Los Angeles Rams 24 · Philadelphia Eagles 20

Game played 2026-10-04. These assessments cover the season through October 5, 2026, including this game.

Read the complete Week 4 article →

Rams | 2-2

The Rams have two competing season habits. They repeatedly make opponents struggle to maintain progress, allowing useful gains on only 38.0 percent of plays and just 13 long gains. They also give the ball away twice every week. Eight giveaways against three defensive takeaways have made their own strong stretches harder to trust. Their offense has moved well over the whole season, but 85 points from 24 threatening drives shows how often promising territory has produced too little.

Sean McVay said “our defense kept giving us a reason to believe”. Holding Philadelphia without a third-down conversion in 12 attempts backs that up. So does an offense completing late touchdown drives of 98 and 79 yards rather than waiting for a takeaway. Sunday's 24-20 comeback was also aided by Philadelphia's failed fourth down and a penalty on the long march. The win demonstrates that Los Angeles can finish. The identical weekly giveaway count demonstrates that it keeps volunteering to make finishing harder.

After opponent punts or failed fourth downs, Rams possessions have begun at their own 22.4, on average, across 21 competitive drives. The weekly average has varied widely, from their own 20.2 to their own 43.0. The latest game averaged their own 22.9. The resulting possession started at midfield or closer to the end zone in 1 of those 21 cases. These are actual starting spots, including punt returns, rather than a measure of the defense alone. The return unit has added 101 punt-return yards over the season. Pre-snap changes before the first run or pass affected 2 of these drives; those changes are excluded from the listed starting spots. Starts following turnovers are counted separately: 3 competitive possessions at their own 38.3 on average.

Eagles | 2-2

Philadelphia's offense has been unreliable throughout a 2-2 start, keeping up with the down on only 37.7 percent of plays. Its useful-play share actually rose in the Week 3 loss before collapsing to 31.0 percent Sunday, a reminder that moving the ball and cashing in are separate questions. Five giveaways in Weeks 2 and 3 created another problem, but Sunday was clean. The defense finally collected its first two takeaways, yet the team still lost 24-20.

Jalen Hurts called it “Poor execution”. Zero third-down conversions in 12 attempts and 172 total yards leave little to dispute. Two interceptions set up 10 first-half points, but the offense then failed to protect a 10-point lead. The decision to reject a short field goal on fourth down removed a chance to make it a 13-point margin and handed the Rams a possession that became a 98-yard touchdown march. A defense can provide territory and chances. Philadelphia still has to use them.

After opponent punts or failed fourth downs, Eagles possessions have begun at their own 30.1, on average, across 18 competitive drives. The weekly average has varied widely, from their own 17.7 to their own 38.0. The latest game averaged their own 38.0. The resulting possession started at midfield or closer to the end zone in 1 of those 18 cases. These are actual starting spots, including punt returns, rather than a measure of the defense alone. The return unit has added 136 punt-return yards over the season. Pre-snap changes before the first run or pass affected 2 of these drives; those changes are excluded from the listed starting spots. Starts following turnovers are counted separately: 2 competitive possessions at their opponent 31.5 on average.