After earning decisive victories on Wild Card Weekend, the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams will meet at Lincoln Financial Field for a spot in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. ET.
Philadelphia set the tone for its postseason run by forcing four Green Bay turnovers, including one on the opening kickoff, in Sunday’s 22-10 victory over the Packers. Los Angeles also dominated defensively in the opening round, sacking Sam Darnold nine times in a 27-9 win over the Vikings on Monday.
Which team has the edge in this NFC Divisional Round matchup? Let’s examine the latest betting odds before diving into my Rams vs Eagles prediction and best bets.
Rams vs Eagles Odds
NFL odds are current as of Wednesday, Jan. 15, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Moneyline: Rams (+225) vs Eagles (-278)
- Spread: Rams +6 (-110) vs Eagles -6 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 43.5 (-115) / Under 43.5 (-105)
Rams vs Eagles Predictions
Eagles 27, Rams 17
If the Rams want to pull off this upset, they must defend the run better than they did when these teams met at SoFi Stadium in Week 12.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley gashed Los Angeles for a career-high 255 rushing yards in a performance that featured second-half touchdown scampers of 70 and 72 yards. Philly rushed for 314 yards in all en route to a 37-20 victory.
The good news for the Rams is that they were able to limit Vikings running back Aaron Jones to 48 yards on 13 carries in Monday’s wild-card win. However, they didn’t have to contend with the threat of a mobile quarterback, something they have struggled to deal with this season against the likes of Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, and Kyler Murray.
That threat will inevitably slow down Los Angeles’ pass-rushers, which means DROY favorite Jared Verse and Co. can’t just tee off on Philadelphia like it did Minnesota. Plus, the Eagles have one of the best offensive lines in football, so Barkley and Hurts should have success against a Rams defense that allowed 4.6 yards per attempt this year, which was tied for the sixth-most in the NFL.
Hurts completed 13-of-21 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay in his first game action in three weeks, but he and this offense should improve after shaking some of the rust off.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
Rams vs Eagles Best Bets
Eagles -6 (-110)
This number feels large, but Philadelphia has several advantages in this matchup.
Most importantly, the Eagles will be able to run the ball with Barkley and Hurts, which will grind down the Rams’ defense and limit the opportunities for Matthew Stafford and the LA offense.
I also have concerns about the Rams being an indoor team with an older quarterback who will have to brave the elements, which are currently forecasting freezing temperatures and a wintery mix of rain and snow. The Eagles should be more accustomed to the conditions at Lincoln Financial Field, where they have won six straight games by at least six points.
At this point of the season, I also wouldn’t overlook the rest, travel, and planning advantages that Philadelphia has after playing the mid-afternoon game on Sunday, whereas the Rams played on Monday and had to travel to Arizona to play their home game.
With all that in mind, I’m locking in the Eagles to win and cover as one of my best NFL bets today.
Jalen Hurts: Over 38.5 Rushing Yards (-110)
If there were concerns about Hurts being scared to run after missing multiple games with a concussion, those should have been answered by Sunday’s six-carry, 36-yard performance against Green Bay.
The 26-year-old should be more willing to put his body on the line this week, and I like him to improve upon the 39 rushing yards he posted in the first meeting against the Rams. After getting torched by Barkley in that contest, I wouldn’t be surprised if LA focuses too much on stopping the star running back, giving Hurts room to roam from read-option looks.
Hurts went over this number in seven of his final eight regular-season games, so we might be getting a discounted line due to the recent injury.
