Saquon Barkley slogged through the snow as the Philadelphia Eagles survived a late scare to beat the Los Angeles Rams 28-22 in picturesque but dramatic playoff conditions to reach the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.
Barkley exploded for a 62-yard touchdown run in the opening quarter before extending his team’s lead to 28-15 with a 78-yarder with 5 minutes to play on his way to 205 yards on the night, continuing a phenomenal first year in Philly that saw him eclipse 2,000 rushing yards during the regular season.
Sophomore defensive tackle Jalen Carter paced the Eagles with two sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble as the Rams were made to pay for the costly turnover.
Jalen Hurts finished 15 of 20 for 128 yards and rushed for a touchdown, while Matthew Stafford threw for 324 yards and two scores as the Rams saw their campaign come to an end.
The Eagles will now advance to face Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders for a spot in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans next weekend, a month after losing 36-33 in a thriller against the NFC East division rivals.
Statistics managers
Los Angeles Rams
- Passage: Matthew Stafford, 26/44, 324 yards, 2 TDs
- In a hurry: Kyren Williams, 19, 106 yards
- Taking: Puka Nacua, 6 catches, 97 meters
Philadelphia Eagles
- Passage: Jalen Hurts, 15/20, 128 yards
- In a hurry: Saquon Barkley, 26 carries, 205 yards, 2 TDs
- Taking: Dallas Goedert, 5 catches, 56 yards
As the Rocky Balboa music played in Philly, snow fell and chaos ensued in a second half of slides, slides, slides, drama and some Saquon.
The Rams threatened a late turnaround at Lincoln Financial Field when Stafford connected with Colby Parkinson on a four-yard touchdown with 2.48 to play just moments after Barkley thought he had iced the game with his 78-yard score.
As the Eagles’ next drive stalled, Stafford — armed with 51 game-winning drives to his name — was able to convert on third-and-10 to Demarcus Robinson before stunning the Eagles with a 37-yard strike to Puka Nacua , who was on hand to make a tremendous leaping catch down the sideline to move his side down to the 21-yard line with 1.33 left.
After a fake penalty on Kevin Dotson turned Los Angeles into a second-and-12, Carter sealed the game moments later by sacking Stafford for a nine-and-out loss on third-and-two. With one last chance, the Rams quarterback was unable to find Nacua as the Eagles breathed a sigh of relief.
Touchdown runs by Jalen Hurts and Barkley had given the Eagles a 13-10 lead at the break, before Joshua Karty’s 34-yard field goal tied things to open a heavily snow-affected second half.
Jake Elliott responded with a 44-yard field goal to restore the Eagles’ lead, but not without a scare as Hurts had suffered a knee injury on a hard hit by Jaylen McCollough. The centre-back was taken to the blue tent for treatment before returning wearing a knee brace.
The pain appeared to be lingering as his lack of mobility allowed Neville Gallimore to pick him off for a safety that would pull the Rams within 16-15.
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Saquon Barkley hits a stunning 62-yard field goal to give his team the lead over the Los Angeles Rams.
Rams running back Williams would then feel the wrath of an inspired Carter, who successfully fumbled the ball before seeing teammate Isaiah Rodgers return it to the 10-yard line. Barkley was then driven to the one-yard line, but where the Eagles might have normally opted for the ‘quick push’ they instead returned to Barkley again in light of Hurts’ injury.
It resulted in another stop by the Rams defense, followed by a fake penalty on Lane Johnson that forced the Eagles to settle for Elliott’s 23-yard field goal to make it 19-15.
Carter wasn’t the only former Georgia Bulldog to run riot, Nolan Smith made his presence felt on the ensuing Rams forcing another fumble, this one recovered by Zach Baun to beat Elliott’s 37-yard punt for a 22-yard lead. -15. 6.18 left.
Knowing the snow was coming, both teams sprung traps in pursuit of an early fort. And it was the Eagles who struck first on the sixth play from scrimmage as Hurts broke free for a 44-yard rushing touchdown, Elliott missing the ensuing extra point. It served as the longest touchdown run of an Eagles quarterback’s NFL career and an immediate reminder of Philadelphia’s read-option threat through Hurts and Barkley.
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hits a 44-yard field goal early in the first quarter of their NFL Divisional Round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams provided an immediate answer when Tyler Higbee pulled Stafford’s needle-thread dagger between two defenders in goal for a four-yard touchdown at the end of a 13-play drive.
The drive looked like it might stall on third-and-7 when Stafford’s low pass to Higbee was ruled incomplete, only for Sean McVay to make a successful tackle. Williams was later on hand to convert a fourth-and-one to set up a first down from the four-yard line.
Barkley’s momentum wasn’t far behind, the NFL’s leading rusher following a bruising block by Mekhi Becton to break away for a 62-yard touchdown and a 13-7 lead.
Karty cut the lead to three with a 30-yard field goal before Verse sent fumble sacks on Philadelphia’s next two possessions going into the half.
What’s next?
It’s the conference championship Sunday, with the Eagles hosting the Commanders in the NFC.
Super Bowl LIX takes place on Sunday, February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. live on Sky Sports NFL.
