Rams once again fall flat in prime time with a chance to move into a tie atop the NFC West

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — For the second time in three weeks, the Los Angeles Rams went into a game knowing a win would move them into a tie for the NFC West lead, only to struggle mightily on the prime-time stage.

Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley ran for 255 yards, the most the Rams have allowed to a running back, but it was the familiar struggles on offense and special teams that also loomed just as large in Sunday night's 37-20 loss to the Eagles.

“It just came down to us shooting ourselves in the foot,” defensive end Kobie Turner said. “We really needed to play gap sound but any time an opponent gets (314) rushing yards, that's embarrassing.”

Barkley's 255 yards is the most a running back has gained against the Rams, surpassing the previous mark of 253 by Dallas' DeMarco Murray in a 2011 game.

The 314 total rushing yards was the fourth-most allowed in a game in franchise history.

“They did way too many good things explosive-wise in the running game for us to be able to overcome,” coach Sean McVay said.

The Rams appeared as if they were going to get off to a quick start, but Kyren Williams fumbled the ball at the Eagles 17-yard line. It was Williams’ fifth fumble and third turnover in seven weeks after he had only three fumbles and two turnovers last year.

Williams gave the Rams a 7-3 lead with 1:02 remaining in the first quarter on a 1-yard run up the middle, but the offense went three-and-out on its next three drives.

After Barkley's 70-yard run put the Eagles up 20-7 early in the third quarter, the Rams fought back and got within six when Matthew Stafford connected with Demarcus Robinson for a 2-yard pass. But Philadelphia took control the rest of the way.

Stafford completed 24 of 36 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns, but was under duress for most of the night. He was sacked five times, tying a season high.

Stafford has been sacked 22 times in their six losses compared to only four in their five wins.

“They rushed four the majority of the night. They didn't do anything we didn't expect," Stafford said. "It was a one score game at halftime and then we didn't do enough in the second half. We didn't put ourselves in a lot of favorable positions.”

Puka Nacua had nine receptions for 117 yards but Cooper Kupp was held in check most of the game before finishing with eight catches for 60 yards.

Rookie Joshua Karty was wide right on a 47-yard field-goal attempt late in the third quarter, marking his third straight game with a missed kick. He has made only three of his last six field goals.

“I thought we came out ready to go," McVay said. "The turnover in the first quarter really hurt us. When it was a one possession game they ended up scoring quickly coming out of the half. We were able to match it and then it got away from us.”

Despite their struggles, the Rams are still in contention for the NFC West title.

Arizona and Seattle are tied atop the division at 6-5 with the Rams and San Francisco one game back at 5-6.

Three of Los Angeles' last four games are against division opponents.

“There’s humbling nights like this in football. It is all about how you respond. This team has the capability to respond,” McVay said.

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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) signals at the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, left, is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (17) cannot catch a pass as Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, bottom, is called for pass interference during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, right, runs against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts while speaking at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was acquitted on Monday on charges that he persuaded a witness to lie in court to understate Lee's past criminal conviction, in a rare moment of relief from broad legal troubles that threaten to derail his political career.

Lee thanked the Seoul Central District Court judge after the ruling for “bringing back truth and justice.” The prosecution didn’t immediately say whether it would appeal.

The same court earlier this month sentenced Lee to a suspended prison term for violating election law by making false public statements while running for president in the 2022 election, which he narrowly lost to conservative rival Yoon Suk Yeol.

If that conviction stands, Lee would be unseated as a lawmaker and barred from running for president in the next election, for which polls now show him to be the favorite. But Lee, who is facing five different trials over corruption and other charges, will likely challenge any guilty verdict he receives, and it’s uncertain whether the Supreme Court would decide on any of the cases before the vote in March 2027.

The ruling Monday at the Seoul court was about whether Lee pressured a former employee of Seongnam city into giving false testimony in court in 2019. The testimony was meant to downplay Lee's 2002 conviction that, as a lawyer, he had helped a journalist of KBS television to impersonate a prosecutor to secure an interview with then-Seongnam Mayor Kim Byung-ryang over corruption suspicions regarding the allocation of new apartments.

Lee was later elected as Seongnam’s mayor in 2010 and held the job until 2018. While running for Gyeonggi provincial governor in 2018, Lee said he had been wrongly accused over the incident, prompting prosecutors to indict him on charges of violating election laws by making false statements. Lee was acquitted in 2019, partially based on the testimony of the Seongnam city employee, who had worked as Kim’s secretary and said the former mayor contemplated dropping charges against the journalist to establish Lee as the main culprit in the incident.

Prosecutors indicted Lee on charges of instigating perjury in October last year, presenting transcripts of telephone conversations that they said showed him persuading the Seongnam city employee to testify in court that Lee was framed. In acquitting Lee of the charges, the court ruled that the evidence presented by prosecutors was insufficient to prove his intent of instigating perjury.

Supporters of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung react upon his arrival at a court in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (Kim Hong-ji/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (Kim Hong-ji/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, center, arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (Kim Hong-ji/Pool Photo via AP)

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (Kim Hong-ji/Pool Photo via AP)