In a hard-fought NFC divisional round playoff game, the Philadelphia Eagles emerged victorious over the Los Angeles Rams by a score of 28-22. The Eagles were propelled to the win on the legs of star running back Saquon Barkley, who continued his dominance against the Rams defense.
Barkley put on a show, rushing for a whopping 205 yards and two touchdowns, including electrifying runs of 63 and 76 yards. His performance had the Lincoln Financial Field crowd chanting “MVP” as they celebrated the win amidst falling snow.
“Saquon was unstoppable out there today. He carried this team on his back and willed us to victory,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said after the game. “This is the type of effort we need to make a deep playoff run.”
Eagles Defense Steps Up in Crucial Moments
While Barkley’s heroics stole the show, the Eagles defense also came up big when it mattered most. With the Rams threatening to take the lead late in the third quarter, former college teammates Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith Jr. forced fumbles on back-to-back drives to swing momentum back in Philadelphia’s favor.
Those defensive stands set up a pair of Jake Elliott field goals to give the Eagles some breathing room before Barkley delivered the finishing blow with his 76-yard touchdown scamper. The defensive line harassed Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford all game long, sacking him seven times.
Hurts’ Health a Concern Heading into NFC Title Game
One potential area of concern for the Eagles moving forward will be the health of quarterback Jalen Hurts. Though he still made plays with his legs, rushing for a 44-yard touchdown, Hurts appeared to injure his left leg in the second half which seemed to limit his mobility.
With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, the Eagles will need Hurts as close to 100% as possible. They’ll host the upstart Washington Commanders next weekend with a chance to represent the NFC on the biggest stage.
Rams Fall Short in title defense
For the Rams, the loss ends their bid to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Despite 324 passing yards and two touchdowns from Stafford, crucial fumbles and an inability to slow down the Eagles rushing attack ultimately doomed Sean McVay’s squad.
- The Rams defense surrendered 285 rushing yards, a week after giving up 314 to the Eagles in the regular season
- Los Angeles has now lost three straight games to Philadelphia dating back to last season
The Rams will head into the offseason looking to retool and bounce back in 2025 after falling short of expectations. Meanwhile, the Eagles are peaking at the right time and have their sights set on hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Arizona on February 9th.
