PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley blew by a gap and ran untouched within the wintry combine, the Eagles’ 2,000-yard rusher smacking his helmet together with his hand on his remaining snowy steps of a 78-yard landing run.
The Rams had braced for gusty winds and a heightened likelihood of snow on a visit to Philadelphia.
They have been blown over by Barkley.
Barkley waved his arms in celebration as he scampered alongside the again of the tip zone earlier than he slid into the snow — Slide, Eagles, Slide! — within the late-game playoff celebration.
Barkley dashed by the snow for landing runs of 78 and 62 yards and completed with 205 yards speeding, Jalen Hurts had a 44-yard scoring run and the Eagles held on towards the turnover-happy Rams 28-22 on Sunday to achieve the NFC championship recreation for the second time in three years.
“This is the reason why I came here,” Barkley mentioned. “This was the best opportunity to play in a game like this.”
Barkley, who left the Giants in free company to signal a three-year deal for $26 million assured, ran for a 62-yard rating within the first half and stretched the lead within the fourth on the 78-yard rating that gave him 4 touchdowns of 60-plus yards in two video games this season towards the Rams.
Barkley gave Hurts just a little heads up earlier than the snap {that a} particular play was about to develop.
“It was fun, It was a play that I asked for,” Barkley mentioned. “It’s a beautiful thing when stuff like that happens.”
These Philly Snow Birds had trigger for celebration — they may host the NFC championship recreation Sunday towards Washington after the Commanders surprised No. 1 seed Detroit on Saturday.
The Rams saved the upset risk alive — precipitated largely by two missed additional factors by Philadelphia’s Jake Elliott.
Matthew Stafford, who threw for 324 yards with sore ribs, saved the Rams in it with a 4-yard TD go to Colby Parkinson that made it 28-22. The Rams obtained 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 go on fourth down to finish the risk.
That got here after the Rams suffered from a flurry of fumbles within the fourth quarter, one by operating again Kyren Williams that led to a area purpose for the Eagles and a strip-sack of Stafford that led to a different kick by Elliott to provide Philadelphia a 22-15 lead.
The Eagles are set to host the NFC championship recreation for the fifth time since Lincoln Monetary Discipline opened in 2003.
Eagles defenders frolicked within the winter mess and made snow angels in the long run 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 employees 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 occasions.
Hurts suffered a concussion that price 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 file.
Hurts mentioned he anticipated to play towards the Commanders.
Barkley had 118 complete yards on the break, however the Rams’ protection — coming off a nine-sack effort towards Minnesota — sacked Hurts 3 times 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 recreation.
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 seemed 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 towards one staff since Baltimore’s Jamal Lewis did it towards the Browns in 2003.
“Rain, sleet, or snow, he’s been able to pound, pound, pound, and then take it off,’ Hurts said ”That was enjoyable. That was cute. Simply having the ability to pop it out first for us.”
Verse obtained 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 mild snow. As soon as the sport began, the Eagles confirmed on the large display Verse on the bench and followers booed once more.
Verse winked on the digicam, stamping his identify on the checklist of Philly sports activities villains.
“I think I’m up here pretty shocked because I know a lot of people didn’t believe we could come in here, but we had the full expectation to come in here,” and win, Rams coach Sean McVay mentioned. “I don’t think anybody ever really expected the end of the season to be right now and the finality of it is tough for me to swallow.”