Jaworski on the Rams

Their defense remains the question mark. While they were horrible defensively last year, the Rams may line up nine new starters on Sunday, depending on the health of linebacker London Fletcher and defensive end Grant Wistrom. Their scheme under defensive coordinator Lovie Smith has gone from an aggressive, man-to-man, blitzing package to a conservative, double-zone style.

Nothing against the style of former defensive coordinator Peter Giunta and Bud Carson, but teams that blitz and play a lot of man coverage tend to give up big plays. The Rams' new defense is designed more for speed and not allowing big plays. It's different, but it fits their overall scheme better. The Rams proved two years ago they don't need to play great defense to win. The defense just has to make more stops.

Five keys for the Rams:
1. Premium on protection. The Rams' offense must be prepared for the change-up coverage of Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. Johnson always does a great job of breaking down a team's protection schemes by design. The Rams must think protection first. Think about how Warner ended the season last year with a concussion. It's imperative that the Rams keep him healthy.

2. Living on the edge. The Rams must establish the run on the edges. Hugh Douglas is a great pass-rush specialist at right defensive end, but I believe the Rams can run the ball at Douglas. On the left side, the Eagles will either have Ndukwe Kalu or third-round draft pick Derrick Burgess, two players who are a bit light in the seats at around 265 pounds. So the Rams should be able to run at them and have success.

3. Consider Conwell. The Rams need to get tight end Ernie Conwell involved. The focus of the Eagles' coverage will be on the Rams' big playmakers -- Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Az-Zahir Hakim and Ricky Proehl. If they can make the Eagles defend the tight end, it will open things up on the outside.

4. Contain McNabb. The Rams must make McNabb beat them from the pocket and make the Eagles' receivers beat them running routes. They can't allow McNabb to break the pocket and allow the receivers to get uncovered. The Giants had the blueprint against McNabb in the playoffs; they kept the picket fence in front of McNabb on his right side. He only has eyes in the front of his head, making it hard for him to see his back side. It's critical for the Rams to maintain their discipline in his vision, which is to his right.

5. Stop the run. Inside, the Rams have bulk at the two tackle spots in rookie Damione Lewis and Jeff Zgonina. They are a bit light on the edges with Leonard Little at 257. Wistrom is doubtful, so the Rams will probably go with Chidi Ahanotu or Sean Moran, two players not known as great run defenders. They must stop Duce Staley and the Eagles from mustering a ground attack, especially on the outside where the Rams are more suspect.

Salisbury on the Eagles

They have upgraded at receiver with James Thrash, Todd Pinkston and first-round pick Freddie Mitchell. No offense to Torrance Small and Charles Johnson, but their speed didn't scare many teams. Duce Staley is back. The offensive line will knock people around. The Eagles can't allow McNabb to do as much as he did a year ago. If the players around him rise to another level and give McNabb 20 percent more help, the Eagles will be that much better. He's a year better in an offense in which he came in and had to make plays.

Defensively, the Eagles are underrated, but they have one of my favorite defenses in the league because they are solid up front, they blitz linebackers like Jeremiah Trotter, and they have big, physical cornerbacks who can take teams out of their passing game. Overall, Eagles fans should feel good about their team as an NFC contender.

Five keys for the Eagles:
1. Pressure Warner. The Eagles can't let Kurt Warner sit back in the pocket without pressure. The Rams need to be placed in long-yardage situations. If they dictate the tempo and the flow of the game, it will be a long day for Philadelphia. The Eagles must pressure Warner up the middle, not just on the edges. He will not beat teams with his feet. They need to get in his face and at his legs to push the pocket back at him and force some high throws. Sacks are great, but so are pressures. When the quarterback can't follow through, the ball sails, gets tipped and intercepted.

2. Focus on Faulk. If they are getting beat by the Rams, the Eagles can't let Marshall Faulk get 250 total yards. Stopping him may be impossible. If he gets 70 yards rushing, he can still catch 10 passes. No linebacker can cover Faulk because he's too good and fast on his routes. No defensive back will cover him because they have to deal with Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Az-Zahir Hakim. If Faulk gets six catches for 40 yards, that's fine. He'll get touches, but they can't be backbreakers. Keep him in the same time zone.

3. Pass production. The Eagles must generate some pass offense. They need to establish the fact they can play with the Rams at their game. People may say, "Don't you think they need to control the football and keep it out of their hands?" But the Rams have reshaped their defense. The Eagles should come out with different looks, challenge them and see how reshaped they are. Andy Reid is an offensive mind. Formation the Rams to death and make the new defense think when it comes to the line of scrimmage.

4. Be special. The Eagles need to win the kicking game because the game may come down to special teams. That means Hakim can't run wild on a punt return. If the Eagles can kick three field goals, score at least 17-20 points and contain the Rams, they have a shot.

5. Cut Duce loose. The Eagles can't beat anybody throwing the ball 40-50 times. Staley needs to get started early in the game to see what he brings. Is he healthy? Can he cut? They must come out with Staley and see what he has early so the Rams' defense knows he's a threat. If they don't establish him early, it may seem like the Eagles are still worried about him too.