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Spadaro: Vic Fangio knows a 'tough assignment' awaits vs. Rams on Sunday

From the players to the personnel groupings, the veteran coordinator scouts the Los Angeles offense.

Jalen Carter (98) and Moro Ojomo pressure Rams QB Matthew Stafford during last year's win over Los Angeles.
Jalen Carter (98) and Moro Ojomo pressure Rams QB Matthew Stafford during last year's win over Los Angeles.

On to the next. That's the mindset of an Eagles team working on a short week with a very good Los Angeles Rams team coming to town on Sunday afternoon. And nobody understands that better than Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio.

He is familiar with quarterback Matthew Stafford, understands the eye candy Head Coach Sean McVay uses as the mastermind of a high-powered offense, and knows that the Rams intertwine their personnel packages as creatively as any team in the NFL.

So, yeah, all the focus is on Sunday and beating the Rams with the best defensive performance of the season. That is the requirement.

"They're really good. Not counting their San Francisco game in Australia (a loss that opened their 2026 regular season), their last three games going back to the NFC Championship Game, they've gotten 500 yards in all three games against Seattle, the Giants, and Denver. Three good defenses. That in and of itself explains to you what the chore is we have," Fangio said on Wednesday afternoon. "They run it very well. They stay committed to the run and they've got a really good play-action game off of it that they marry very well to the run game. You've got Stafford at quarterback, guy's going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Got the weapons and the tight ends that they have and they're probably having (Rams wide receiver Puka) Nacua back this week.

"So yeah, it's a tough assignment because they're balanced and they run and throw it very effectively."

Adding to the challenge is another star weapon, wide receiver Davante Adams. All he's done in the last two weeks is catch 15 passes for 332 yards and two touchdowns. He pairs with Nacua to present a dynamic 1-2 receiving combination.

"He's got size, number one. He's quick and a really good releaser off the ball," Fangio said of Adams. "He knows how to body up DBs and get himself an advantage one way or the other. With a quarterback like Stafford, that's all you need."

Another unique part of the Rams' offensive approach is the way they use their personnel: Los Angeles sends out a 13 personnel package – one running back, three tight ends, more than any team in the league (42.2 percent, 84 total snaps per NFL Next Gen Stats). They use the tight ends as pass catchers and in-line blockers, so the Rams can run or pass effectively in that grouping.

All of this is nothing new, of course. Fangio and the Eagles have seen the Rams three times in the last two seasons and have emerged victorious in all three games. Fangio finds a way. It is never easy, but the Eagles have adjusted, and they will have to do the same on Sunday.

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