The Los Angeles Rams defense got embarrassed by one of the league’s best running backs when they played the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football this week.
Rams Stomped By Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley single-handedly destroyed the Rams’ defense — putting up 255 yards on the ground and another 47 through the air. Barkley is the only player in 15 years to rush for that many yards in a single game and now has the 9th most single-game rushing yards of all time. It is just the 12th time in NFL history that a player has gone for more than 300 total yards from scrimmage.
The Rams’ defense of late has been receiving plenty of praise and the player getting the lion’s share of the recognition is their 2024 first-round pick, Jared Verse. Verse is currently the front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year, blowing away nearly every competitor. He is even starting to get some attention as a potential Defensive Player of the Year.
Verse’s 49 pressures are light years beyond the next best rookie defender and are eight most among all NFL defenders.
Jared Verse Has His Day
But every dog must have his day. And Verse had his against Barkley and the Eagles offense.
“[Barkley’s] a different type of player,” Verse said. “I’ve never seen a running back like that. Like I said beforehand, he can go downhill, he can bounce. And he did both of those on us.”
And it wasn’t just Barkley that put Verse on his heels, the Eagles’ offensive line held him to just one pressure. Previously, his lowest pressure amount was three in a game. He had been averaging nearly five per game.
Despite being nearly shut out as a pass rusher, Verse’s one pressure was impressive, as he was able to burst up under veteran left tackle Jordan Mailata before he could set his feet, which sent Mailata flying onto his backside.
Verse was able to make an impact in other ways. He matched his career-high tackle total with seven and made four STOPS.
Verse will look to bounce back against the New Orleans Saints next weekend where he will face Alvin Kamara in the backfield.
