Eagles ride Saquon Barkley heroics, late defensive stand to snowy victory over Rams and NFC title game berth

  • Asked how his left knee feels, Jalen Hurts wouldn’t go into specifics saying he’ll talk about it later.
  • Total offense: 402 yardsMatthew Stafford: 26/44, 324 yards, 2 TDsKyren Williams: 106 yards, 19 rushes
  • Puka Nacua: 6 catches, 97 yards

Eagles

  • Total offense: 350 yardsJalen Hurts: 15/20, 128 yards; 70 yards, 1 TD, 7 rushes
  • Saquon Barkley: 205 yards, 2 TDs, 26 carries
  • Dallas Goedert: 4 catches, 56 yards
  • Jalen Hurts kneels it down with 26 seconds left after the Rams can’t convert a fourth down. The Eagles are on to the NFC championship game to face the Washington Commanders.
  • Following the Jalen Carter sack, the Rams face a fourth-and-11 from the Eagles’ 22-yard line. But Matthew Stafford throws incomplete looking for Puka Nacua and the Eagles will win this game.
  • The Rams are aggressive when it’s needed with Matthew Stafford hitting Puka Nacua down the right sideline for a 37-yard gain.
  • It’s first-and-10 for the Rams at the Eagles’ 21-yard line.
  • Rams punt returner Xavier Smith probably cost the team 20 yards by not calling for a fair catch, rather than letting the kick go and getting downed by the Eagles.
  • The Rams will get the ball back before the 2-minute warning. Kobie Turner sacked Jalen Hurts for a 12-yard loss on second-and-7 and the Eagles keep it with Saquon Barkley, who gains 7 yards on third down.
  • A 55-yard punt by Braden Mann pushes the Rams back to their 18-yard line, where Will Shipley downs it with 2:35 remaining.
  • Matthew Stafford completed six passes for 75 yards on that last touchdown drive. The snow didn’t affect him there.
  • The Rams aren’t done yet after Saquon Barkley’s touchdown. They go 70 yards in 10 plays, finished off by a 4-yard TD pass from Matthew Stafford to Colby Parkinson.
  • Can the Rams’ defense stop Saquon Barkley, though?
  • Saquon Barkley has 196 rushing yards on 24 carries, tying an Eagles postseason record. Oh, and he’s scored twice today.
  • Saquon Barkley just plunged the dagger into the Rams, ripping off a 78-yard touchdown run when L.A. needed to stop the Eagles from getting a first down.
  • Jake Elliott misses his second extra point of the game, but Eagles fans likely do not care.
  • The Rams can’t recover after that first-down sack. Kyren Williams gains 7 yards on second down, but Matthew Stafford throws incomplete over the middle looking for Puka Nacua on third-and-10. L.A. has to punt with 4:54 remaining in the fourth quarter.
  • Philadelphia takes over at its 22-yard line after a 48-yard punt from Ethan Evans.
  • Matthew Stafford doesn’t pull the trigger on a play-action pass. He steps up in the pocket but is sacked by Moro Ojomo on first down.
  • Saquon Barkley is stuffed for a 2-yard loss on third-and-4 from the Rams’ 17. This time, Nick Sirianni will opt for a field goal on fourth down.
  • The Eagles keep it on the ground with three consecutive handoffs to Saquon Barkley that gain six yards.
  • On fourth-and-4, Philadelphia opts to go for it, bringing in Devonta Smith and Jahan Dotson to spread it out. Jalen Hurts hits A.J. Brown on a slant route for a 9-yard gain and a first down at the Rams’ 23-yard line.
  • Matthew Stafford is sacked by Nolan Smith on third-and-10 and loses the ball. The fumble is recovered by Zack Baun, who had an outstanding defensive series with a tackle for loss and a pass break-up.
  • Welp. Kyren Williams is tackled for a 3-yard loss on his next carry by Zack Baun.
  • But the Rams shake that off with Matthew Stafford connecting on a 15-yard throw through the snow and over the middle to Demarcus Robinson.

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