In a gut-wrenching 33-26 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams didn’t hold back his frustration, delivering a fiery four-word message that echoed through the locker room: “I hate the Eagles.” The defeat dropped the Rams to 2-1, trailing the San Francisco 49ers by a game in the NFC West, but it’s clear this rivalry runs deeper than just one scoreboard.
The Rams had surged to a commanding 26-7 lead early in the third quarter, only to watch their advantage slip away. The Eagles’ defense turned the tide in the fourth, blocking two potential go-ahead field goals, including a dramatic game-ender by defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who returned the blocked kick for a touchdown that sealed the Rams’ fate. The play was a classic “big man” moment, but for Williams and the Rams, it was a bitter pill to swallow.
This wasn’t just about one game. The sting of this loss carries the weight of history. Last season, the Rams pushed the Eagles to the brink in a snowy playoff showdown in Philadelphia, only to fall short in the divisional round. The Eagles marched on to Super Bowl glory, while the Rams were left to regroup. Now, with this latest defeat, Williams’ words signal a grudge that’s far from forgotten—a spark that could ignite a fierce rematch down the road.
In the locker room, Williams didn’t dwell on the pain. Instead, he channeled it into resolve. “I think it’s just stay connected, don’t hurt ourselves when we get down there [to the red zone],” he said, reflecting on the team’s missed opportunities. “But I don’t really like to stress over stuff that’s so early on in the season. We got so much more work to do, so much more time to continue to keep growing and being better.”
Williams sees this loss as a crucible for growth. “As a man, you run to adversity. As a team, like I said, as the people in this locker room, we run to that, we accept it,” he declared. “I’m more hungry now than ever, because I hate the Eagles. But they’re putting us through something that we need to get put through.” His words carry a raw edge, blending respect for the challenge with an unyielding drive to overcome it.
The running back’s optimism is infectious. “I’m glad that it’s happening this early in the season because it’s only going to make us for later on,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen when it comes to those times in the playoffs when we need to dig down deep and find ourselves. Every man in this locker room is going to be able to do that now because of this experience here.”
Could this be a preview of the NFC Championship? The Rams and Eagles have emerged as two of the conference’s heavyweights early in the season, and their clashes have been nothing short of electrifying. While teams like the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions may have their say, the intensity of this matchup suggests a collision course for January.
The Eagles, riding high off their Super Bowl triumph, have proven they can handle the Rams in critical moments. But Williams and the Rams aren’t backing down. “We’re going to just keep punching that clock and going to work,” he vowed, his words a promise that the next meeting will be different.
For now, the Eagles hold the edge, but Williams’ fiery warning has set the stage for a rivalry that’s only getting started. With a chip on their shoulder and a hunger for redemption, the Rams are ready to run toward adversity—and straight through Philadelphia when the time comes.