If Philly sports fans weren’t already a cantankerous bunch, they’re hitting an all-time peak in pissed off after the Philadelphia Eagles’ Week 1 loss to Washington. The Eagles try to douse those flaming jerseys when they host the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2.
Philadelphia blew a 17-0 second-quarter lead and allowed 27 straight points to Washington, falling as 5.5-point road favorites. The Rams, on the other hand, opened their $5 billion stadium with a victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.
These are our favorite NFL free picks and predictions for Rams vs. Eagles on September 20.
Los Angeles Rams vs Philadelphia Eagles betting preview
Weather
The forecast for Sunday is calling for sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s with winds blowing up to 15 mph. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our NFL weather info.
Key Injuries
Rams: Brian Allen C (Out)
Eagles: Alshon Jeffrey WR (Out), Genard Avery DE (Out), Vinny Curry DE (Out)
Find our latest NFL injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Eagles have covered in six straight meetings with the Rams. Find more NFL betting trends for Rams vs. Eagles.
Against the spread (ATS) pick
Allowing eight sacks to Washington is not the tone you want to set for your team when next up on the slate is Aaron Donald, the monster in the closet for NFL QBs.
Carson Wentz took a beating in Week 1 and part of it was his fault, hanging on to the football too long and not recognizing when he could do more bad than good. But it wasn’t all on Wentz, with a comedy of errors and injuries plaguing the Eagles versus Washington.
Not having running back Miles Sanders was one of those issues in Week 1. Philadelphia ran the ball less than any other team last week, handing off on just over 25 percent of its snaps. A more balanced attack is needed to keep L.A.’s pass rush guessing and have any hope with RPOs, and it looks as if Sanders is ready to return for Week 2. Starting left tackle Lane Johnson also appears on track to play, which is huge for the pass protection.
The Rams could be primed for a letdown, coming off a thrilling win in the opening game of SoFi Stadium under the primetime lights, and now traveling across the map to play an early 1 p.m. ET start (10 a.m. PT) in Philly. And with all the COVID protocols, L.A. will have to travel the day before the game and jump through hoops before getting on the field.
The lookahead line for this game had Philadelphia as a 4.5-point home favorite, set back in the spring. However, the true opener hit the board early Monday morning with the Eagles set at -2.5. The early money flooded in on the Rams and has this game as a pick’em as of Wednesday. We’ll push back against the public and take the hungry home team.
PREDICTION: Philadelphia pick’em (-110)
Over/Under pick
The total for this game has also seen some major shakeups when compared to those lookahead lines set in the spring.
The Over/Under that hit the board in May had 49 points pegged for this Week 2 matchup, but that number was chopped down to 46 with the Monday morning opener and moved lower to 45.5 points with action on the Under.
Neither offense looked fantastic – well, Philadelphia did OK for 20 minutes or so – in Week 1. Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff was 20 for 31 passing for 275 yards versus Dallas but leaned on the ground game to control tempo and eat clock, dominating TOP behind 153 rushing yards.
The Eagles have to run the ball more than Week 1 (it’s nearly impossible not to), especially with the Rams’ vaunted pass rush and CB Jalen Ramsey looking to feast on a thin Philadelphia receiving corps. Sanders will see his share of action, but don’t be surprised if rookie dual-threat QB Jalen Hurts gets some sporadic action under center, with an option play or two. As for Wentz, he’ll get the ball out in a hurry with Donald breathing down his neck, taking those big plays off the board.
PREDICTION: Under 45.5 (-110)
Player prop pick
Philadelphia’s receiving corps is a MASH unit with top receiver Alshon Jeffery out of action, Quez Watkins on the IR, and rookie WR Jalen Reagor playing his way back into shape after missing a month due to a shoulder injury.
With a quick-hitting playbook likely in store for L.A., Wentz will cuddle up to his safety blanket, tight end Zach Ertz. He caught only three of the seven passes thrown his way in Week 1, totaling a measly 18 yards, but did find the end zone before everything went to hell for the Eagles.
The Rams allowed more than 900 yards to tight ends last season – eighth-most to the position – as well as six TDs to TEs. Los Angeles caught a break against the Cowboys in Week 1, with their top tight end Blake Jarwin going down with a season-ending knee injury early into the game.
Ertz has always saved his best for the City of Brotherly Love, scoring 24 of his career 36 touchdowns in Philly, and is trying to make a statement to ownership so they ink him to a long-term deal.
PREDICTION: Zach Ertz touchdown anytime (+204)
Rams vs Eagles betting card
- Philadelphia pick’em (-110)
- Under 45.5 (-110)
- Zach Ertz touchdown anytime (+204)
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