Make New York Post a Preferred Source Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Denver. AP Photo/Jack Dempsey It’s still too early in the NFL season to panic.
There’s so much more road ahead for all 32 teams, and we have no idea how fortunes will change as the months wear on. A healthy bit of concern can be motivating, though, especially for teams that entered the season with high expectations.
The Rams (1-2) remain Super Bowl favorites, but have struggled to live up to the “super team” label placed on them in the offseason. The Eagles (2-1) are coming off an embarrassing loss on Monday and have looked shaky through three weeks.
One of these teams might not avoid early-season panic after this week, which should translate to a competitive game on the field.
The Rams opened as 2.5-point favorites for this game, and the line has moved up to Rams -3 since. The total has fallen from 46 at open to 43.5.
The Rams put a target on their backs to start the season and might be regretting it heading into Week 4.
Bad news has outweighed the good for L.A. to this point in the season. Puka Nacua went down with a hip/groin injury in Game 1. Myles Garrett’s return to the field ranges anywhere from Oct. 18 against the Cardinals to Nov. 8 against the Commanders, according to ESPN.
Nacua is expected to return this week, which should provide some boost for the Rams on offense. Nacua won’t be 100 percent, but has to be accounted for when he’s out there, which can open things up elsewhere for L.A.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) gets ready to take the snap during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect While the Eagles have the better record, neither of their wins was inspiring in the least. They narrowly beat the Commanders in Week 1 thanks to Jayden Daniels’ tunnel vision on a two-point conversion that would have tied the game with one minute left in the fourth quarter. In Week 2, they needed a late comeback against the offensively inept Titans to escape with a win.
The Eagles’ offensive line used to be their strength, but so far it has been a liability. They rank 20th in Run Block Win Rate (73 percent), which has led to a high number of third-and-long situations for their offense. On the other side, the Eagles’ defensive line is not getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks and ranks 29th in sacks.
The Rams should have an easier time dealing with the Eagles’ defense than they did against the Broncos and will force Philly to keep up in the passing game.
Sean McVay has been one of the most reliable coaches in the NFL after a loss, so I’ll take the Rams to cover on the road here.
The Pick: Rams -3 (-108, DraftKings)
Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
