The Philadelphia Eagles superior to the convention championship recreation for the second time within the final three seasons after a snowy 28-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Lincoln Monetary Subject was lined in snow within the second half of the tightly contested NFC divisional matchup, however Philadelphia’s standard strengths — its No. 1-ranked protection (by yards allowed) and its Saquon Barkley-led speeding assault — had been the distinction but once more. That was particularly key after quarterback Jalen Hurts was hampered by a left knee damage sustained whereas absorbing a sack late within the third quarter.
Along with a pair of lengthy landing runs, Barkley’s 205 speeding yards had been good for the fifth-best postseason speeding whole in NFL historical past, a becoming follow-up to his 302-yard efficiency in the course of the two groups’ Week 12 assembly.
Philly now turns its consideration to Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders with a Tremendous Bowl look on the road after they play subsequent Sunday. The NFC East rivals cut up their 2024 season sequence. They’ve met just one different time within the postseason, a 20-6 wild-card win by Washington in January 1991.
You’ve got been Snoquon Barkley’d ™️ ❄️@saquon | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/SBV0ltUG5j
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 19, 2025
Protection continues its dominance
The Eagles’ protection gave Philadelphia possibilities to place the Rams away early. It compelled two first-half area targets whereas backed up within the crimson zone. On the primary occasion, C.J. Gardner-Johnson provided a serious sort out for loss, following the movement on the play into the backfield. Within the fourth quarter, Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith compelled fumbles that gave the Eagles the ball in Rams territory. Each turnovers solely resulted in area targets.
The Eagles compelled a three-and-out with 4:47 left within the recreation, and Barkley instantly rushed for a 78-yard landing to threaten to place the sport away. However the Eagles’ protection subsequently gave up a 10-play landing drive, which, adopted by a three-and-out by the Eagles’ offense, compelled Philly to defend the sector one final time. They did. A turnover on downs deep in Eagles territory ended the sport. — Brooks Kubena, Eagles employees author
Ailing Hurts not taking part in at his highest stage
Hurts, who completed with 128 passing yards Sunday, has now twice thrown for underneath 200 yards within the playoffs. Nick Sirianni has defended his franchise quarterback all through the season, sermonizing totally different variations of “Jalen is a winner.” Certainly, Hurts fulfills a unique function on this offense this season. He’s extra conservative within the pocket, leveraging Barkley and a top-rated protection on the best way to extra bodily victories.
It’s honest to say Hurts was conservative final week towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers. His play towards the Rams on Sunday was poor. He took far too many sacks in consequential conditions, together with a security that allowed the Rams to crawl to inside one level, 16-15. He missed open receivers on a number of performs.
A.J. Brown had his personal blunders, dropping two passes, together with a deep ball close to the pylon. The Eagles merely want higher play from Hurts to completely reap the benefits of the alternatives their protection is supplying them. — Kubena
Eagles nonetheless ready for offense to click on
The Eagles failed to completely capitalize on offensive alternatives, and it almost value them. They constructed a 13-7 first-quarter lead on a 44-yard landing run by Hurts and a 62-yard landing run by Barkley. They had been disjointed for a lot of the remainder of the sport. Hurts was sacked six occasions — thrice within the last two possessions of the primary half, through which the Eagles punted twice in Rams territory. Brown additionally dropped the well-placed cross from Hurts close to the pylon in that stretch.
Within the second half, the Eagles failed to attain touchdowns off two defensive turnovers in Rams territory. Most inexcusable: Lane Johnson was flagged for a false begin, wiping out a Brotherly Shove landing on fourth-and-goal on the 1. Jake Elliott, who struggled for stretches of this season, got here by for the Eagles when it mattered most. He made all three of his area purpose makes an attempt on a area blanketed in snow.
That is the second straight week the Eagles offense has wanted the protection to bail it out and provides Hurts and firm time to place the sport on ice. Can the Eagles advance to the Tremendous Bowl that manner subsequent week, internet hosting the Commanders within the NFC Championship Sport? — Kubena
Required studying
(Photograph: Sarah Stier / Getty Pictures)
