The Philadelphia Eagles soared past the Los Angeles Rams with a gripping 28-22 victory in the NFC Divisional Round game on Sunday. Held in Philadelphia amidst snowy conditions, the Eagles showcased impressive performances from running back Saquon Barkley and their staunch defense. Barkley set a franchise record by rushing for 205 yards, while the Eagles' defense sacked Rams quarterback Jalen Hurts seven times, a feat that contributed to a historic two-game playoff stretch.
The game's electrifying atmosphere began with Barkley's remarkable performance. His 205-yard rushing spree not only set a new team benchmark but also included a spectacular 62-yard touchdown run. Meanwhile, the Eagles' first score came from a 44-yard rush by Jalen Hurts. Philadelphia's ground game was relentless, amassing a total of 285 rushing yards.
The Eagles' defense was equally formidable, recording seven sacks on Jalen Hurts. This achievement brought their total to an unprecedented 16 sacks over two games, marking the most in a two-game playoff stretch since sacks became an official stat in 1963. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers stepped up after Quinyon Mitchell's injury, making a critical play by recovering a Kyren Williams fumble and returning it 40 yards early in the fourth quarter.
The Rams, on the other hand, faced setbacks despite quarterback Matthew Stafford's commendable performance. Stafford completed 26 of his 43 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns without any interceptions. Notably, his first-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee had a mere 0.4 yards of separation at the throw's arrival—a record low for Stafford as a Ram, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. This loss marked the end of the Rams' postseason journey as they struggled under the harsh weather conditions and managed only 22 points.
A pivotal moment in the game saw the Rams make history of their own, albeit unfavorable, as they became the first team since the Miami Dolphins in 2016 to lose a fumble on consecutive drives during a playoff match.
Barkley’s remarkable speed added another layer of excitement to the game. He reached a max speed of 20.78 mph on his touchdown runs. In comparison, only Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey has surpassed this speed in the postseason, hitting a max speed of 20.84 mph.
Now, with the divisional round behind them, the Eagles set their sights on the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders. The showdown is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET, where the Eagles aim to continue their dominant playoff run.
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