INGLEWOOD, Calif. — On Sunday afternoon, the Los Angeles Rams fell to the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium by a final score of 23-14.
The Rams did get the good news before kickoff that star receiver Cooper Kupp would return from the hamstring injury that kept him out for the first four weeks of the season. Kupp suffered the injury last November, and had not played since.
Kupp picked up right where he left off in his season debut, catching eight passes for 118 yards. Rookie Puka Nacua, who stepped up as Los Angeles’s leading receiver during Krupp’s absence, added seven receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. Together, they should form one of the league’s most formidable receiving duos.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 21 of his 37 pass attempts for two touchdowns and no interceptions. While it was Stafford’s first game of the season with multiple touchdown passes, it was actually a season-low for him in terms of both passing yards and touchdowns.
However, it was not enough to overcome the defending NFC champion Eagles and their high-powered offense. Quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 25 of 38 passes for 303 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while also adding 72 yards and another touchdown on the ground. It was a season-high in total yardage for the MVP candidate.
The Rams were actually able to contain star Philadelphia receiver Devonta Smith, holding him to just one catch for six yards. However, Pro Bowler A.J. Brown, the other half of the Eagles’ elite wide receiver duo, torched Los Angeles’s secondary with six receptions for 127 yards. Tight end Dallas Goedert also added eight catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.
With the win, Philadelphia improved to 5-0. They are one of two undefeated teams remaining in the NFL. The Rams, on the other hand, fell to 2-3.
The Eagles visit the New York Jets this Sunday afternoon, while Los Angeles hosts the Arizona Cardinals.