Honestly, if you weren't watching Sunday Night Football on November 24, 2024, you missed a glitch in the matrix. We talk about "statement games" all the time in the NFL, but what happened at SoFi Stadium between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams was something else entirely. It wasn't just a win. It was a 37-20 demolition that felt like a coronation for Saquon Barkley.
Most people look at the final score and think, "Yeah, Philly is good." But they're missing the nuances. They're missing how close this game actually felt at halftime. They're missing the fact that the Rams were actually moving the ball until the self-destruction started.
The Night the Record Books Caught Fire
Let’s talk about Saquon. Everyone knew he was a good pickup for the Eagles, but nobody—and I mean nobody—expected him to put up 255 rushing yards in a single night. That's not just a career high. It's a Philadelphia Eagles franchise record. He broke LeSean McCoy’s 2013 record of 217 yards, and he did it with the kind of explosiveness that makes defenders look like they’re running in sand.
He had two separate touchdown runs of over 70 yards. 70! In the same game! He's the first player to do that since Maurice Jones-Drew back in 2009.
The weirdest part? He only had 73 yards at halftime.
Then the third quarter started. On the very first play of the second half, Barkley took a handoff, found a seam provided by a massive Landon Dickerson block, and vanished. 70 yards later, the vibe in the stadium completely shifted. It went from a tight 13-7 contest to an "oh no, it’s happening" moment for the Rams defense.
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Why the Rams Couldn't Stop the Bleeding
If you're a Rams fan, this game was a masterclass in frustration. Sean McVay's squad actually outplayed Philly in spots. Puka Nacua was out there doing Puka Nacua things, racking up 117 yards on nine catches. Matthew Stafford threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns. On paper, that should keep you in the game.
But the Eagles' defense had other plans. They sacked Stafford five times. Five!
- Milton Williams was a menace.
- Nakobe Dean was everywhere (8 tackles and a fumble recovery).
- Brandon Graham was yapping and playing like he was 22, getting a sack and multiple hits before, unfortunately, tearing his triceps.
That Graham injury is the part nobody talks about enough. It was a huge blow to the soul of that defense, even in a blowout. The Rams went 0-for-8 on third downs. You cannot win in this league if you can't stay on the field, and the Eagles' "top-ranked defense" (at the time) proved exactly why they earned that label.
The Turning Point Nobody Saw Coming
Everyone remembers the long runs, but the game actually swung on a red flag. Early on, Kyren Williams fumbled inside the Eagles' 20-yard line. The refs initially called him down. Nick Sirianni, ever the lightning rod for attention, threw the challenge flag.
He was right.
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The call was overturned, Nakobe Dean got the recovery, and the Rams lost a golden opportunity to take an early lead. Instead of being up 7-0 or 10-0, they were clawing back from the jump. These are the "hidden" moments in an eagles vs rams game that determine the season. If the Rams score there, maybe the Eagles don't feel as comfortable leaning on the run. Maybe the pressure ramps up on Jalen Hurts.
Speaking of Hurts, he was efficient. 15-of-22 for 179 yards and a touchdown to A.J. Brown. He didn't have to be a superhero because he had a locomotive in the backfield wearing number 26.
The Playoff Rematch: A Different Beast
It’s worth noting that these two met again in the Divisional Round in January 2025. If the November game was a track meet, the playoff game was a bar fight in the snow.
The Eagles won that one too, 28-22, but it was way closer. The Rams actually had the ball at the Eagles' 13-yard line with about a minute left. Stafford's deep shot to Nacua fell incomplete on fourth down, sealing the game.
Barkley was the hero again, of course. 205 rushing yards that day. It's rare to see a single player own a specific opponent quite like Saquon owned the Rams in the 2024-25 cycle. He finished the season with over 1,300 yards and was a first-team All-Pro for a reason.
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Reality Check: What the Stats Don't Tell You
Look, the 37-20 scoreline in November makes it look like the Rams defense was a sieve all night. In reality, they held Barkley to 2.7 yards per carry on 24 of his 26 carries during that playoff rematch. But that's the thing about elite backs—they only need two holes.
In the regular-season game, the Rams' young defensive line, led by Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, actually showed flashes of brilliance. Verse got to Hurts. Fiske was active. But the Eagles' offensive line—Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson specifically—eventually just wore them down. It was a game of attrition. By the fourth quarter, those 4-yard runs were turning into 12-yard runs, and eventually, that final 72-yard dagger from Saquon.
Actionable Insights for Football Students
If you’re trying to understand how the Eagles dominated this matchup, look at these specific schematic choices:
- The Vertical Seam: The Eagles stopped trying to bounce everything outside. They attacked the "B-gap" (between the guard and tackle) and relied on Saquon's "stop-on-a-dime" ability to make the unblocked safety miss.
- The Third Down Lockdown: Philly played a lot of man-coverage on third downs, daring Stafford to beat them with perfect throws. Without a consistent run game to keep them honest, the Eagles' pass rushers could just pin their ears back.
- The Challenge Strategy: Sirianni's willingness to use his challenges early changed the field position game. Don't be afraid to burn a timeout if it means taking points off the board for the opponent.
To truly understand the eagles vs rams game dynamic, you have to watch the offensive line play. Watch Lane Johnson. He’s a clinic. If you want to see how a running back sets up a long run, watch Barkley’s eyes on the 70-yarder—he manipulates the linebacker with a single step to the left before exploding right. That’s the pro-level stuff that doesn't always show up in a highlight reel but wins championships.