LA Rams surrender early TD, but missed extra point could prove to be a factor

The LA Rams are underdogs in the Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs as they take on the Philadelphia Eagles on the road at Lincoln Financial Field. Despite the 100 percent certainty of snowy conditions, and some weather forecasts of five inches of snow on the football field, the field is clean and green.

It's a tough spot to be in for the NFC West Division champions. The Rams football team has been fighting for their lives throughout the entire season. This is a team that opened the season with a record of 1-4, not unlike the team's 2023 NFL season. And like last year, the team transformed from a 98-pound weakling over their Week 6 BYE to return to the season as the Malibu Beach bullies.

The Rams played to a 9-3 record after the BYE to claim the NFC West Division title. One of those losses came at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles. That Week 12 loss was more than a loss, it was an old-fashioned beat down, with Eagles RB Saquon Barkley gashing the Rams defense for 255 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

The Rams responded by winning their next five games. It was as though the loss to the Eagles served to forge the Rams defense. After that game, the Rams defense became far less porous. In fact, the Rams defense held opponents to under 10 points in three of their last four games. Still, the Eagles offense pushed the Rams defense around on the football field in Week 12.

And they seemed to pick right up where Week 12 left off., In their first possession, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts ran for 44 yards for a touchdown.

The LA Rams offense responded to the Eagles score with a touchdown of their own. Thanks to a missed extra point, the Rams had a momentary lead in the game. But the Eagles rushing offense is daunting, and veteran inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom is nowhere near the run defender of rookie Omar Speights.

So the Eagles handed off the football to running back Saquon Barkley, and then sat back to watch him cook:

The second score by the Eagles put them up by a score of 13-7. Unlike many of the Rams recent games, this one is taking the shape of the Buffalo Bills vs LA Rams Week 14 shootout. At the end of the first quarter, the Rams are trailing by six points and the forecasted snow has arrived.

It's snowing, the Eagles are running at will, and the Rams are trailing by six. This is going to be a tough battle for a Rams team that has fought must win scenarios all season.

At the end of Q1

Los Angeles Rams 7
Philadelphia Eagles 13

As always, thanks for reading.

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