Block it out: Rams know they must shake off their gut-punch loss to Eagles with big challenges ahead

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams are facing the conundrum of the comeback loss.

They must decide whether to feel good about the first-half effort Sunday that allowed them to take a 19-point lead on the defending Super Bowl champions early in the third quarter — or to feel bad about the mistakes and shortcomings that allowed the Philadelphia Eagles to come all the way to back to beat them in catastrophic fashion.

The Rams (2-1) dominated the first 31 minutes, prompting Philly fans to boo their own team. Los Angeles got dominated for the final 29 minutes, giving up 26 unanswered points in a 33-26 defeat.

The Rams still could have won on the final snap, but Philadelphia broke through LA's line and blocked a field-goal attempt by Joshua Karty for the second time in the fourth quarter.

The season is probably still too new for the Rams to get staggered by one gut punch, but they've received an early reminder that they have to be better to beat the best teams.

"We just won't have an undefeated season, but other than that, we played a great game,” running back Blake Corum said Monday. "If we capitalized on a couple more plays, we win. But no excuses."

The lead was the biggest ever blown by the Rams during their nine successful seasons under coach Sean McVay, who had been 31-0 with a lead of 17 points or more in the second half. Los Angeles had scored on six straight possessions while holding the Eagles scoreless on five straight full possessions before the collapse began: The Rams didn't score the final four times they touched the ball, while the Eagles put four touchdowns on the board.

McVay and the Rams all believe they can recover from this setback while drawing strength from their success in the first half — particularly at the line of scrimmage, where they've steadily improved their effort despite losing three times to Philadelphia over their past 12 games since November 2024.

"Give credit where credit is due, (and) they're a well-coached, well-organized group, but we don't believe they beat us — we believe we beat ourselves," said Rams safety Jaylen McCollough, who had a dramatic sack of Jalen Hurts. “That's really how the game goes, especially in the NFL.”

The Rams' defense actually stopped Saquon Barkley, who tore them up twice last season. He managed just 46 yards on 18 carries. Los Angeles' front seven did a great job filling holes and keeping Barkley off the second level. The effort was encouraging after inconsistent run defense in the first two weeks.

The Rams' decision to stand pat with last season's secondary remains highly questionable after Hurts and his star pass-catchers exploited those defensive backs for 203 yards passing and three touchdowns in the second half alone. The defensive front didn't help by struggling to pressure Hurts, but the Rams still don't appear to have a Super Bowl-caliber secondary, particularly after losing Ahkello Witherspoon to a broken collarbone last week.

Despite the two late blocks largely caused by line breakdowns, Karty made four earlier field goals — and he has mastered the NFL’s new kickoff rules by repeatedly dropping his kicks into the opponents’ final 20 yards, forcing them to return it or to take the ball at their 20. The Rams lead the league in opponents’ average starting field position.

The offensive line made major mistakes against perhaps the best defensive front in the league. Center Coleman Shelton's holding penalty in the second quarter took a touchdown off the board and forced LA to kick a field goal, while backup guard Beaux Limmer was on the spot for a few big plays by Philly, including the final blocked field goal.

McVay isn't sure whether left guard Steve Avila will return from a two-game absence with an ankle injury. Right guard Kevin Dotson is also still hobbling, which led to Limmer's playing time.

0 — Davante Adams' catches in the second half. He had three for 56 yards and a TD in the first half, but he wasn't targeted at all in the third quarter, and he couldn't haul in a touchdown pass under defensive pressure on his final target. Karty's first field goal was blocked on the next snap.

The Colts are surprisingly unbeaten, and the Rams need a bounce-back effort Sunday to prove they've shaken off their recent penchant for slow starts to a season. They also could really use a win before they head into a short week of preparation for hosting the 49ers on the following Thursday, followed by consecutive road games in Baltimore and London against the Jaguars.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis (90) runs the ball back for a touchdown after blocking a field goal attempt as time expires during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis (90) blocks a field goal attempt by Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty (16) before running the ball back for a touchdown as time expires during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis (90) prepares to pick up the ball after blocking a field goal attempt by Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty (16) and run the ball back for a touchdown as time expires during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis (90) blocks a field goal attempt by Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty (16) before running the ball back for a touchdown as time expires during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal officers in the Minneapolis-area participating in its largest recent U.S. immigration enforcement operation can’t detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren't obstructing authorities, including when these people are observing the agents, a judge in Minnesota ruled Friday.

U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez's ruling addresses a case filed in December on behalf of six Minnesota activists. The six are among the thousands who have been observing the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers enforcing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area since last month.

Federal agents and demonstrators have repeatedly clashed since the crackdown began. The confrontations escalated after an immigration agent fatally shot Renee Good in the head on Jan. 7 as she drove away from a scene in Minneapolis, an incident that was captured on video from several angles. Agents have arrested or briefly detained many people in the Twin Cities.

The activists in the case are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, which says government officers are violating the constitutional rights of Twin Cities residents.

Government attorneys argued that the officers have been acting within their legal authority to enforce immigration laws and protect themselves. They said Homeland Security officers have been subject to violence across the country and in Minnesota, and that they have responded lawfully and appropriately.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the ACLU didn't immediately respond to requests for comment Friday night.

The ruling prohibits the officers from detaining drivers and passengers in vehicles when there is no reasonable suspicion they are obstructing or interfering with the officers.

Safely following agents “at an appropriate distance does not, by itself, create reasonable suspicion to justify a vehicle stop,” the ruling said.

Menendez said the agents would not be allowed to arrest people without probable cause or reasonable suspicion the person has committed a crime or was obstructing or interfering with the activities of officers.

Menendez is also presiding over a lawsuit filed Monday by the state of Minnesota and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul seeking to suspend the enforcement crackdown, and some of the legal issues are similar. She declined at a hearing Wednesday to grant the state’s request for an immediate temporary restraining order in that case.

“What we need most of all right now is a pause. The temperature needs to be lowered,” state Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter told her.

Menendez said the issues raised by the state and cities in that case are “enormously important.” But she said it raises high-level constitutional and other legal issues, and for some of those issues there are few on-point precedents. So she ordered both sides to file more briefs next week.

McAvoy reported from Honolulu. Associated Press writer Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.

A woman covers her face from tear gas as federal immigration officers confront protesters outside Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Tear gas surrounds federal law enforcement officers as they leave a scene after a shooting on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/John Locher)

People cover tear gas deployed by federal immigration officers outside Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

Federal immigration officers stand outside Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building as tear gas is deployed Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

An FBI officer works the scene during operations on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)