Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Eagles have advanced to the NFC Championship after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 28-22 in a divisional playoff game held in South Philadelphia. The victory was secured on a snowy day, setting up a matchup against the Washington Commanders.

Saquon Barkley played a pivotal role for the Eagles, achieving a franchise-playoff-record with 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. His performance included two significant touchdown runs of 62 and 78 yards, making him the first NFL player since Raheem Mostert in January 2020 to rush for over 200 yards and score multiple touchdowns in a playoff game.

The Eagles took an early lead with Jalen Hurts' career-long 44-yard touchdown run. However, Jake Elliott missed the extra point, leaving the score at Eagles 6 – Rams 0. The Rams responded with Matthew Stafford connecting with Tyler Higbee for a touchdown pass, putting them ahead briefly before Barkley's explosive run restored the Eagles' lead.

Throughout the game, both teams experienced ups and downs. Notably, DeVonta Smith set a new record for most playoff receiving yards in Eagles history during this match. The second half saw further action as Cooper Kupp made significant plays for the Rams, though they were limited to field goals by Joshua Karty.

In critical moments of defense, Jalen Carter and other Eagles players executed key sacks and forced fumbles that contributed to maintaining their lead. Despite some missed opportunities from Elliott's extra points and turnovers by Hurts being sacked for safety by Neville Gallimore, the team managed to hold off late efforts from Stafford and his offense.

Ultimately, it was Barkley's final touchdown run that sealed their victory despite a late push from the Rams narrowing down the scoreline. The Eagles now look forward to hosting their next opponent in pursuit of an NFC Championship title.