As the NFL season hits the quarter pole on October 5, 2026, the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles find themselves at a crossroads. Both teams sit at 2-2, but their paths to this point couldn't be more different. The Rams, expected by many to be Super Bowl contenders, have stumbled out of the gate, while the Eagles, fresh off a Super Bowl victory two seasons ago, are reeling with injuries and inconsistent play. On Sunday, the Rams staged a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Eagles 24-20, leaving Philadelphia with more questions than answers.
Rams' Resilient Comeback Masks Offensive Woes
For three and a half quarters, the Rams looked lost. Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw two interceptions, including a costly pick late in the first half that allowed the Eagles to take a 17-10 lead into halftime. Stafford missed open receivers, including a deep shot to Davante Adams, and the offense sputtered. But when it mattered most, Stafford engineered two clutch drives in the final four minutes, both capped by Kyren Williams touchdowns. The defense held the Eagles to 0-for-12 on third downs, giving the offense a chance to steal the win. According to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, the Rams' ability to win ugly could be a turning point, but they must clean up their mistakes to truly contend.
Eagles' Injury Woes Deepen in Defeat
Philadelphia entered Sunday without top receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, then lost star running back Saquon Barkley to a hamstring injury in the second half. The offense managed just 172 total yards and failed to sustain drives, putting immense pressure on a defense that ultimately allowed 415 yards. Jalen Hurts, the Super Bowl MVP two seasons ago, has struggled mightily, and without his top playmakers, the Eagles' offense looks pedestrian. Head coach Nick Sirianni, once the toast of Philadelphia, now faces mounting criticism as his team drops its second straight game. As highlighted on Vulius, the Eagles' early-season struggles are a cause for concern, and with Barkley's status uncertain, the road ahead looks treacherous.
Week 4 Winners: Mahomes, Chism, Lamb Shine Bright
While the Rams and Eagles dominated headlines, several other players and teams made significant statements in Week 4. Patrick Mahomes continued his remarkable comeback from a torn ACL, throwing for 225 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to a 4-0 start with a 30-27 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. Mahomes looks like his old self, and the Chiefs are once again Super Bowl favorites. Efton Chism III, an undrafted receiver, made a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch to lift the New England Patriots over the Buffalo Bills, 29-26, keeping New England's AFC East hopes alive. CeeDee Lamb was unstoppable, hauling in 17 catches for 189 yards and the game-winning score as the Dallas Cowboys edged the Houston Texans, 34-30. Zay Flowers torched the Tennessee Titans for 119 first-half yards, helping the Baltimore Ravens build a 24-7 lead; they held on to win 24-18 despite losing Lamar Jackson to an ankle injury. The Jacksonville Jaguars, under head coach Liam Coen, improved to 3-1 with a gritty 22-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, showcasing a balanced attack and a stout defense. The Chicago Bears' defense continued its surprising resurgence, shutting down the New York Jets in a 23-12 victory.
Week 4 Losers: Herbert, Broncos Offense, Vikings' Scoring Woes
On the flip side, several teams and players had weeks to forget. Justin Herbert and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel are under fire as the Los Angeles Chargers fell to 0-4. Herbert threw two interceptions in a dismal first half against the Seattle Seahawks, finishing with a passer rating of 4.8 at halftime. The Chargers' offense has been a disaster under McDaniel, and Herbert's struggles are alarming. The Denver Broncos' offense, with Davis Webb calling plays, has been abysmal for six of eight halves this season; they didn't score a touchdown until late in a 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The Minnesota Vikings are 4-0 but have scored just one touchdown in the last three weeks; kicker Will Reichard has been their only offense. Kyler Murray has yet to find a rhythm, and with Justin Jefferson banged up, the Vikings' luck may run out. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, without Baker Mayfield, turned to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, who couldn't rally them in a 17-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Jacoby Brissett threw three interceptions, including a 98-yard pick-six, as the Arizona Cardinals fell to 1-3. And Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is on the hot seat after a 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, compounded by injuries to Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.
Looking Ahead: What's Next for the Rams and Eagles?
The Rams may have saved their season with Sunday's comeback, but they can't rely on late heroics every week. Stafford must protect the ball better, and the offense needs to find consistency. The Eagles, meanwhile, are in danger of letting their season slip away. With Barkley's hamstring injury potentially sidelining him for weeks, Philadelphia must find a way to generate offense without its top weapons. Hurts needs to elevate his play, and Sirianni must steady the ship before it capsizes. As the NFL season progresses, the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk will continue to monitor these developments, providing in-depth coverage and analysis for football fans everywhere.
Looking to represent Matthew Stafford? Grab your Matthew Stafford jersey or design a personalized custom nfl jerseys at Vulius.
