Preview: Eagles look to stay atop NFC against Rams

Goff meets Wentz

 For the first time the first overall selection and the second overall selection of the 2016 NFL Draft will battle it out. The Rams used the first selection that year on Jared Goff, who has followed up his disastrous rookie campaign with a stellar season throwing for over 3,000 yards with 20 touchdowns and a 98.4 rating. 

Of course the Eagles used the second pick that year on Carson Wentz. Wentz has had a truly remarkable sophomore campaign that has generated MVP buzz on the strength of his league-leading 29 touchdowns. 

With both players looking like future faces of the NFL, this meeting will serve as the first chapter in what figures to be a career-long rivalry. 

While Wentz opens one chapter of his career in this rivalry with Goff, Wentz also has a chance to add a chapter to Eagles History. With three more touchdowns Wentz will tie Sonny Jurgenson's franchise record for touchdown passes in a season. 

A Must Win for the Eagles

With excitement around Goff and Wentz's first meeting, there will also be plenty of excitement surrounding this game due to the impact it will have on the NFC playoff race. 

Currently the Minnesota Vikings (10-2) hold an edge on the Eagles for the top seed in the NFC – along with home-field advantage because of a "strength of victory" tiebreaker. 

With a win on Sunday the Eagles keep pace with the Vikings, or even surpass them in the event that the Vikings lose to the Carolina Panthers. 

A win  pushes the Rams down in the NFC standings, who currently sit one game behind the Eagles and Vikings. A win also clinches the NFC East for the Eagles. 

The New Orleans Saints (9-4) lost to the Atlanta Falcons (8-5) on Thursday night, helping the Eagles case for the first seed in the NFC. Now the Eagles need to help themselves. 

Home Field Advantage

 The last time that the Eagles visited Los Angeles was in week three this season when they visited the Chargers. In that game the amounts of Eagles fans that attended the game to outnumber the Chargers fans was astounding, and turned the game into an extra home game for the Eagles. 

It now appears that the Eagles will get their second additional home game of the season with reports flooding in that Eagles fans have taken over Los Angeles once again:

I have seen more Eagles fans in LA today than I have ever seen in Philadelphia. On every street corner, in every bar, a sea of green. Rams are about to get embarrassed. Believe it.

— Angelo Cataldi (@AngeloCataldi) December 9, 2017

My cousin was getting a rental car in LA and was asked where’s he from? He mentions Philly. The guy at the rental said that 85% of their business this weekend is coming from Philly. Also said, the Eagles fan invasion is similar to the Chargers game earlier this season.

— Kevin Negandhi (@KNegandhiESPN) December 7, 2017

The Eagles are 6-0 at home this season – and 7-0 if you count the Chargers game.

Injury Report

The Eagles have listed tight end Zach Ertz (concusison) and linebacker Joe Walker (neck) as quesitonable for the game. Ertz was limited in practice this week as he remains in the NFL's concussion protocol. 

Cornerback Dominique Hatfield (hip) is doubtful for the game. Outside linebackers Alec Ogletree (elbow) and Connor Barwin (forearm) and wide receiver Robert Woods (shoulder) are all questionable after missing practice earlier in the week before being limited participant in Friday's session. 

Broadcast Information

Time: 4:25 p.m.

Television: FOX | Play-by-Play by Joe Buck with color commentary by Troy Aikman and sideline reports from Erin Andrews

Radio: 94.1 FM WIP | Play-by-Play by Merrill Reese with color commentary by Mike Quick and sideline reports from Howard Eskin

Online: NFL Game Pass