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Been waiting for the 7 all week. Rams can muddle this game u. Sean McVay is a machine covering 13 of his last 15 Dec/Jan games. Not buying Eagles downfield passing game.
Lean was the Rams, which have won a lot for us. If you pick them +7, that’s a fine play. However, cold and snowy conditions flipped my pick; the elements are tough sledding for an indoor team flying cross country. L.A.’s defense has surged, but it’s taken advantage of flawed quarterbacks and injured offenses. Eagles OL is not going to fall apart like Vikings, and weather makes running – particularly short yardage – critical. The Rams will not protect Matthew Stafford as easily leading to passing game struggles. Stafford is 1-8 with 14 TD, 11 INT when playing in rain or snow. If Philadelphia sticks to its plan, its trenches should win the battle of attrition after halftime with a late TD sealing the cover.

The Eagles have a narrow target tree that starts with A.J. Brown. He is coming off a game where he did almost nothing except get caught reading a book on the sideline. This is a much better matchup, as the Rams rank dead last against outside receivers. Brown went for 109 yards in the regular-season meeting and usually bounces back strong from quiet games.

Puka Nacua has dominated looks in the Rams passing game over the last month, and because of that I think we're getting a discount on Kupp here. He's reach the 24-30 yard range in his last three games with the limited targets he's received in games the Rams won largely with defense, but he had 60 yards on 11 targets in the first meeting with the Eagles. I don't believe todays' weather will be enough for the Rams to abandon the pass game, and this is a number Kupp could top in 2-3 catches, though I think he's in store for more targets than that.
I expect a slow start here, with the weather playing a significant role. Both teams are strong defensively, and they have the ability to bleed the clock on offense. This is the type of game that I see having a 3-0 or 7-0 score at the end of the first quarter.

The Eagles had the top ranked pass defense in the NFL during the regular season, allowing 174.2 yards per game. I expect the Rams to be playing from behind, which opens the door for an uptick in pass attempts for Stafford. But in the end, I expect the weather, combined with the Eagles' pass defense, to prevail. I expect around 200 passing yards for Stafford on Sunday.
The Rams were impressive in their Wild Card win over the Buccaneers, but on Sunday they will be dealing with significantly different weather. Wind and snow are in the forecast for Philadelphia, and the Eagles are more built for success in those conditions. Sean McVay has done a tremendous job with the Rams this year, but Philadelphia has the edge in depth, and Saquon Barkley is the ultimate X-Factor. Eagles by 7+ here.
This coveted key number presents a clear value play on the Sean McVay-led Rams, who showed their dangerous postseason form in a blowout of the Vikings last week. The Eagles looked relatively unimpressive in their 22-10 win over a lifeless Packers club and could be in for a dire wake-up call if they aren't ready for a 4-quarter fight from Los Angeles.
A wild card team that gets hot at the right time, usually gets that redemption game in the postseason. For the LA Rams they get that chance today on the road at Philadelphia. An Eagles team that routed the Rams on their own home field in front of a Sunday night football audience, 37-20. Since that performance the defense has excelled, and Sean McVay has put on a masterclass of preparation. Take the Rams to put forth another great effort even in cold weather snow conditions in Philadelphia.

Jalen Hurts didn't quite look right last week in his return from the concussion that sidelined him the final few regular season games. The passing game looked out of sync and rusty including a limited workload for the Eagles big play receiver in AJ Brown. Today Hurts and the Eagles offense will need to deal with the elements as much as a Rams pass rush that's found teeth of late. Philly showed the blueprint for beating this Rams group was running the football early and often in the previous match-up and I'm not sure much changes here. It's a low passing total for a reason and there's still wiggle room even after the 1st wave of under money came at 199.5
Now that +7 has popped up, I am taking the Rams catching a full TD. Philadelphia’s vaunted rush attack will be the most dangerous weapon on the field, but I believe the scorching hot Rams can keep it close. L.A’s defense has vastly improved since their Week 11 loss to Philly, in which Saquon Barkley ran all over them. DE Jared Verse and DT Kobie Turner are wrecking offensive lines. If the Rams can find a way to limit Philly on the ground, Matt Stafford, Kyren Williams and the Rams elite WR duo can match the Eagle’s offense. I give the coaching edge to Sean Mcvay. The game total is set at 43.5, so oddsmakers expect points to be at a premium. I’ll take +7.

DraftKings / B365 / Caesar’s. Christian Rozeboom is the Rams best run stopper from the off-ball linebacker position, with 56% of his tackles coming against the run (79 - 4.6 per game). Against the Eagles back in Week 12, he racked up 12 total tackles, including 10 against the run. The Eagles are the most run heavy team in the league, and given the weather, I don’t see that changing today. Overall, Rozeboom averages 8.4 combined tackles per game, despite getting his every-down role in the middle of the season. The Eagles rank within the top 5 of tackles allowed to LBs (per PFF data).

I’m on DG today for both catches and yards. We have talked for two weeks how the Rams aren’t great v TE. (although it’s not as bad as you think because they play four games against George Kittle and Trey McBride in division). I think DG gets 4 grabs and avg more than 9 yards per (I make him 11) so I settled here

DraftKings. Tyler Higbee made his presence known in the Wild Card win, with 58 yards on 5 catches in the first half, before being forced out with a chest injury. He’s cleared for this week, but I’m still fading the Rams tight end in this matchup. The Eagles defense has allowed the fewest receiving yards to tight-ends this season (34.8 per game), on the lowest yards per target (5.7). Higbee’s aDOT is 3.3 yards - while he did catch a deep target last week, that was his only target over 10 air yards this season. The Eagles pass defense is swarming - they allowed the 9th fewest yards after catch per reception (5.0).
We're not expecting a replay of Philly's 37-20 win at LA in late November, or another 255-yard Saquon Barkley explosion. Sean McVay is likely hellbent to contain Barkley and make Jalen Hurts, who didn't look too sharp back from concussion last week vs. the Pack, beat him instead. Note the Ram defense has allowed single digits in four of five games since the shootout win over the Bills on December 8, and the offense has moved consistently behind Matthew Stafford since mid-October, when WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua returned to active duty. The Birds benefited from Green Bay mistakes and some sloppy work from Jordan Love last week, but we doubt it will be as east vs. Matthew Stafford and his weapons. Play Rams

Barkley has gone over this total in six of his last eight games. Forecast is calling for 4-5 inches of snow all coming during the game. Barkley carried the ball 26 times in the first meeting against the Rams and I would be surprised if he isn't the focal point of the offense again on Sunday, especially when you factor in the weather.

The Eagles have allowed only eight completions of 35-plus yards, which is tied for fourth-lowest. In terms of explosive passes (20-plus yards), Philly has allowed the fewest. Two of Matthew Stafford's worst games as a Ram have come in sub-40 degree temperatures. Although I expect the Rams to be trailing late and throwing, I still bet Under on Stafford's longest completion.

Because of the Rams' offensive scheme, Eagles slot corner Cooper DeJean should have plenty of tackle opportunities. He recorded six combined stops in the regular-matchup with the Rams. I like him to get at least five tackles or assists Sunday, a feat he's accomplished in five of the past eight games.

Saquon Barkley has gone over his total rushes in five of his last seven games and tomorrow's 21.5 and there's going to be likely snow and it's going to be a chilly 33°. That sounds to me like running back weather and this is the best running back in the league. Throw less and run more. I expect the Eagles to win this game and I expect the reason to be Barkley on the ground. Over attempts.

With weather being an issue it's going to be all running for the Eagles and that means Saquon Barkley gets over 28 carries and over 111 yards in the game. His last two games of the season he had 29 and 31 carries. He's gone over the yardage total six out of its last seven games. And he had 255 yards the last time he faced the Rams in November. Barkley is going to be the star and get the yards and scores. Over 111 yards.

Dallas Goedert has come back strong from his knee injury, as he showed again last week with a stiff-arming touchdown run. Now he faces a Rams team that’s been getting burned repeatedly by tight ends. For the season, LA has given up the second-most receiving yards to tight ends. Over the past five weeks, the Rams have given up the most.
The Philadelphia Eagles went 15-3 and 12-6 against the spread and they meet the Los Angeles Rams who have to travel all the way to Philadelphia and try to beat somebody they lost 37-20 at home in late November. That was a game in which Saquon Barkley had a career-high 302 yards from scrimmage and 255 yards rushing to go along with two touchdowns. He diced through the Rams pretty good. Are the Rams ready for what's about to happen again, they got a different plan? The Eagles have the No. 1 defense in the NFL averaging 279 yards per game and they were plus-11 in turnover margin. Good Eagles weather at 33 degrees, 8 mph winds, and 80% chance of snow. Eagles to cover.
Older age is weird. As long as Matlock is on, I am happy. Kidding, not that old but I have to pump our CBS shows -- the reboot actually is pretty solid, but I've always like Kathy Bates since she knocked whatever ankle bones in Misery. Poor James Caan. Shot multiple times in the Godfather and then Misery. So barring the Lions in the SB, I'm gonna cash out on the NFL season after this. Been nice year with favorites. I just don't see the Rams winning on the East Coast on a short week in potentially wintry weather.

Dallas Goedert served as Jalen Hurts safety blanket in wildcard weekend against the Packers as the Eagles were unable to attack GB downfield through the air. Goedert has elite route participation and could be in line for another big outing against a Rams defense that is a massive Tight End funnel. LA has allowed the third most targets, receptions, in addition to the fourth most yards to the position. With AJ Brown operating at less than 100% and the Eagles passing offense struggling, look for Goedert to be involved.
This is a big ask for the Rams. Cold weather, cross country on a short week and now in the second week of an emotional distraction. Plus, the Eagle O line DOMINATED the Rams front 7 in their earlier meeting. That won’t change. I LOVE LOVE using the Eagles in a two team teaser which brings this down to a pick.
I'm going to try and get ahead of the snowpocalypse that will garner headlines before Sunday's kickoff in Philadelphia. Forecasts are calling for steady snow and accumulation throughout the game combined with mild gusts. This total will only move one direction. From a football standpoint, I expect both teams to lean into their ground games early trying to win a trench game. The loss of Nakobe Dean for Philly isn't ideal nor is the Rams strength of schedule down the stretch but anything over three touchdowns in the elements offers us upside for two slow starting offenses in a game of this magnitude.

FanDuel. Repeating this bet from the Wild Card round - I love Saquon Barkley in this matchup. The Eagles stout offensive line should have massive advantage in trenches against a Rams defense that allowed the ninth most rush yards per carry to opposing running backs this season. The Eagles will undoubtedly lean on Saquon in this one, as they did down the stretch with Barkley clearing this line in 7 of his last 11 games. Plus, the Rams offense did not look to crisp in their two December outdoor games. With the temperatures expected to be in the 30s with the potential for rain, I love this to be a big volume spot for Barkley.

Williams has had 18 or fewer rushes in eight games this year including four Rams losses and three one-score wins. Those are the likely outcomes as the Rams hit the road again and take on an Eagles defense that's seen just four running backs land 19-plus rushes against them this year. Remember, Philadelphia's run defense is really good: 3.5 yards per rush and a slim 4.0% 10-yard rush rate allowed to RBs in its past five games. Losing Nakobe Dean is significant, but the impact of that might be felt more when the Rams throw and look for matchups against Oren Burks. Bet on the Eagles dominating time of possession and building a lead, which in turn will lead to fewer runs for Williams.

Despite having only 19 yards receiving when these two teams met in Week 12, Goedert had a 26% target share and should exploit the Rams' defense like T.J. Hockenson did on Monday night. Los Angeles allowed the fifth most receiving yards to tight ends this season and Goedert should be able to exploit their linebackers. I would play this up to 39.5.
The Rams have ridden their defense to the second round of the playoffs. In the past four games that involved the starters, L.A. has allowed a total of 33 points, with no foe reaching double figures. The Eagles' defense has been dominant all season. It has no peer in the total and pass defense categories. No team runs the ball as much as Philly, which often leads to games with fewer-than-usual snaps. This number is right in the middle of the standard totals window, and it seems high with teams whose defenses stand a cut above the offenses.

This might be the biggest number I've ever seen on a running back. Do you know how hard it is to rush for at least 117 yards in a playoff game? It has been done only four times in Eagles history. Granted, one was by NFL rushing champion Saquon Barkley with 119 last week vs. Green Bay, but this number is still crazy high. I expect the Rams to sell out and stack the box after Barkley gouged them for 255 in the regular season and make Jalen Hurts win through the air. Our model has Barkley at 109.5.

Saquon Barkley has been virtually unstoppable for much of this season, but this is a massive number he's fallen short of in more than half his games. He exploded against the Rams in the first meeting, but they've allowed this total to only one other RB this year (D'Andre Swift in Week 4) and the unit has continued to improve under Chris Shula down the stretch. I believe he focuses on slowing down Barkley and making Jalen Hurts beat the Rams, which keeps Barkley under this number.

The forecast looks like rain and snow. Eagles have become an increasingly run-heavy, defensive-led football team. In what is likely their last home game of the season, expect there to be extreme volume vs a bad Rams rush D. Gainwell has 14 or more rushing yards in 10 of his last 14 games and is routinely over 20, as he was in the first meeting with the Rams. Barkley can't run it 30 times and Gainwell is routinely getting 5-7 carries; more than enough to get us over against the Rams' defense.

With Jalen Hurts not far removed from a concussion, and the Rams light up front, I'm not sure how much we see the QB in short yards/goal-to-go. Not after Barkley shredded the Rams last time. He ran twice for TDs in that meeting and has gone two games without scoring. I think the Eagles coaching staff keeps it simple here. Rams were just an average goal-to-go rushing D. This has become Saquon's team and I expect an old-school approach here. RB was the star last time vs LA and will be here too

It's a big number but it doesn't matter. Jalen Hurts has been shaky and missed a lot of time with a concussion and I expect a conservative approach from the Eagles. Barkley ran for 255 in first meeting vs Rams and LA's D is fast and hungry but it's a light front and this is the biggest mismatch in this game. Eagles OL can roadgrade. Rams are 22nd in rush D EPA and 23rd in success rate in regular season and playoffs. No way the Eagles don't lean into this in a big way. Barkley will break a few long ones here too. He has 119 or more in 6 of the last 8 games and 107 in one of those.
Weather could be a factor and Sean McVay skews conservative and will run ball a ton to keep it close. Both offenses are terribly slow starters. Rams D is legit enough and Eagles OL far better run blocking than pass protecting. Jalen Hurts still looks off and I bet Eagles play slow and run the ball a ton. Hurts is 5-1 to the under in playoffs. Since '22 Rams (reg and playoffs) play 18 road games outdoors; 14 games produced 43 points or less. Like the Eagles game last week, I expect the defenses to be the star here. Rams just need to hold up a some in RZ. PHI 12-2-1 under in last 15 home playoff games; avg close 43 and avg total 36!
The Rams surprised many people by dominating the Vikings on Monday, and I was thoroughly impressed by the defensive front taking it to the Minnesota offensive line for nine sacks. This is going to be a much tougher test but the Rams have a lot of talent up front to neutralize, and they may not have to get home too much if Jalen Hurts is going to continue to struggle. The Eagles needed a +4 turnover margin to win by 12, and better QB play from the opposition (which I expect from Matthew Stafford) could've sent the Eagles home early. I think Hurts can improve moving forward, but I now expect this to be a much tighter game that the Eagles win by 3-4 points.
Team Injuries





