Highlights and lowlights from Philadelphia’s playoff win.
Nick Sirianni exhaled in relief walking through the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field. Sirianni had a lot to be relieved about. Two missed extra points, very bad penalties in crucial moments, dropped interceptions, yielding big plays, dropped passes, and Matt Stafford fortunately overthrowing a receiver on the Los Angeles Rams’ final play of the game.
Yep, that was a lot to emit.
The Eagles made the Rams melt in the snow, 28-22, in the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs on Sunday in the winter wonderland known as Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles will now host the Washington Commanders next Sunday at 3 p.m. in the NFC Championship at the Linc.
Saquon Barkley rolled over the Rams again, finishing with an Eagles’ single-game playoff record 205 yards rushing on 25 carries, with touchdown runs of 62 and 78 yards. Jalen Hurts was not great, though an efficient 15 of 20 for 128 yards, although he was sacked seven times for 63 yards. Hurts is 4-0 in home playoff games, and in each home playoff victory his passing yards were under 200.
Defensively, the Eagles sacked Matt Stafford five times for 33 yards, the key sack coming in the waning moments of the game when Jalen Carter got his second sack during the most pivotal moment in the game.
There was a lot of good, some bad, and some dangerous ugly that could still bite the in the Eagles in the future after their 28-22 Divisional round victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
The Good
Jalen Carter’s nine-yard sack on third-and-two at the Eagles’ 13 with less than a minute to play. It was the play of the game. The following play Stafford overthrew Puka Nacua after being pressured by Carter up the middle, guaranteeing an NFC Championship game berth for the Eagles. Earlier, Carter punched the ball free from Kyren Williams on a second-and-two at the Rams’ 43 for the first turnover of the game on the first play of the fourth quarter. Isaiah Rodgers, who was having a rather tough game to that point, picked up the fumble and returned it to the Rams’ 10. The Eagles had to settle for a field goal and a 19-15 lead.
Saquon Barkley’s 78-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown run with 4:36 to play that sealed the victory. Center Cam Jurgens, making up for a missed block on the Rams’ safety earlier, picked up Rams’ nose tackle Tyler Davis. Left tackle Jordan Mailata gave Barkley an outside running back by steering the Rams’ Bobby Brown III left, and left guard Landon Dickerson helped with Brown, and pushed out Jared Verse on the back end.
Middle linebacker Oren Burks’ deflected pass with 4:54 to play on a third-and-10 at the Rams’ 30. It forced the Rams to punt and gave the Eagles possession with 4:47 left at the Eagles’ 23 with a chance to run out the remaining time. Burks later pulled down Kyren Williams for a two-yard loss with 3:13 to play at the Eagles’ four.
Edge rusher Nolan Smith’s strip sack at the Rams’ 38 with 11:10 left to play. The turnover was the second straight for the Rams and resulted in Jake Elliott’s third field, a 37-yarder with 6:18 left to play, giving the Eagles a 22-15 lead.
Linebacker Zack Baun’s fourth-quarter series in which he took down Kyren Williams for a three-yard loss, defended a pass and later recovered a Matt Stafford fumble with 11:10 left in the fourth quarter.
Jake Elliott’s 44-yard field goal in the snow to give the Eagles a 16-13 lead with 2:19 to play in the third quarter. It was some redemption from the missed extra point that started the game.
Dallas Goedert’s 31-yard reception on a third-and-five to the Rams’ 34 with 6:21 left in the third quarter. It was a crucial play that got the Eagles going just as the weather was starting to become a factor.
The Eagles’ defense on the Rams’ drive of the second half. It was a three-and-out that traveled seven yards when the field was still in decent condition with the snow falling.
Right guard Mekhi Becton obliterating the Rams’ linebacker Christian Rozeboom and center Cam Jurgens turning Jaylen McCollough inside on Barkley’s first-quarter, 62-yard touchdown run.
Jalen Hurts’ 44-yard touchdown run on the Eagles’ first drive. DeVonta Smith’s block on the Rams’ Darious Williams and A.J. Brown’s block on Kamren Kinchens made the play possible. Smith and Brown are such exceptional receivers and noted for their receiving ability is that is it often gets lost how good they are blocking down field.
The Bad
Kellen Moore’s dubious play calling at times, like having Hurts roll out late in the first quarter, leaving him exposed to get hit, and somehow taking the ball out of Barkley’s hands in the closing minutes of the game.
The Eagles’ allowing a season-high seven sacks for minus-63 yards.
The Eagles’ defense. They are getting turnovers, six so far throughout the playoffs, though that hides an eye sore that everyone sees: Both the Packers and the Rams moved the ball up the field pretty easily against the Eagles. The Eagles have been outgained, 704-640, and surrendered 35 first downs, while getting 32. That is not a good trend, considering how hot Washington is entering the NFC Championship game.
The Eagles’ defense on the Rams’ first series. Los Angeles rolled 67 yards over 13 plays. Stafford had time to pass. The Rams converted two third downs and a fourth down. They even permitted Stafford a five-yard scramble.
Cornerback Darius Slay’s dropped interception on the Rams’ first play of the game.
The Ugly
Isaiah Rodgers getting targets it seemed anytime he was on the field after stepping in for Quinyon Mitchell, who injured his left shoulder after tackling Matt Stafford on a third-and-six with 8:44 left in the first quarter. Rodgers proceeded to turn into Izel Jenkins and get toasted on a Demarcus Robinson 48-yard reception on a second-and-seven at the Eagles’ 19, which resulted in a field goal. On the Rams’ second drive of the second half, Rodgers channeled his inner Toast Jenkins again, getting burned for a 30-yard reception at the Eagles’ 38, which also led to a field goal.
Why take the ball out of Barkley’s hands with less than three minutes to play? On second-and-seven at the Eagles’ 33, why have Hurts roll out there by throwing the ball with the chance to drain the clock and end the game, as opposed to Hurts getting sacked by Kobie Turner for a 12-yard loss at the Eagles’ 21 with 2:39 to play.
Right tackle Lane Johnson’s false start on fourth-and-goal with 13:26 left to play. That took away a touchdown and forced the Eagles into a field goal.
Center Cam Jurgens, who has had a good season, getting stung inside by the Rams’ Neville Gallimore who pulled down Hurts in the end zone for a safety.
Right guard Mekhi Becton getting called for an ineligible man downfield penalty in the third quarter, which wiped out Dallas Goedert’s 19-yard reception on a screen to the Rams’ three on a second-and-10. The flag forced the eagles into a field and 16-13 lead with 2:19 left in the third quarter.
Elliott’s missed extra points after Hurts’ first-quarter, 44-yard touchdown, and after Barkley’s 78-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown. His two missed extra points almost cost the Eagles the game. He has become a liability during the most important time of the season.
