PHILADELPHIA -- — The talk of the Rams 33-26 defeat is mostly about the team’s collapse after holding a 26-7 lead in the third quarter.
Los Angles looked like a team that was on the brink of picking up a statement victory over the defending champs which would’ve pushed them to the top of the NFC. Many pundits would’ve possibly moved them ahead of Philadelphia as early favorites to win the conference with the win.
It didn’t happen but it doesn’t mean the worse for the team.
We learned that once again this Rams’ team is able to compete with the Philadelphia Eagles and will be a team to be reckoned with as long as they stay healthy.
If there is any positive to take away from this tough loss is the fact that the duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams might just be the very best wide receiver tandem in the league.
Coming into the season the top of most “top wide receiver duos” list consisted of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Minnesota Vikings Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and the Eagles’ A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith as being the best duos in the NFL. Clearly overlooking what Los Angeles’ new duo would be capable to do.
So far this season, it has been Nacua & Adams who has outclassed them all.
In the first three games, the newly formed tandem has combined to catch 42 passes for 546 yards and two touchdowns (both by Adams). Nacua has visited the end zone once this season with his 45-yard touchdown run against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2.
Adams, first 100-yard game in a Rams uniform in Week 2 placed him alongside elite company as he joined Antonio Brown, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall and Jimmy Smith for the 11th most in such games in NFL history with 46. Only Julio Jones with 47 has had more 100-yard games than Adams since 2014.
Through three weeks, Nacua has looked like the best player on the entire Rams roster. He leads the NFL in catches (29) and yards (333) while being quarterback Matthew Stafford’s safety blanket. Whenever a big play is needed in the passing game it has been Nacua’s number called. The third-year player out of BYU finished the Eagles game as the highest graded offensive player with a score of 83.8.
Nacua & Adams has been leaned upon heavily in the Rams passing offense. They account for 66% of the team receptions and have been targeted 64 out of the 93 attempted passes by Stafford.
On Sunday, Nacua finished with 11 catches for 112 yards while Adams recorded three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Though the Rams walked away with a shocking loss to the Eagles on Sunday. Like Philadelphia, Los Angeles can lean on their two star receivers to push them forward in a multiple wins to come this season.