The Philadelphia Eagles fell to 2-2 in the 2026 NFL season after surrendering a fourth-quarter lead in a heartbreaking 24-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia built a 20-10 halftime lead on two touchdown receptions from Darius Cooper, but the Eagles’ offense stalled in the second half as Los Angeles scored 14 unanswered points to complete the comeback win.
The Eagles entered the game hoping to bounce back from a brutal 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 3. The Eagles also dealt with several significant injuries, including wide receiver DeVonta Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert, and linebacker Zack Baun. Right tackle Lane Johnson was also ruled inactive shortly before kickoff, forcing rookie Markel Bell into his first career start, and Bell helped the team on the offensive line throughout the game.
Philadelphia opened the game with a strong defensive performance. Safety Andrew Mukuba recorded his first career interception when he picked off Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford early in the first quarter. The turnover gave Philadelphia favorable field position and helped set up the Eagles for a scoring drive. The Eagles capitalized when kicker Jake Elliott connected on a 29-yard field goal to give Philadelphia a 3-0 lead. The Rams answered later in the quarter with a 40-yard field goal from Harrison Mevis, tying the game at 3-3.
Philadelphia’s offense continued to struggle moving the ball consistently, but Elliott gave the Eagles another lead in the second quarter. The veteran kicker connected on a 56-yard field goal, putting Philadelphia ahead 6-3. The biggest offensive play of the first half came when quarterback Jalen Hurts connected with Cooper for an 18-yard touchdown. Cooper made an impressive contested catch against the Rams secondary, giving Philadelphia a 13-3 advantage and providing the Eagles with a much-needed spark.
Los Angeles responded with a touchdown of its own when wide receiver Puka Nacua scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown. Nacua’s score cut Philadelphia’s lead to 13-10 and gave the Rams momentum heading toward halftime. Philadelphia answered with perhaps its best offensive sequence of the afternoon. With only seconds remaining in the second quarter, Hurts found Cooper again, this time for a 10-yard touchdown. The score came with just three seconds remaining before halftime, giving the Eagles a 20-10 advantage heading into the locker room.
Cooper was one of Philadelphia’s biggest bright spots throughout the game. With Smith out with a hamstring injury, Cooper stepped into a larger role, finishing with three receptions for 33 yards and two touchdowns. His two scores accounted for all of Philadelphia’s touchdowns on the afternoon.
The third quarter was a completely different story for the Eagles’ offense. Philadelphia failed to score in the quarter, struggling to sustain drives against the Rams defense. The Eagles also failed to convert any of their 12 third-down opportunities, a major reason the Rams controlled the second half. Los Angeles slowly chipped away at Philadelphia’s lead. Rams running back Kyren Williams became increasingly important as the game progressed, giving the Rams a reliable option on the ground and through the passing game.
Williams eventually scored his first of two fourth-quarter touchdowns on a one-yardrunn, cutting Philadelphia’s lead to 20-17. The Rams had suddenly turned the game into a one-score contest with plenty of time remaining. Philadelphia had an opportunity to put the game away when the offense reached the Rams’ two-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Head coach Nick Sirianni elected to go for the touchdown on fourth down rather than attempt a field goal, but Hurts’ pass to Cooper fell incomplete. The missed opportunity proved costly.
Los Angeles took over and marched down the field on a long drive that ended with Williams scoring his second fourth-quarter touchdown. Williams found the end zone on a seven-yard run, giving the Rams their first lead of the afternoon at 24-20. Philadelphia had one final chance to respond, but the offense couldn’t mount a comeback. The Rams defense continued to pressure Hurts and prevented the Eagles from producing another late-game drive like the ones Philadelphia had executed earlier in the season.
Hurts finished the game completing 12 of 27 passes for only 93 yards and two touchdowns. He did not throw an interception, but the Eagles’ inability to consistently move the ball through the air became one of the biggest reasons Philadelphia could not hold onto its 10-point halftime lead.
The Eagles’ running game produced despite the offense’s overall struggles. With Saquon Barkley leaving the game with a hamstring issue, the backups couldn’t help as much this week; Tank Bigsby had 14 carries for 55 yards, while Will Shipley added six carries for 23 yards. Hurts contributed 18 rushing yards on five carries. Philadelphia’s receiving corps was forced to operate without Smith and Marquise Brown, leaving the Eagles extremely thin at wide receiver. Stepping up, Cooper was able to help out the most in this game with 3 receptions for 33 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rookie Makai Lemon also had three receptions for 27 yards, while Dontayvion Wicks finished with three receptions for 18 yards. Veteran tight end Zach Ertz also recorded two receptions for 13 yards.
The Eagles’ defense played well for much of the afternoon but ultimately wore down in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia intercepted Stafford twice, with Mukuba and Cooper DeJean each recording a pick. However, Stafford kept attacking the Eagles through the air and finished with 317 passing yards. Nacua was the Rams’ biggest offensive weapon in his return. He caught nine passes for 125 yards, giving Stafford a consistent target throughout the game. Williams added 80 rushing yards and two touchdowns while also catching 10 passes for 67 yards, making him one of the most important players in the Rams’ comeback.
Philadelphia also lost several defensive players during the game. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell left with a knee issue, and defensive end Jonathan Greenard was also forced out. Cooper DeJean was evaluated in the medical tent but returned to the game. The loss was especially frustrating because Philadelphia had several opportunities to put the game away. The Eagles led 20-10 at halftime, forced two Stafford interceptions and controlled the game for much of the first half. However, the offense produced zero points in the third and fourth quarters and failed to convert on all 12 third-down attempts. The Eagles finished with only 172 total yards compared to 415 for Los Angeles. Philadelphia managed just 68 passing yards and 104 rushing yards, while the Rams produced 309 net passing yards and 106 rushing yards.
The fourth-quarter collapse highlighted some of the same offensive concerns that have followed Philadelphia throughout the early portion of the season. The Eagles have shown flashes of offensive production, but they have struggled to maintain consistency for four quarters in this week’s game.
For Philadelphia, the most important takeaway from the loss is that the team must find a way to finish games. After building a 20-10 lead, the Eagles couldn’t generate a single point in the second half. The defense gave the offense multiple opportunities, but the lack of third-down success and inability to sustain drives ultimately allowed the Rams to complete the comeback. The Eagles now fall to 2-2 on the season after starting the year with consecutive victories over Washington and Tennessee. Philadelphia has now lost two straight games, including a 27-7 defeat against Chicago in Week 3 and Sunday’s 24-20 loss to Los Angeles.
Philadelphia will have to regroup quickly before its next matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, and the team will likely discuss game-time situations while looking back at film. The Eagles will need to monitor the health of Barkley, Mitchell, and Greenard while also hoping Smith and Goedert can eventually return to the lineup. Despite the disappointing loss, Philadelphia remains in position to turn its season around. However, the Eagles will need significantly better offensive execution, especially on third down, if they want to return to the level expected of a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
Eagles vs. Rams Team Statistics
| Statistic | Eagles | Rams |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 20 | 24 |
| Total Yards | 172 | 415 |
| Passing Yards | 68 | 309 |
| Rushing Yards | 104 | 106 |
| First Downs | 12 | 26 |
| Third Down | 0/12 | 7/16 |
| Fourth Down | 1/4 | 1/2 |
| Turnover | 0 | 2 |
| Penalties | 10-57 | 8-100 |
| Time of Possession | 28:00 | 32:00 |
Final: Los Angeles Rams 24, Philadelphia Eagles 20. The Eagles fall to 2-2, while the Rams improve to 2-2. Philadelphia will now look to end its two-game losing streak when it travels to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5.
