PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley dashed by means of the snow for landing runs of 78 and 62 yards and completed with 205 yards dashing, Jalen Hurts had a 44-yard scoring run and the Philadelphia Eagles held on in opposition to the turnover-happy Los Angeles Rams 28-22 on Sunday to advance to the NFC championship sport for the second time in three seasons.
Barkley ran for a 62-yard rating within the first half and stretched the lead within the fourth when he blew by means of a gap and ran untouched 78 yards for the landing. He smacked his helmet together with his hand on his remaining snowy steps and flapped his arms as soon as he hit the tip zone.
Barkley slid into the snow — Slide, Eagles, Slide! — within the late-game celebration.
These Philly Snow Birds had trigger for celebration — they may host the NFC championship sport Sunday in opposition to Washington, after the Commanders upset No. 1 seed Detroit on Saturday.
“The elements was great, but the atmosphere was even better,” Barkley mentioned. “Our fans were amazing. That was a close one, but that’s playoff football. And at the end of the day, we got the job done.”
The Rams saved the upset risk alive — precipitated largely by two missed further factors by Philadelphia’s Jake Elliott.
Matthew Stafford, who threw for 324 yards, saved the Rams in it with a 4-yard TD move to Colby Parkinson that made it 28-22. The Rams received the ball again with two minutes left and Stafford accomplished consecutive passes of 11 and 37 yards to maneuver the ball into Eagles’ territory.
However Stafford was sacked by Jalen Carter on third down and threw an incomplete move on fourth down to finish the risk.
The Eagles are set to host the NFC championship sport for the fifth time since Lincoln Monetary Subject opened in 2003.
Eagles defenders frolicked within the winter mess and made snow angels ultimately zone to have fun the turnovers. Some courageous frigid followers went shirtless — and sure, even Santa Claus was in the home, and not using a report of any snowball throwing.
Stadium staff used snow blowers to clear yard traces and hash marks, whereas Eagles scooped and kicked away snow to clear a circle for Elliott’s area purpose makes an attempt.
Hurts threw for simply 128 yards, his mobility hampered within the second half after he was fitted for a knee brace. He didn’t miss any snaps, however was simply mauled on the protection. He was sacked seven instances.
Hurts suffered a concussion that value him in two video games in a loss at Washington in December. It was the Eagles’ solely loss after they returned from the bye with a 2-2 report.
“It comes through Philly. That means everything for this city, this team, and we’ve got everything we want in front of us,” Hurts mentioned.
Barkley had 118 complete yards on the break, however the Rams’ protection — coming off a nine-sack effort in opposition to Minnesota — sacked Hurts thrice within the half. Hurts was sacked on consecutive performs to finish the primary half, a complete lack of 16 yards that knocked the Eagles out of area purpose vary.
The Eagles borrowed from the playbook used of their November win in Los Angeles when huge performs — Barkley had landing runs of 70 and 72 yards — helped them cruise to a cushty win.
Hurts rushed for the longest TD of his profession, a 44-yarder on the fifth play of the sport that despatched a chilly crowd nonetheless buzzing from the pregame theatrics right into a frenzy. Elliott missed an additional level for the second straight playoff sport.
After changing a fourth down on the drive, Stafford hit Tyler Higbee for a 4-yard TD that made it 7-6. Solely six days earlier, Higbee spit up blood within the playoff win over Minnesota and was taken to the hospital with a chest harm.
Barkley scored on a 62-yard run for a 13-7 lead, however not earlier than the two,105-yard rusher slowed close to the tip zone and appeared again to clown the trailing Jared Verse. Barkley had has fifth landing run of 50-plus yards of the season and was the primary participant with three TD runs of 60-plus in opposition to one group since Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis did it in opposition to the Browns in 2003.
Verse received trolled by Barkley after the Rams rookie linebacker and Pennsylvania native mentioned he “hates Eagles fans.” The primary-round draft decide attended highschool in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, which is about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Verse egged on followers throughout pregame warmups and relished the boos that rained him on within the gentle snow. As soon as the sport began, the Eagles confirmed on the massive display screen Verse on the bench and followers booed once more.
Verse winked on the digital camera, stamping his title on the listing of Philly sports activities villains.
Joshua Karty kicked two area objectives within the first half for the Rams.
Elliott atoned for a missed further level with a 44-yard area purpose that floated by means of the uprights for a 16-13 lead within the third.
Accidents
Rams: DE Braden Fiske had a knee harm.
Eagles: CB Quinyon Mitchell suffered a shoulder harm.
Up subsequent
The Eagles host the Commanders for the best to play within the Tremendous Bowl.
By Dan Gelston
