The Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles have quietly built one of the NFL’s most gripping rivalries. Their recent clashes have been defined by bruising defense, explosive plays, and nail-biting finishes that leave lasting marks on both sides. With another showdown looming on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET, the spotlight naturally falls on two central figures.
One is Matthew Stafford, the veteran quarterback determined to push his Rams over the top. And the second one: Jalen Carter, the disruptive defensive tackle who has already left his fingerprints on the outcome of their biggest games. In the buildup to the upcoming meeting at Lincoln Financial Field, Stafford has opened up about Eagles DT Jalen Carter. He has also talked about the challenge of facing an Eagles defense that thrives on interior pressure and game-changing moments.
Matthew Stafford Gets Honest on Jalen Carter
When the Rams’ star QB was in conversation with the Emmy award-winning reporter Jim Gray, the conversation gained extra fuel earlier this season when Carter was ejected from Philadelphia’s opener against Dallas after spitting toward Dak Prescott during a heated confrontation. That incident raised questions about Carter’s temperament.
During a recent appearance on Let’s Go! with Jim Gray, the rivalry between two stars took center stage. Gray prodded Stafford with a tongue-in-cheek question: “Jalen Carter made a big play on you. He’s going to be out there again. You’re going to try and get him to spit on you. So perhaps you’ll get thrown out of the game.” Stafford’s answer balanced dry humor with genuine respect.
Matthew Stafford said, “You know what? I’ll tell you what, if he doesn’t want to play and wants to do something like that, that’s fine with me. No, he’s a heck of a football player.” The veteran QB also added, “Jalen Carter, he’s a special talent. He’s somebody that, on that defense, you have to know where he is on every single play. We tried to do our best both times we played them.” And lastly said, “I’m sure he’s used to that treatment. He understands it. He’s a special player. And if he wants to take himself out of the game, that’s fine with me.” That response captures the heart of the feud.
Matthew Stafford vs Jalen Carter
Stafford knows Carter is a player who can tilt the balance of a game. He also knows that keeping his composure while Carter pushes boundaries is part of the challenge. But this is not just talk. In last season’s NFC Divisional Playoff meeting, Stafford threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns. But the Rams’ comeback hopes were crushed when Carter’s sack on third down helped shut down a final red-zone drive. Lately, Philadelphia somehow escaped with a 28–22 win, but Carter cemented himself as a problem the Rams could not solve at that time.
The regular season had already provided a preview of that outcome. In Week 12, Philadelphia’s 37–20 victory was fueled by Saquon Barkley’s 255-yard rushing explosion. But it was the pressure up front, which Jalen Carter and the team led. Even when Stafford found rhythm, throwing for over 243 yards with multiple scores, the Eagles’ defense dictated his tempo and momentum.
So, when the two teams met again in January, the story followed the same arc. Stafford performed well, but Carter and the defense made the plays that mattered most in crunch time.
What makes this rivalry compelling is not just Carter’s dominance. Stafford has consistently moved the ball against Philadelphia, often eclipsing 300 passing yards. But turnovers, sacks, and untimely defensive stands have swung the outcomes. The Eagles thrive on shrinking the field in big moments, and Carter is often the one applying the pressure that forces mistakes. Against Philadelphia, small margins decide games, and Stafford has felt that more than once.
Eagles vs Rams: Another Battle on the Way
As the two teams prepare to clash again on Sept. 21, 2025, the stakes are obvious. For the Rams, it is a chance to prove they can finally break through against one of the league’s toughest defenses. While for Stafford and the Rams, it is another duel with a young star who has already shaped his postseason story.
And importantly, for Carter, it is another opportunity to show that his presence at the line of scrimmage can change not just drives, but entire seasons. This rivalry may still be young, but it has already produced defining moments. With Stafford and Carter at the center of it, the next chapter promises to be every bit as exciting.