NASHVILLE — Sean McVay did not plan to wait long to begin dissecting the Rams next opponent: the defending Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles.
After his team stayed unbeaten on Sunday with a 33-19 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium, McVay aimed to take in the Eagles’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs during the plane ride back to Los Angeles.
“It will be fun to watch it,” said McVay, whose team plays the Eagles next Sunday, “as long as the damn WiFi on the plane works.”
Technical difficulties or otherwise, McVay and the Rams are feeling pretty good about themselves.
And rightfully, but perhaps cautiously, so.
Victories over the Houston Texans and the Titans were nice tune-ups that showed the Rams can indeed be Super Bowl contenders.
Now the real season — and test — begins.
The Eagles are the real measuring stick for the Rams, who are seeking their third Super Bowl appearance in eight years.
Sunday’s performance against the Titans gave the Rams reason for optimism.
Receiver Puka Nacua scored on a long touchdown run, Matthew Stafford passed for two touchdowns — including his first to Davante Adams — and edge rusher Byron Young had two sacks and forced a fumble to lead the Rams.
So the Rams will confidently return to Lincoln Financial Field, where they lost to the Eagles in the NFC divisional round on a cold, snowy afternoon.
“Should be better weather, I hope,” Stafford quipped. “They’ve retooled and brought back a lot of the same people. … It will be a huge challenge for us. I’m sure it will be rockin’ and rollin.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford looks to pass in the first half against the Titans on Sunday.
(Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
The Texans and the Titans are a far cry from the Eagles.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, the reigning NFL offensive player of the year, torched the Rams in the 2024 regular season and the playoffs.
He rushed for 255 yards in a Week 12 victory over the Rams, scoring on runs of 70 and 72 yards. In January, he ran for 205 yards and scored on runs of 62 and 78 yards.
“They still got Saquon Barkley over there,” defensive lineman Braden Fiske said, “so we know they’re going to try to run that ball.”
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is a rising star and Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward appears on track to possibly become one. But neither is as experienced as Jalen Hurts, who has played in two Super Bowls and won a title.
Eagles receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are a talented tandem, and the offensive line is perhaps the NFL’s best.
And a defense, led by coordinator Vic Fangio, features tackle Jalen Carter, who ended the Rams’ Super Bowl hopes last season when he sacked Stafford one play before Stafford’s final pass fell incomplete.
After he signed with the Rams in March, Adams said he did so to help them get over the hump. The game against the Eagles will not be the definitive test, Adams said Sunday after catching six passes for 106 yards, and eclipsing 12,000 career receiving yards.
“We’re not looking at it like it’s a Super Bowl,” he said, adding, “I’m not looking at it like this is the test to see if I’ve officially got us over the hump or anything like that. But I’m excited.”
On Sunday, in a matchup between quarterbacks picked No. 1 in the NFL draft, the veteran came out on top.
Stafford, the top pick in 2009, completed 23 of 33 passes for 298 yards, with an interception.
Ward, the top pick in the 2025 draft, completed 19 of 33 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown.
Along with his 45-yard touchdown run, Nacua caught eight passes for 91 yards. Tight end Davis Allen scored his second touchdown of the season, and running back Blake Corum rushed for his first career touchdown.
The Rams trailed at halftime, 13-10, after giving up a touchdown and a field goal in the final 38 seconds of the second quarter.
They then outscored the Titans 23-6 in the second half with Stafford’s touchdown pass to Allen and then his 16-yard strike to Adams. The latter was set up by Young’s strip sack. Corum completed the Rams’ scoring.
It was not all good news for the Rams: cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon suffered a broken collarbone, McVay said.
The rushing attack stalled early and they failed to convert two goal-line opportunities into touchdowns.
Still, the Rams are looking forward to the matchup against the Eagles.
“We just want to be able to show that we are who we say we are,” offensive lineman Kevin Dotson said.
And who they might be come playoff time.
This story originally appeared on LA Times
