Snow games make for wonderful theater. There’s a reason games with white fields are so memorable. It’s a dream for NFL Films.
The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t mind it. Saquon Barkley had another monster game against the Los Angeles Rams, and the Eagles' defense barely held off the Rams’ rally in the final minutes to win 28-22 and advance to the NFC championship game to face the Washington Commanders.
The conditions Sunday were a lot different than what the Rams are used to. The Eagles handled the weather slightly better. Their defense held in the final two minutes when the Rams had a chance to win it, forcing a big sack on third down and an incompletion on fourth with less than a minute to go.
The Eagles will host the Commanders, an NFC East rival that beat Philadelphia in the final seconds of a Week 16 game, next Sunday for a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
Two crucial fourth-quarter fumbles were a big difference for the Rams. It seemed like neither one would have happened under normal conditions, but on Sunday the ball was hard to hold in the snow. The Rams couldn’t move the ball much in the second half and the turnovers led to 6 critical points for Philadelphia. And in both Eagles-Rams games this season, one in the snow and one in sunny and warm Southern California, the Rams couldn’t contain Barkley.
Barkley ran for an Eagles playoff record 205 rushing yards, which is also the fifth-most playoff rushing yards in a single game all time, and two touchdowns on the day.
It’s a tough loss for the Rams. They played well to win the NFC West and then advance to the divisional round. They’ll leave Philadelphia to start the offseason wondering if the result would have been different in normal weather conditions. The Eagles had to be happy to have home-field advantage Sunday. In a close finish, it might have been the difference.
The Eagles held strong to deny Matthew Stafford and the Rams a touchdown, sealing a trip to the NFC title game. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Eagles break big TD runs in 1st half
The Eagles weren’t exactly sharp offensively, but they hit two big plays in the first quarter to get a lead. Jalen Hurts took a run to the right and it opened up wide for him. He ran 44 yards for a touchdown. Jake Elliott missed the extra point but Philadelphia led 6-0.
After the Rams scored a touchdown to take a 7-6 lead, Barkley had another long touchdown run. He broke a 62-yard touchdown run, slowing up at the end to tease Rams edge rusher and Philadelphia villain Jared Verse before he scored.
Barkley and Hurts became the first teammates in the Super Bowl era to each have a touchdown run of 40 or more yards in a postseason game, according to NBC.
It was great to hit those two plays, but that was pretty much the extent of Philadelphia's offense. The Eagles had 196 yards at halftime and 106 of that came on two plays. The Eagles didn’t have a completion on a pass that was 5 or more yards past the line of scrimmage before halftime. The cold and snow did not help either offense, but for the Eagles it had to be frustrating. It was a continuation of Philadelphia’s issues in the passing game that have persisted for much of the season.
Since the Eagles have a very good defense and the Rams were affected by the snow too, Philadelphia stayed in front. The Eagles led 13-10 at halftime. It was a grind-it-out game amid snow flurries. It felt like playoff football. Then the snow got heavier, the field got messier and it turned from a well-contested playoff game to both teams just trying to function as they slid around.
The snow globe in Philadelphia looked great on television, but even simple football movements became very tough.
A snowy 2nd half
The field became covered with snow in the second half, which didn’t help footing from either team. The most notable play of the third quarter was an injury.
Jalen Hurts was sacked and bent backward, putting a lot of pressure on his knee. He stayed in for one more play, a handoff, then went to the blue medical tent as the Eagles tried a field goal. The kick was good but Hurts struggled when he came back in the game. That led to a sack in the end zone and a Rams safety when Hurts couldn’t move. The Rams trailed 16-15 and given Hurts’ banged-up knee, there was concern. It’s an injury that will be monitored all week leading up to the NFC title game.
The snow helped the Eagles out though. Kyren Williams had the slippery ball punched out by defensive tackle Jalen Carter, and Philadelphia recovered. After a long return to the Rams’ 10-yard line, Barkley got three straight handoffs and he was just short of a touchdown on the third one. On fourth-and-goal the Eagles were going to run a Tush Push but right tackle Lane Johnson had a false start that pushed it back 5 yards. Philadelphia settled for a field goal, which was another disappointment for the Eagles and a big win for the Rams' defense.
It didn’t matter much because the Rams couldn’t do anything on offense. Matthew Stafford had the ball pop out of his hands for a fumble and the Eagles recovered. That led to another Elliott field goal in tough conditions, which pushed the Eagles’ lead to 22-15 with 6:18 left.
The Rams punted after that and then Barkley kept his footing while the Rams couldn’t find theirs on a 78-yard touchdown. Philadelphia missed the extra point, which didn’t seem like that big of a deal in the moment.
The Rams finally got some offense going when they were down 2 points and scored a touchdown with 2:48 left to stay alive. The Rams got a stop, with the defense getting a huge sack on Hurts on second down, and the Eagles punted. The Rams surprisingly had a chance to win it.
The Rams started to move the ball again, something they had rarely done in the miserable weather. Puka Nacua had a ridiculous 37-yard catch with 1:25 left down to the Eagles’ 21-yard line.
It wasn’t an easy game for either team but the Eagles held on in the snow. Barkley in particular was the difference as the Eagles advanced. There will presumably be better weather in Philadelphia for the NFC championship game next week, but the Eagles might not mind if there’s another snowstorm.
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Liz Roscher
Ian Casselberry
Jalen Hurts on left knee: 'I finished the game'
Asked how his left knee feels, Jalen Hurts wouldn't go into specifics saying he'll talk about it later.
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.
Ian Casselberry
Rams turn it over on downs
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.
Ian Casselberry
Matthew Stafford sacked by Jalen Carter
After a 10-yard pass to Puka Nacua, the Eagles' defense makes a play with Jalen Carter sacking Matthew Stafford for a 9-yard loss.
It's first-and-10 for the Rams at the Eagles' 21-yard line.
Ian Casselberry
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.
Ian Casselberry
Rams get a stop
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.
Ian Casselberry
Matthew Stafford completed six passes for 75 yards on that last touchdown drive. The snow didn't affect him there.
Ian Casselberry
TOUCHDOWN: Eagles 28, Rams 22
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.
Stafford finds Parkinson to keep the @RamsNFL alive.
Can the Rams' defense stop Saquon Barkley, though?
Ian Casselberry
Saquon Barkley has 196 rushing yards on 24 carries, tying an Eagles postseason record. Oh, and he's scored twice today.
Ian Casselberry
TOUCHDOWN: Eagles 29, Rams 15
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.
Ian Casselberry
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.
Ian Casselberry
Matthew Stafford sacked
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.
Ian Casselberry
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.
Ian Casselberry
FUMBLE by Matthew Stafford
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.
Jake Elliott kicks a 23-yard field goal with the snow whipping across the field, giving the Eagles a 19–15 lead.
A disappointing result after recovering a fumble and returning it to the Rams' 10-yard line, but Philadelphia still gets points when it could be difficult for the Rams to move the ball down the field.
Whether or not the Eagles got in the end zone on the Tush Push is a moot point as Lane Johnson is called for a false start on fourth-and-1.
Philadelphia will kick a field goal after the penalty.
Ian Casselberry
Replay overturns touchdown call
Replay review shows that Saquon Barkley landed short of the goal line and the Eagles' touchdown is taken off the board. Barkley gets a 1-yard run and we'll probably get a Brotherly Shove on fourth-and-1.
Ian Casselberry
Saquon Barkley appeared to run for a 2-yard touchdown and that was the call on the field. But it looks like that will be called back on replay, which shows Barkley landed short of the goal line.
Ian Casselberry
Following the turnover, Saquon Barkley runs it 8 yards to the Rams' 2-yard line.
Ian Casselberry
FUMBLE by Kyren Williams
As the snow picks up again in Philadelphia, Kyren Williams fumbles on his first carry of the fourth quarter. Jalen Carter punches the ball out of Williams' right arm.
Isaiah Rodgers picks up the live ball and returns it 40 yards to the Rams' 10-yard line.
Following a 66-yard free kick by Jake Elliott, the Rams take over at their 35-yard line.
Kyren Williams rushes for 8 yards on the final play of the third quarter.
Ian Casselberry
SAFETY: Eagles 16, Rams 15
A bull rush up the middle by Rams nose tackle Neville Gallimore flushes Jalen Hurts out of the pocket and right into Keir Thomas, who brings Hurts down for a safety.
Kyren Williams gains 8 yards on second-and-10, but Puka Nacua drops a pass from Matthew Stafford on third-and-2.
A great punt from Ethan Evans goes 58 yards and pins the Eagles at the 4-yard
Ian Casselberry
Jalen Hurts in medical tent
Jalen Hurts is getting checked out in the medical tent after his left leg was pinned underneath Jaylen McCullough.
Jalen Hurts was tackled awkwardly and he was holding his left knee and it looked like he was in pain. He is now in the medical tent. pic.twitter.com/WnrgXVbZgA
Kyren Williams can't get his arms around a handoff from Matthew Stafford and drops the ball. Williams recovers the fumble, but the Rams lose one yard on the play.
Ian Casselberry
Cooper Kupp's second catch of the game is a big one, going for a 32-yard gain.
Despite the snow easing up at the beginning of the second half, neither team could get a first down on their opening drives. The Eagles go 3-and-out after a 7-yard pass to Devonta Smith is followed by Saquon Barkley rushing for no yards and an incomplete pass by Jalen Hurts.
The Rams take over at their 26-yard line after a 53-yard punt from Braden Mann and a 3-yard return by Xavier Smith.
Ian Casselberry
The Rams go 3-and-out on their first possession of the second half with two Matthew Stafford passes covering five yards sandwiching a 2-yard rush from Kyren Williams.
Philadelphia takes over at its 15-yard line after a 53 punt from Ethan Evans and 5-yard return by Cooper DeJean.
Ian Casselberry
The Rams are on offense to begin the second half. They'll begin at their 30-yard line after a touchback kickoff from Jake Elliott.
Liz Roscher
And on the play immediately after the sack on Hurts, Verse sacks Hurts yet again! Hurts stayed down a little longer this time, but the game is headed into halftime and the Rams get the ball to start the third quarter.
The Rams defense is showing up, and the Eagles offense is starting to falter after the constant attacks.
Liz Roscher
Disaster averted...
The Rams again sack Jalen Hurts, who drops the ball instead of holding onto it. The Eagles recovered it, but the lost yardage once again took the Eagles out of field goal range. That could have been a major disaster.
Liz Roscher
Saquon gets a 1st down, momentarily leaves game, then returns
Saquon Barkley gave the Eagles a 1st down on 3rd and 14, but he was quickly replaced by RB Kenny Gainwell after the play concluded.
3rd and 14 from their own 5-yard line? No problem for the @Eagles.
