The Los Angeles Rams suffered a dramatic 33-26 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, surrendering a 19-point second-half lead. Special teams proved decisive: Rams kicker Joshua Karty had two field goals blocked in the fourth quarter, including a final play returned 61 yards for a touchdown by Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis.
McVay Breaks Down the Breakdown
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After reviewing the film, Rams head coach Sean McVay pinpointed where the team faltered.
“If you’re looking at it from the kicking lens, over the left side next to the long snapper, we gave up just a little bit of penetration,” McVay explained. “Two of their big guys that are excellent being able to get some momentum, get up underneath, get penetration and be able to get their hands up. On both of those kicks, we were just a little bit high with our pad level, didn’t necessarily execute with the techniques and the fundamentals that we’re capable of. They ended up making those plays and they do a great job.”
McVay also noted the historical strength of the Eagles’ front line. “That’s a phase that they’ve always been strong with. You go back to even when Fletcher Cox was there, he was a big-time problem. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis have done an excellent job of making their presence felt, and it was unfortunate that that ended up occurring on two consecutive kicks. That would’ve been the difference in the game for us.”
From Titans to Eagles: Exploiting a Weak Side
The Rams had encountered similar issues just the week prior against the Tennessee Titans, when Arden Key blocked an extra point. In response, Los Angeles adjusted by placing starting right guard Kevin Dotson on that side of the field goal unit. However, the Eagles’ Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter noticed the opportunity.
“We just wanna make sure we was both together,” Davis said. “We both have a good push when we’re together. We needed to get our hands up, too. So many people push the pile and don’t get their hands up. When you got a guy that’s 6-4 and another one that’s 6-6, when we both push the pile and get our hands up, it’s a dangerous combination.”
Davis requested the alignment change after studying film from the Chiefs game, ensuring he and Carter lined up side by side. Their coordination paid off: Carter blocked Karty’s 36-yard attempt first, and later, Davis busted through the line, blocked the low kick, and returned it for a game-winning touchdown.
Heroics and History
Davis’ 61-yard return made him the heaviest player in NFL history to return a blocked kick 50-plus yards for a touchdown. He reached 18.59 miles per hour on the run, showcasing the conditioning he’s maintained all season.
“He’s put in a lot of hard work this offseason,” running back Saquon Barkley said. “The shape he’s in, the way he battled in camp, and has battled this season, you love that. You love when guys put the work in, and they benefit from it.”
For the Rams, the missed kicks were a collective failure. McVay emphasized that field goal success relies on the unit as a whole: snap, hold, protection, and kick. The team now falls to 2-1, tied for second in the NFC West, with opponents already aware of exploitable vulnerabilities on special teams.
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