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Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles Odds & Game Pick (2020)

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Though it is only Week 2, this game between the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles feels very important for both teams. The Rams are trying to knock off their second NFC East contender in as many weeks after beating the Dallas Cowboys, 20-17. Meanwhile, no team appears more affected by injuries early in the season than the Eagles. A Week 2 loss sending them to 0-2 would only compound their injury problems and push their fan base into panic mode.

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Details

  • Opening Lines: Eagles -2.5; O/U 46 on DraftKings
  • Current Line: Rams -1
  • O/U: 45.5
  • Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
  • Start Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
  • Television: FOX
  • Last Meeting: December 16, 2018 – The Eagles defeated the Rams 30-23 in Los Angeles

View consensus picks from experts for the Rams at Eagles >>

Overview

Before their Week 1 game against the Cowboys, no one was sure how the Rams would dole out touches in their backfield. If last week was any indication, sixth-year running back Malcolm Brown could be in for a big year. He out-touched Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr. combined and turned his 21 touches into 110 total yards and two touchdowns.

Jared Goff’s 44.2 QBR ranked 25th among all quarterbacks in Week 1, but he was not asked to do much with such a productive running game supporting him. The defense was solid in holding the Cowboys’ high-powered offense to 380 total yards. However, skeptics will say that the Rams benefited from a generous offensive pass interference call on Michael Gallup that negated a big play that would have given Dallas great field position on the potential game-tying drive.

The Eagles need to get healthy, and fast, or else they could see their season quickly slip away. They started out like gangbusters last week, leading the Washington Football Team 17-0 in the second quarter before allowing 27 straight points to end the game. Philadelphia was without three starters on the offensive line, including star tackle Lane Johnson. It showed, as quarterback Carson Wentz was under relentless pressure. The Eagles allowed eight official sacks and countless more pressures, and they could not get any offense going after a hot start. Getting a healthy Miles Sanders back in Week 2 would help, but none of it matters if they do not block better up front.

Trends

  • The Eagles are 0-7 ATS in their last seven home games following a loss.
  • The under is 7-0 in the Eagles’ last seven home games.
  • The Rams are 9-1 SU in their last 10 September games.

Prop Bet 

Los Angeles Rams UNDER 22.5 Total Points (+100 at DraftKings)
It would be easy to look at the fact that Washington scored 27 points on the Eagles defense and assume the Rams can easily surpass 22.5. However, the Eagles offense did not help out their defense with three turnovers setting up short fields. In addition, Washington only totaled 239 yards and had 3.4 yards per play, so Philadelphia’s defense did not play poorly. I expect much more of a ball-control type of game plan from Philadelphia in this one, which should lead to limited possessions and fewer chances for Goff and the Rams to move the ball.

Bottom Line

Despite liking the under on the Rams’ team total, I also like them to win the game and cover the one-point spread in the process. I try not to be over-reactionary from one week to the next, but the fact remains that the Eagles are too banged up at the moment to beat a team as good as the Rams. Aaron Donald and the rest of the Los Angeles pass rush should have a field day against Philadelphia’s offensive line, even if Lane Johnson can play.

In addition, it seems like oddsmakers are still giving home teams a ton of credit in their lines — as if we are playing under normal circumstances with 70,000 screaming fans. Instead, home teams shouldn’t receive much of an edge since there are no real advantages from playing at home outside of limited travel.

Head coach Doug Pederson has had to coach games with depleted rosters all too often, and those games usually result in defensive struggles. The Eagles’ defense will keep them in the game, but their game plan will be too conservative to result in a shootout.

Pick: Rams -1, Under 45.5

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Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.