Kellen Moore: Eagles offense looking for more

Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore acknowledges that Sunday’s offensive output against Green Bay “wasn’t our best performance” and is looking for a cleaner, more productive game this week against the Rams.

“The exciting part for us is how we navigate that,” Moore said.

The first time the Eagles played the Rams, Philadelphia ran for more than 300 yards and running back Saquon Barkley gained 255 yards – including touchdown runs of 70 and 72 yards. Los Angeles, no doubt, will be focused on No. 26.

“Saquon had a great day out there. Long time between those two games,” Moore said. “They’re playing as well as any defense in the league right now and they’re playing really confidently, so they will stress us in a lot of different ways and there will be challenges associated with our run game based off of them having that film and the film that they’ve put out for the last month and a half, which is really, really impressive. It will be a challenge.”

Los Angeles dominated Minnesota on Monday night and overwhelmed the Vikings with nine sacks of quarterback Sam Darnold, a fumble return for a touchdown, and a clamping down of Minnesota’s formidable weapons in the passing game.

The Los Angeles front four is “as good as it gets” in the NFL in terms of rushing the quarterback, Moore said, so the Eagles want to stay in front of the sticks and not put quarterback Jalen Hurts in obvious third-and-long situations.

Moore praised the performance on Sunday from tight end Dallas Goedert, who had four catches – including one that he turned into a wham-bam touchdown catch and run – and who was effective, Moore said, blocking in the running game.

“His blocking in the run game was huge, it was incredible,” Moore said. “His ability to block on those edges against some really, really good defensive ends in this league, really challenging matchups. I thought that was really one of the secret sauces that made his game so special on Sunday.”

Special teams unit opens with a bang on Sunday

Special Teams Coordinator Michael Clay couldn’t hide his excitement seeing Oren Burks delivering a crunching tone-setting message on the opening kickoff of Sunday’s win over Green Bay. It was the kind of play, Clay said, that his crew lives for.

“Huge,” he said. “Absolutely huge.”

Clay used some new combinations on kick coverage on Sunday – including adding starter Nolan Smith, who made a big tackle on kickoff returner Keisean Nixon – and the coverage units were outstanding. “All hands on deck,” Clay said. “There is no next game if you lose. We’re always trying to put our best 11 out there.”

Rams punter Ethan Evans ranked second in the NFL during the regular season in inside the 20-yard line punts, dropping 54.5 percent of his punts deep inside opponents’ territory. The Rams also had three kickoff returns of 40-plus yards on the season, tying for third most in the NFL during the regular season, three blocked field goals, and a blocked punt.

So, as always, there is a lot to prepare for on Sunday in the NFC Divisional Round Playoff game.

“Very good special teams unit,” Clay said. “It’s going to be a tough match. They’re playing really well, especially since the last time we’ve played them.”