn't.

Well, the Rams defense did manage to record a safety, adding two points to the scoreboard. While that was not enough to move the needle, it continued the defense's streak of putting points on the scoreboard.

The Rams fumbled twice in the game, which could very logically be considered the turning point of the game. After recording a safety, the Rams trailed by one point as the offense stepped onto the football field as the third quarter drew to a close. RB Kyren Williams fumbled the football on the Rams' 46-yard line, which was returned 10 yards to the Rams' 36-yard line. The Eagles' offensive drive stalled, but not before they kicked a field goal.

On the next set of downs, QB Matthew Stafford suffered a strip-sack, giving the Eagles the football at the Rams' 38-yard line. Once again, the Eagles' offense stalled. Two offensive series for the Rams, which not only led to no points but also allowed the Eagles to put up six points on the scoreboard. It just so happens that those were the six points that proved to be the margin of victory for the Eagles.

Hmmm.