Rams Have Blueprint to Destroy Eagles Defense in 2026 Week Four Battle
The Los Angeles Rams do not have to look far for a potential blueprint to attack the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Four. Chicago provided one Monday night by repeatedly putting Philadelphia's defense in difficult situations during a dominant 27-7 victory. The Bears used play action, movement, and route combinations to take advantage of an Eagles defense that aggressively committed resources to stopping the run. Los Angeles may have the personnel and offensive system needed to attack those same vulnerabilities Sunday.
That possibility becomes even more intriguing because the Rams could finally have their preferred collection of offensive weapons back on the field. Puka Nacua is expected to return after missing the previous two games with a hip and groin issue, giving Los Angeles another dynamic option alongside a receiving corps that has continued producing without him. The Rams already enter the matchup averaging an NFL-best 417.7 yards per game despite sitting at just 1-2 through three games. If Los Angeles can turn that production into touchdowns, Philadelphia could face a considerably more dangerous challenge than the one that caused problems in Chicago.
Bears May Have Exposed the Eagles' Biggest Problem
Philadelphia entered Week Three expecting to contain a Chicago offense starting its third-string quarterback, but the matchup quickly developed in the opposite direction. Case Keenum completed 24 of 34 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns while finishing with a 110.8 passer rating. More importantly, the Eagles failed to sack the veteran quarterback once and did not intercept him during the 27-7 loss. Chicago consistently gave its quarterback manageable opportunities and prevented Philadelphia's defensive front from taking over the game.
The Bears were particularly effective when they made Philadelphia respect the run before attacking through the air. Chicago used play-action concepts and movement to influence defenders, creating openings behind an Eagles defense that was aggressively trying to control the running game. Pre-snap motion and route combinations also tested communication across Philadelphia's secondary and linebacker group. Those problems created explosive opportunities that allowed Chicago to keep the Eagles from dictating the game on defense.
That formula should immediately attract Sean McVay's attention. The Rams head coach has built his offense around creating hesitation through formations, motion, play-action, and concepts that make different plays initially look similar. Los Angeles does not need to copy Chicago's offense play for play to take advantage of what appeared on film Monday night. McVay can instead incorporate the same underlying idea, forcing Philadelphia's defenders to make difficult decisions before and immediately after the snap.
Rams Have the Offensive Personnel to Attack Philadelphia
Los Angeles enters Week Four with one of the NFL's most productive offenses from a yardage standpoint. Matthew Stafford has thrown for 872 yards and six touchdowns through three games while directing an offense averaging 417.7 total yards per contest. The Rams are also averaging 133.7 rushing yards per game, giving them enough balance to make play-action a legitimate threat rather than an empty fake. That combination could become especially important against a Philadelphia defense that struggled to respond when Chicago connected its running concepts with complementary passes.
Stafford also gives Los Angeles an advantage that Chicago did not necessarily possess entering Monday night's game. The 38-year-old has spent years running McVay's offense and understands how to manipulate defenders with his eyes, timing, and pre-snap decisions. He does not need Philadelphia to completely blow a coverage for the Rams to capitalize on hesitation created by play-action or motion. Even a small opening can be enough for Stafford to attack intermediate windows or push the football downfield.
The Rams built their final roster around giving their veteran quarterback multiple ways to punish a defense. Los Angeles can attack vertically, work the intermediate areas of the field or force defenders to tackle after the catch. That versatility matters against an Eagles defense that showed communication problems when Chicago created movement before and after the snap. Philadelphia cannot simply prepare for one receiver or one concept if the Rams consistently disguise where the football is going.
All-Pro Return Could Make Blueprint Even More Dangerous
Nacua's expected return could dramatically expand what McVay can call against Philadelphia. The All-Pro receiver led the NFL with 129 receptions last season and finished with 1,715 receiving yards, establishing himself as one of the league's most productive offensive players. His ability to line up in different spots allows Los Angeles to create favorable matchups without making its intentions obvious before the snap. That versatility becomes particularly valuable when facing a defense that struggled with motion and changing responsibilities against Chicago.
Davante Adams has proven that Los Angeles can still generate explosive passing production without its other star receiver. Adams has 358 receiving yards through three games and produced 332 of those yards during the two contests Nacua missed. Philadelphia now potentially has to prepare for both receivers being on the field together while also accounting for the Rams' running game. That creates a very different challenge than simply deciding how to contain a single featured target.
The Rams can use motion to change which defender is responsible for each receiver and potentially force Philadelphia to reveal aspects of its coverage before the snap. Los Angeles can also create traffic with crossing routes, attack intermediate windows off play-action, and use formations that make it difficult for defenders to immediately identify their assignments. The goal does not have to be forcing the football to Nacua simply because he is returning. His presence alone could help create favorable opportunities elsewhere in the offense.
Los Angeles Can Force Eagles Into Difficult Decisions
The running game could be the key that unlocks everything else McVay wants to accomplish. Kyren Williams has rushed for 214 yards on 38 attempts this season, averaging 5.6 yards per carry through three games. Philadelphia cannot simply ignore that production and devote its entire defense to stopping Stafford and the Rams' receivers. If the Eagles aggressively attack the run, however, Los Angeles could have opportunities to exploit the space created behind those defenders.
That is where the Bears' Week Three performance becomes particularly relevant. Chicago did not dominate Philadelphia simply by lining up and throwing deep passes on every possession. The Bears forced Eagles defenders to respect one action before attacking the areas their movement created elsewhere. Los Angeles has the personnel to create the same conflict while potentially presenting an even more dangerous group of receiving options.
Stafford should also have opportunities to attack the middle of the field if Philadelphia's linebackers become overly aggressive against play-action. Crossing routes can force defenders to communicate through traffic while receivers move from one side of the formation to the other. Motion can further complicate those assignments by changing leverage and coverage responsibilities before the ball is snapped. If Philadelphia experiences the same communication problems it showed against Chicago, the Rams have enough receiving talent to turn those mistakes into explosive plays.
Eagles’ Pass Rush Has Yet to Take Over Games
Philadelphia's inability to consistently get home against opposing quarterbacks adds another layer to the matchup. The Eagles have recorded only three sacks through their first three games, putting them near the bottom of the league entering Week Four. They failed to sack Keenum at all on Monday despite facing a quarterback making his first regular-season appearance since 2023. Giving Stafford similar time in the pocket could create major problems for Philadelphia's secondary.
Los Angeles has already shown how dangerous its passing attack can become when Stafford has enough time to let routes develop. Adams has consistently created explosive plays downfield, while Nacua's potential return gives the quarterback another player capable of winning at multiple levels. McVay can also use play-action and movement to change the launch point or create additional hesitation for Philadelphia's pass rush. The longer Stafford remains comfortable, the more pressure will fall on the Eagles' coverage unit to avoid the breakdowns Chicago exploited.
Philadelphia still has talented defenders capable of disrupting that plan, so the Rams cannot assume Monday's problems will recur. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has decades of experience and will have an opportunity to adjust after reviewing what went wrong against Chicago. The Eagles also have players capable of winning individual matchups, even when the defense's overall structure is stressed. Los Angeles will have to force Philadelphia back into those uncomfortable situations rather than expecting them to appear on their own.
Rams Must Turn Yards Into Touchdowns
The biggest obstacle for Los Angeles may not be moving the football at all. The Rams lead the NFL in total offense through three games but are averaging only 20.3 points, creating a significant gap between their ability to generate yards and their ability to finish drives. That problem was obvious against Denver when Los Angeles reached the red zone four times but scored only one touchdown on those possessions. Stafford acknowledged this week that negative plays have made it harder for the Rams to capitalize when they get close to the end zone.
That makes the Philadelphia matchup about more than simply reproducing Chicago's successful concepts. McVay needs those concepts to create touchdowns rather than another afternoon filled with impressive yardage totals that fail to translate into enough points. The Rams cannot afford to repeatedly settle for field goals or allow penalties and negative plays to derail promising possessions. Their offensive blueprint only matters if Los Angeles finishes the opportunities it creates.
The Rams entered 2026 expecting to take back the division, making Sunday's game increasingly important after a 1-2 start. Another loss would leave Los Angeles two games below .500 before the first month of the season is complete. A victory in Philadelphia, however, would immediately stabilize the Rams before they return home for Week Five. Executing offensively against a defense that just showed signs of vulnerability could determine which direction Los Angeles heads next.
Stafford Could Be the Perfect Quarterback for This Matchup
Few quarterbacks are better positioned to take advantage of defensive hesitation than Stafford when the Rams' offense is functioning correctly. He has the arm strength to attack vertically, the experience to recognize coverage changes, and the confidence to throw into intermediate windows before they fully develop. Philadelphia's problems against motion and play-action could therefore be particularly dangerous if the veteran quarterback remains protected. McVay does not need to reinvent his offense to challenge the Eagles in areas that Chicago just exposed.
The veteran quarterback also enters the matchup continuing to climb the NFL record books, something that has already made his pursuit of history another storyline surrounding the 2026 season. His immediate concern, however, will be avoiding the costly turnovers that have hurt Los Angeles during its 1-2 start. Stafford has thrown six touchdowns but also four interceptions through three games. An aggressive game plan can attack Philadelphia without unnecessarily putting the football in danger for the Rams.
The expected return of Nacua should make that balancing act easier because Stafford will have more answers available when Philadelphia changes its coverage. Adams can threaten defenses vertically and outside the numbers, while Nacua can create opportunities from multiple alignments and turn shorter completions into significant gains. Williams gives the Rams a legitimate rushing threat, preventing Philadelphia from simply sitting back against the pass. That collection of weapons gives Los Angeles several ways to attack the same defensive stress points Chicago exposed.
Week Four Could Come Down to McVay's Adjustments
Philadelphia has now put a full game of defensive problems on film just days before facing one of the NFL's most productive offenses. Chicago showed that the Eagles can be stressed when an offense combines a credible running threat with play-action, motion, and routes designed to test communication. Los Angeles already uses many of those tools as core parts of its offensive identity. That makes Sunday's matchup a fascinating test of whether McVay can turn another team's success into a plan tailored around his own personnel.
The Eagles will undoubtedly make adjustments after being embarrassed on Monday night, which means the Rams cannot expect to simply repeat Chicago's calls and produce the same results. Fangio will have his defense prepared for many of the concepts that gave Philadelphia trouble, and the short turnaround makes the chess match between the two coaching staffs even more important. McVay's advantage is that Los Angeles can threaten defenses in several different ways without abandoning its normal offensive structure. The challenge will be staying unpredictable while continuing to attack the areas Philadelphia has struggled to defend.
Los Angeles already possesses the NFL's most productive offense in terms of yards, and the expected return of its All-Pro receiver could make that unit even more difficult to contain. Chicago may have provided the blueprint, but it will be up to the Rams to execute it against an Eagles defense looking for an immediate response. If Stafford gets time, the running game forces Philadelphia downhill, and McVay successfully creates hesitation with play-action and movement, Los Angeles could find favorable matchups throughout the afternoon. Week Four may ultimately reveal whether the Rams can turn an obvious defensive vulnerability into the type of offensive performance their massive yardage totals suggest is possible.
