The Philadelphia Eagles were forced to watch the Commanders dismantle the Lions on Saturday night and a new level of pressure was added. With a win against the Rams on Sunday, the NFC would have to come through South Philly next weekend.
As if Jalen Hurts needed a reason to prove that the pressure doesn’t phase him, he showed up big on the Eagles’ first drive. Hurts was precise with each throw and read. He led the Eagles down the field before breaking off a 44-yard touchdown of his own to put the Eagles ahead 6-0. Jake Elliot continued his struggles as he missed the extra point.
The energy of the stadium hit a season-high once QB1 ran in the score. In this continuous game of Playoff Chess, the Eagles would now call on their defense to carry the momentum. While the defense started hot, an overturned call gave the Rams a new breath of life. Stafford and company drained 5+ minutes from the clock and ended their drive with a touchdown to take a 7-6 lead over the Eagles.
After failed offensive drives by both teams and the Eagles’ defense being a man down due the Quinyon Mitchell’s shoulder injury, it was up to the Eagles’ offense to throw the next punch. After a big unnecessary roughness call against the Rams, Saquon broke off a 62-yard touchdown run to put the Eagles back on top 13-7 at the end of the first quarter.
The Eagles’ offense struggled to get a rhythm going to start the second quarter. Although Hurts and Saquon had good runs to keep the chains moving. The passing game was affected by the heavy snowfall that started towards the end of the first quarter. Hurts overthrew a wide-open A.J. Brown which could’ve been the result of the ball slipping out of hands but it was time for them to adjust to the inclement weather conditions.
Los Angeles would look to capitalize off of that missed opportunity of the Eagles offense. Hurts was sacked to end that drive by Philadelphia’s newest villain, Jared Verse. The Rams’ offense was able to move the chains but was ultimately stopped in their territory on 3rd and 2 by Josh Sweat and the Eagles’ defensive line.
Philadelphia’s offense will come out swinging as best they could. After being backed up into their end zone due to a false start call on Jordan Mailata. Saquon Barkley broke their drive open with a huge first down catch and run. The Eagles would march down the field with the clock winding down in the first half. A.J. Brown dropped a big pass that could’ve led to a game-changing touchdown. Hurts would be sacked with less than 30 seconds left in the first half for a loss of 15 yards. The offense struggled mightily to find any sort of rhythm as Hurts was sacked for another loss of 9 yards on a very odd play call to end the half.
The Rams came out for the second half in hopes of throwing their haymaker but instead, they went three and out on their first drive of the season half. Philadelphia’s offense would follow the same trend as they struggled to get anything going which led to their own three and out.
Los Angeles would take advantage and come out swinging on their next drive. A big pass to Cooper Kupp set up an even bigger run by Kyren Williams that would place the Rams in the red zone. On the next play, Kyren would fumble the ball but then recover it for a loss of yardage. With 3rd and goal to go, the Rams would take a big sack for a loss of three yards. They would settle for a 34-yard field goal attempt to tie the game in the middle of the 3rd quarter.
The Eagles’ offense with a scoring drive of their own with time winding down in the third quarter. After a big Dallas Goedert catch and run, the Eagles were effectively moving the ball downfield. It was a grind but the run game and pass game were finally clicking until an illegal man downfield call by the officials negated a big catch and run by Dallas Goedert. That play would’ve put the offense within a couple of yards of the end zone.
On the Eagles’ next offensive drive, the offense put the team in a very tough place. For some reason, after running the ball with Saquon on the first play while being backed into their own end zone, they went for a pass play. Hurts was sacked in the end zone which led to a safety and brought the score to 16-15 Eagles. Fortunatel for the Eagles’ offense, Jalen Carter exists. Carter forced a game-changing fumble to give the Eagles offense the ball. It was recovered by Isaiah Rodgers, who returned it for 40 yards at the Rams’ 10-yard line.
The Eagles’ offense would then execute several run plays with Saquon Barkley but in each run, Barkley fell short. After what was originally called to be a touchdown by Barkley was overturned, Hurts and the offense went back to what always works, the Brotherly Shove. In this case, it worked but the play was called back due to a false start on the offense. The Eagles would settle for a field goal as the snow continued to fall. Jake Elliot would nail a 23-yard attempt to bring the score to 19-15.
Philadelphia’s defense would then take advantage of the presented opportunity of the tough snowfall. With the snowing falling heavier and heavier, Stafford would struggle to get his passes off for progression. Nolan Smith would capitalize on this and force a fumble that was recovered by Zack Baun, which set up the Eagles’ offense in Rams’ territory. Unfortunately, the Eagles’ offense couldn’t get anything going on after a critical first down conversion by A.J. Brown. Philly would be forced to the settle for another field goal to extend the lead to 22-15 with 6:18 left to go in the game.
After a huge stop by the Eagles’ defense, the offense sealed the game by relying on their MVP. Saquon Barkley broke off a 78-yard rushing touchdown on the very first play of the drive. This would put the Eagles in the drivers seat with four and half minutes left go in the game and score being 28-15. Saquon Barkley would have his own legendary snow game as he rushed 24 times for 196 yards and two touchdowns to this point of the game.
The ground game controlled the game for the Eagles in a very tough winter conditions. With time running out Los Angeles would answer back with a score of their own as they marched down the field in quick fashion. Stafford would seal that drive with a touchdown pass to Parkinson to bring the score to 28-22 with 2:48 left in the game. Philly’s offense would now be on the clock in hopes of icing this game but a sack that led to a 12-yard loss would bout them in a tough position on third down. They would call on Saquon’s number for a six-yard gain that would bring the Eagles drive to end on 4th and 13.
Los Angeles would bring this game down to the wire on the next drive as Stafford continuously found a way to move the chains. It would ultimately come down to 4th and 15 after a huge sack by Jalen Carter. Stafford would over throw his target by a mile which led to a turnover on downs and an Eagles’ victory.
This now means that the Eagles will host the Commanders for the NFC Championship next weekend in what could be the ultimate revenge game for Jalen Hurts after being taken out of their last matchup due to a nasty hit by Frankie Luvu. NFL fans will get a game that could compete for game of the year between the Eagles and Commanders.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
