The Aporia · Rams' special teams progress will be tested in Philly after Eagles blocked 2 field goals last year

Rams' special teams progress will be tested in Philly after Eagles blocked 2 field goals last year

Read the original at Toronto Star ↗

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APA MLA Chicago

Greenspan, D. (2026, October 2). Rams' special teams progress will be tested in Philly after Eagles blocked 2 field goals last year. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/rams-special-teams-progress-will-be-tested-in-philly-after-eagles-blocked-2-field-goals-last-year/article_8810779e-ae9d-5c55-bdb4-00593fcb7cd0.html

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Quick Summary

The Los Angeles Rams face their biggest special teams test yet when they visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, revisiting the site where the Eagles blocked two field goals last year, leading to a crucial loss for the Rams. Following that defeat, coach Sean McVay made significant changes including hiring new coordinator Bubba Ventrone and signing key players like kicker Harrison Mevis and long snapper Joe Cardona. Despite these moves, the Rams’ special teams have shown inconsistent performance in their first three games of 2025, highlighting the urgency for improvement against a strong Eagles defensive line that caused issues last season.

Written by AI on 2026-10-02, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Los Angeles Rams saved their season with a last-minute 24-20 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The Rams, trailing 20-10 late in the fourth quarter and facing an opponent they hadn't beaten since 2020, rallied behind quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Kyren Williams. Williams scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes to secure the win. Head coach Sean McVay addressed his team on the sideline, urging them to believe in their capabilities. The victory improved the Rams' record to 2-2 and halted a four-game losing streak against the Eagles. Stafford completed seven passes during a 98-yard drive that cut the lead to three points with less than four minutes remaining. Following another defensive stop, the Rams executed a 79-yard game-winning drive capped by Williams' final touchdown run with 1:10 left on the clock. This comeback could significantly impact their playoff aspirations and momentum moving forward.

Written for “Rams Stage Comeback Against Eagles” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 9 other(s) covering the same event.

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How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

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sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

0 of 26 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

64/100

Toronto Star's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

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articles that frame the event the way this one does

Analyzed 2026-10-02 · how these are computed

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Who wrote this

Dan Greenspan

27 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 “I feel for the defense, I feel for the team, and nobody feels worse.” Coach Jim Harbaugh said McDaniel will continue to oversee the offense, which came in as the lowest-scoring unit in the NFL at 15 points per game and only meaningfully threatened to reach the end zone on a Hail Mary throw from Herbert at the end of the first half.

2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Chargers' reeling offense offers up more of the same coming out of bye week

🔮 Veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks will be called up from the practice squad in Landman’s absence.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · WR Puka Nacua and CB Trent McDuffie are questionable vs. Raiders as Rams' injuries pile up

🔮 And if the problem is solely about scheme, there would be limited options to replace McDaniel, who was hired in January.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · Jim Harbaugh looking for answers in all aspects of the Chargers' struggling offense

🔮 Turning to Ethan as the kicker would necessitate additional changes to the operation since he’s the regular holder.

2026-10-18 · assertive framing · Rams kicker Blake Grupe injures knee vs. Cardinals in first game with new team

🔮 At 0-5 and with no signs of help on the way, it doesn’t look like things will be getting easier for Herbert any time soon.

2026-10-12 · assertive framing · Justin Herbert seems no longer able to elevate Chargers' inept and injured offense

🔮 Allen is decidedly less enjoyable to try to defend, as the other side of the ball for the Rams (2-2) will have to do in their showdown with the Bills (3-1) on Monday night.

2026-10-09 · assertive framing · Bills' 'one-of-a-kind' Josh Allen offers challenge for Rams' defensive progress on Monday night

🔮 He also showed his typical toughness in run blocking, helping pave the way for another strong performance by running back Kyren Williams as he scored twice in the final four minutes to give Los Angeles a potentially season-salvaging victory.

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Puka Nacua shows he's still the catalyst of the Rams' offense in comeback win after injury absence

🔮 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Donald will miss the Rams’ game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday because of a sore back, while Puka Nacua will return after missing two games because of a hip and groin injury.

2026-10-02 · assertive framing · Aaron Donald out, Puka Nacua returns for Rams' game against Eagles on Sunday

🔮 After coach Sean McVay put a heightened emphasis on addressing those issues, including bringing in a new special teams coordinator, upgrading personnel and devoting more time to the unit, the progress of that newfound commitment will be tested in a return visit to eastern Pennsylvania on Sunday.

2026-10-02 · assertive framing · Rams' special teams progress will be tested in Philly after Eagles blocked 2 field goals last year

🔮 McVay expressed optimism Nacua could return this week after missing two games because of a hip and groin injury.

2026-09-29 · assertive framing · Injuries are piling up for the slow-starting Rams, but Puka Nacua could return this week

Also by Dan Greenspan

Chargers' reeling offense offers up more of the same coming out of bye week

2026-11-02 · Toronto Star

Tage Thompson scores twice as Sabres extend road point streak to 7 with 3-2 win over Kings

2026-10-31 · Toronto Star

WR Puka Nacua and CB Trent McDuffie are questionable vs. Raiders as Rams' injuries pile up

2026-10-23 · Toronto Star

Jim Harbaugh looking for answers in all aspects of the Chargers' struggling offense

2026-10-19 · Toronto Star

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 27 articles by Dan Greenspan →

Topics

Eagles LOS ANGELES Philadelphia Rams The Los Angeles Rams’

Subjects

McVay PERSON · 5× Ventrone PERSON · 4× Mevis PERSON · 3× Eagles ORG · 2× Philadelphia GPE · 2× Rams ORG · 2× LOS ANGELES GPE · 1× Pennsylvania GPE · 1× Sean McVay PERSON · 1× The Los Angeles Rams’ ORG · 1×

Narrative

After coach Sean McVay put a heightened emphasis on addressing those issues, including bringing in a new special teams coordinator, upgrading personnel and devoting more time to the unit, the progress of that newfound commitment will be tested in a return visit to eastern Pennsylvania on Sunday.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-02

2026-10-02 · Toronto Star

Rams' special teams progress will be tested in Philly after Eagles blocked 2 field goals last year · assertive framing

Claims (26 extracted, 0 hedged)

The Los Angeles Rams’ 2025 special teams woes started in Philadelphia when the Eagles blocked two field goals, one on the last play of the game that was run back for a touchdown, in a 33-26 loss. asserted

that → start → loss

progress → put → Sunday

“This is a great challenge,” McVay said. asserted

McVay → say → ?

“You look at it every single week, you take anything for granted and you get humbled real quickly.” asserted

you → look → anything

Continued struggles following the defeat by Philadelphia led to McVay making multiple in-season changes. asserted

McVay → continue → changes

He brought in a new kicker, Harrison Mevis, prior to Week 10. asserted

He → bring → Week

Special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn was let go days after a punt return sparked the Seahawks’ comeback that swung the NFC West race and home-field advantage. asserted

that → let → race

Following more critical breakdowns in the NFC championship game loss that ended the Rams’ season, McVay hired Bubba Ventrone in January following successful stints in Cleveland and Indianapolis. asserted

McVay → follow → Cleveland

Linebacker Grant Stuard, one of the NFL’s top special teams contributors, and long snapper Joe Cardona were signed in free agency, with each having previous experience playing under Ventrone. asserted

each → sign → Ventrone

McVay also reallocated time to practicing special teams in training camp and now into the regular season. asserted

McVay → reallocate → season

“I think it’s just a change of culture and just knowing that we got to (do) a better job in special teams all around,” Mevis said. asserted

Mevis → think → teams

“Like, everything’s a process, and it’s just doing the little things right. asserted

it → ’ → things

It comes down to that. asserted

It → come → that

And when we start doing little things right, we’re gonna see a lot of good things come out of special teams.” asserted

lot → start → teams

Mevis missed his first field-goal attempt of the season against the Giants but made all four tries in a loss to the Broncos on Sunday night. asserted

Mevis → miss → night

Ventrone described return specialist Xavier Smith’s play as “inconsistent” but also ruled out replacing him right now. asserted

Ventrone → describe → him

A penalty on punt coverage led to a re-kick that gifted Denver 39 yards in field position. asserted

that → lead → position

Ventrone wants more elevation and hang time from punter Ethan Evans. asserted

Ventrone → want → Evans

“I’d say we’re getting better game to game,” Ventrone said. asserted

Ventrone → say → game

“I think that the players are becoming more comfortable with my coaching style and, I would say, expectations, and trying to apply our techniques and corrections to the next game, so I think that’s been a good thing over the first three weeks.” asserted

that → think → weeks

The biggest challenge this week will likely come from the defensive tackle tandem of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, whose heavy hands and disruptive presences each resulted in a blocked kick in the fourth quarter in last season’s game. asserted

hands → come → game

Davis took his 61 yards for a exclamation point score after the Eagles (2-1) rallied from a 19-point deficit. asserted

Eagles → take → deficit

Mevis said blocked field goals are usually the result of low-trajectory kicks or slow execution on the timing of the sequence, “so those two things are a focus, and they’re always a focus. asserted

they → say → sequence

But I know I have one of the faster ops in the league. asserted

I → know → league

I’ve always had a faster op, so I feel like I’m at an advantage there.” asserted

I → have → advantage

“Because of their interior defensive line and the way they do it, they always have a great field goal rush so that certainly is not anything we’re taking for granted,” McVay said. asserted

McVay → do → rush