Saquon Barkley ran in 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 burst for 62 yards in the opening quarter before extending his team’s lead to 28-15 with a 78-yard scoring strike with five minutes to play on his way to 205 yards on the night, continuing a stellar first year in Philly that saw him eclipse 2,000 rushing yards during the regular season.
Sophomore defensive tackle Jalen Carter starred 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 finished 15 of 20 for 128 yards and also rushed for a touchdown, while Matthew Stafford had 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 a 36-33 thriller to their NFC East division rivals.
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Saquon Barkley scores a spectacular 78-yard touchdown, his second of the game, to clinch the Philadelphia Eagles’ berth in the NFC Championship Game
The leaders of statistics
Los Angeles Rams
- Passage: Matthew Stafford, 26/44, 324 yards, 2 TDs
- Rush: Kyren Williams, 19 carries, 106 yards
- Download: Puka Nacua, 6 catches, 97 yards
Philadelphia Eagles
- Passage: Jalen Hurts, 15/20, 128 yards
- Rush: Saquon Barkley, 26 carries, 205 yards, 2 TDs
- Download: Dallas Goedert, 5 catches, 56 yards
As the music of Rocky Balboa played in Philly, snow fell and mayhem ensued in a second half of slides, slides, drops, drama and a little Saquon.
The Rams threatened a late upset at Lincoln Financial Field when Stafford connected with Colby Parkinson on a four-yard touchdown with 2.48 to play moments after Barkley thought he had iced the game with his 78-yard scoring run.
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 for to make an excellent lateral leap to move his side down to the 21-yard line with 1.33 to remains.
After a botched kickoff against Kevin Dotson put Los Angeles back on second-and-12, Carter sealed the game minutes later by sacking Stafford for a nine-and-out loss on third-and-two. With one last chance, the Rams quarterback couldn’t find Nacua as the Eagles breathed a sigh of relief.
Touchdown runs by Jalen Hurts and Barkley had given the Eagles a 13-10 halftime lead before Joshua Karty’s 34-yard field goal tied things up on the opening drive of a heavily snow-affected second half.
Jake Elliott answered with a 44-yard field goal to restore the Eagles’ lead, but not without a scare after Hurts had suffered a knee injury during a hard hit by Jaylen McCollough. The quarterback was taken to the blue tent for treatment before returning with a knee brace.
The pain seemed to linger as his lack of mobility allowed Neville Gallimore to take him down for a safety that would have pulled the Rams within 16-15.
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley scores a stunning 62-yard touchdown 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 sacked the ball before seeing teammate Isaiah Rodgers return it at the 10-yard line. Barkley then drove to the one-yard line, but where the Eagles might have normally elected to tush push, they instead turned to Barkley again due to Hurts’ injury.
That led to another stop by the Rams defense, followed by a false start penalty against Lane Johnson that forced the Eagles to settle for Elliott’s field goal at the 23 to make it 19-15.
Carter wasn’t the only former Georgia Bulldog running riot, Nolan Smith made his presence felt for the Rams who followed by forcing another fumble, one that Zach Bown fumbled to set up Elliott’s 37-yard field goal for a 22-yard lead. -15. 6.18 to go.
Aware of the incoming snow, 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 streak of an Eagles quarterback’s NFL career and an immediate reminder of Philadelphia’s read-option threat through Hurts and Barkley.
Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scores a 44-yard touchdown early in the first quarter of an NFL Divisional Round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams answered right back when Tyler Higbee heaved Stafford’s dagger between two defenders at the goal line for a four-yard touchdown at the end of a 13-play drive.
The possession looked like it might stall on third-and-seven when Stafford’s low pass to Higbee was ruled incomplete, only for Sean McVay to make a successful challenge. Williams was later on hand to convert on fourth-and-one to set up first-and-goal from the four-yard line.
Barkley’s moment wasn’t far behind, the NFL’s leading rusher after a Mekhi Becton bruiser to cut in for a 62-yard touchdown and a 13-7 lead.
Carty cut the lead to three with a 30-yard field goal before Verse delivered fumble sacks on Philadelphia’s next two possessions heading into halftime.
What’s next?
It’s 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.
