The Los Angeles Rams enter Week 3 with a chance to prove their fast start is no fluke. Standing in their way? An Eagles team that may be getting a critical piece of its passing attack back. Tight end Dallas Goedert returned to practice Wednesday after missing time with a knee injury, and his presence could tilt Sunday’s matchup in Philadelphia’s favor.
This game doubles as a playoff rematch, with the Eagles eliminating the Rams last January on their way to a Super Bowl victory. Both teams are 2-0, both have NFC title aspirations, and both understand this early-season clash could serve as a tone-setter.
Goedert’s Value to the Eagles Offense
Goedert has long been one of the most underappreciated tight ends in football. Even in what some considered a down year in 2024, he averaged 11.8 yards per reception and was a consistent red zone threat. In Philadelphia’s Super Bowl run, he led the team in receptions (17) and receiving yards (215).
When healthy, his connection with Jalen Hurts gives the Eagles another dimension. He led the team in targets and catches in Week 1 before the injury, and as one source noted, “The Eagles are a better team with him on the field.”
What That Means for the Rams’ Defense
The Rams defense has looked sharp early, ranking first in defensive EPA per play after handling Houston and Tennessee. But facing the Eagles is a different challenge altogether. Neither the Texans nor the Titans had a tight end who can stretch the seam the way Goedert does, nor a wide receiver as dominant as A.J. Brown operating from the slot.
That combination forces linebackers and safeties into difficult assignments. Double-team Brown, and Goedert finds space in the middle. Shade coverage toward the tight end, and Hurts punishes you with Brown or DeVonta Smith on the outside.
The Rams secondary, while experienced, has struggled in big moments before. Against Hurts and Philadelphia’s multi-layered passing attack, those mistakes could be costly.
Fangio vs. McVay: A Coaching Chess Match
The subplot of this matchup is as fascinating as the players on the field. Vic Fangio has been coaching defenses since 1986 and is known for disguises that frustrate quarterbacks into mistakes. Sean McVay, meanwhile, revamped his scheme after being stymied by Fangio-style defenses in the past, particularly in the Rams’ 13-3 Super Bowl loss to New England.
Fangio is 3-0 as a defensive play caller against McVay’s Rams, but this meeting feels different. With Hurts, Brown, and now Goedert healthy, the Eagles don’t need to win with scheme alone—they have the talent to overwhelm mismatches.
Can Stafford and the Rams Keep Pace?
Matthew Stafford has shown no ill effects from his back injury, and new arrival Davante Adams gives him another trusted weapon alongside Puka Nacua. The Rams offense is the oldest in the NFL by snap-weighted age, but experience remains its strength. If they can keep pace with Philadelphia’s firepower, Sunday could mirror last season’s playoff thriller, when Los Angeles nearly pulled off an upset in the final minutes.
Still, the looming question is whether the Rams defense can handle the stress Goedert and Brown create together. Houston and Tennessee couldn’t expose the cracks. Philadelphia just might.
Bottom Line
Nothing will be decided in Week 3, but for the Eagles, getting Goedert back means adding one of the NFL’s best two-way tight ends to an already loaded offense. For the Rams, it’s a chance to prove their defense is more than early-season hype.
If Goedert is healthy, his presence—combined with Brown’s ability to dominate from the slot—could doom the Rams defense in ways their first two opponents never could.
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