Saquon Barkley dazzled on the ice as the Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a late scare to beat the Los Angeles Rams 28-22 in picturesque but drama-privy playoff circumstances to reach the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.
Barkley had a strong performance on a 62-yard house call in the opening quarter and ran for 205 yards on the night with a 78-yard touchdown burst in five minutes to increase his team’s lead to 28–15. A phenomenal performance continued in the first year. Philly saw him eclipse 2,000 rushing yards during the regular season.
Second-year defensive tackle Jalen Carter had a stellar performance for the Eagles with two sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble as the Rams were made to pay for costly turnovers.
Jalen Hurts completed 15 of 20 passes for 128 yards and also rushed for a touchdown, while Matthew Stafford threw for 324 yards and two scores and the Rams saw their campaign end.
A month after losing 36-33 in a thrilling matchup against NFC East divisional rivals, the Eagles will now advance to face Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders for a shot at a spot in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans next weekend.
statistics leader
Los Angeles Rams
- To pass: Matthew Stafford, 26/44, 324 yards, 2 TDs
- run: Kieran Williams, 19 carries, 106 yards
- to receive: Puka Nacua, 6 catches, 97 yards
philadelphia eagles
- To pass: Jalen Hurts, 15/20, 128 yards
- run: Saquon Barkley, 26 carries, 205 yards, 2 TDs
- to receive: Dallas Goedert, 5 catches, 56 yards
As Rocky Balboa’s music started playing in Philly, snow fell and slips, slides, drops, drama and a little bit of chaos broke out in Sacon.
The Rams threatened a late turnaround at Lincoln Financial Field when Stafford connected with Kolby Parkinson on a four-yard touchdown run with 2:48 left, moments after Barkley thought he iced the game with his 78-yard score. Is done.
As the next Eagles drive stalled, Stafford – armed with 51 game-winning drives to his name – was able to convert third-and-10 to Demarcus Robinson, before surprising the Eagles with a 37-yard strike to Puka Nekua, who ran on Had hands to make an excellent leap down the sideline to move his side to the 21-yard line with 1.33 remaining.
After a false start penalty against Kevin Dotson had Los Angeles back on second-and-12, Carter later sealed the game by sacking Stafford for a loss of nine on third-and-2. With one last chance, the Rams were unable to find quarterback Nacua as the Eagles took a breather.
Touchdown runs by Jalen Hurts and Barkley gave the Eagles a 13–10 lead at the break, before Joshua Carty’s 34-yard field goal leveled things on the opening drive of the second half, heavily impacted by snowfall.
Jake Elliott responded with a 44-yard field goal to restore the Eagles’ lead, but not without a scare when Hurts suffered a knee injury during a strong hit from blitzing safety Jaylen McCollough. The quarterback was taken to the blue tent for treatment before returning wearing a knee brace.
It appeared the pain persisted as his lack of mobility allowed Neville Gallimore to pull him down for a safety, which would pull the Rams within 16–15.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley scored a spectacular 62-yard touchdown to give his team the lead over the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams running back Williams would feel the wrath of inspired Carter, who successfully punted the ball before running back teammate Isaiah Rodgers at the 10-yard line. Barkley was subsequently stuffed at the one-yard line, but where the Eagles would normally have opted for a ‘tush push’, they turned to Barkley again in light of Hurts’ injury.
This resulted in another stop by the Rams defense, followed by a false start penalty against Lane Johnson, which forced the Eagles to settle for Elliott’s 23-yard field goal attempt to make it 19–15.
Carter wasn’t the only former Georgia Bulldog running riot, Nolan Smith made his presence felt on the Rams’ ensuing drive by forcing another fumble, it was recovered by Zach Baun and Elliott’s 37-yard kick was set up for a 22–15 lead. Finished with. 6.18 balance.
With knowledge of the coming snow, both teams set out to break into the trap in search of an early stronghold. And it was the Eagles who struck first on the sixth play of scrimmage as Hurts broke free for a 44-yard rushing touchdown, with Elliott missing the ensuing extra point. It served as the longest pass rush 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 scores a 44-yard touchdown in the first quarter of their NFL playoff divisional round game against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams immediately responded when Tyler Higbee hauled Stafford’s needle-threading dagger between two defenders at the goalline for a four-yard touchdown at the end of a 13-play drive.
It looked like the possession might stall on third-and-7 when an underhanded pass by Stafford to Higbee was ruled incomplete, only for Sean McVay to make a successful challenge. Williams was later set to convert a fourth-and-one to set up a first-and-goal from the four-yard line.
Barkley’s moment was not far behind, with the NFL’s leading rusher breaking up a Mekhi Becton block for a 62-yard touchdown and a 13–7 lead.
Carty cut the lead to three with a 30-yard field goal, before Versus delivered drive-derailing sacks on Philadelphia’s next two possessions.
What will happen next?
It’s the conference championship on Sunday, with the Eagles hosting the Commanders in the NFC.
Super Bowl LIX will take place on Sunday, February 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. live on sky sports nfl,
