PHILADELPHIA — The snow never bothered Saquon Barkley anyway.

Barkley, the 2024 rushing title holder, plowed through a snow-covered Lincoln Financial Field, cruising for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in the Eagles’ nail-biter of a 28-22 divisional-round victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The star running back contributed a pair of explosive touchdown runs, including a 62-yarder in the first quarter and a 78-yarder in the fourth to solidify the Eagles’ win.

The latter touchdown tied a career-high scoring scamper that Barkley had as a rookie with the New York Giants in 2018. He also broke Steve Van Buren’s franchise record for rushing yards in a playoff game, set in 1949 with a 196-yard performance against the Rams in the championship game.

With two minutes left in the game, the Rams attempted a comeback. Although the Rams moved the ball deep into Eagles territory on the drive, Jalen Carter mustered a critical third-down sack of quarterback Matthew Stafford, the second-year defensive tackle’s second of the game. Stafford tossed an incomplete pass out of bounds on fourth down to squash what was left of the Rams’ postseason hopes.

The Eagles will host the Washington Commanders at home in the NFC championship game after their NFC East foe defeated the Detroit Lions on Saturday night.

Hurts struggles against pressure

Jalen Hurts started off the game with a bang, ripping off an explosive 44-yard touchdown run on the opening drive to put the Eagles up, 6-0. The fourth-year starting quarterback pulled the ball on a zone-read play, benefiting from strong blocks from receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith as he broke into the second level of the Rams defense. Jake Elliott missed the extra point.

The Eagles passing game rebounded early, as Hurts went 3 for 3 for 25 yards on the opening drive. But he struggled to connect with Brown as the first half continued. The star receiver dropped a pair of passes, including one over the middle later in the first quarter. On the next drop in the second quarter, Brown bobbled a deep shot from Hurts in the end zone and only got it under control when he landed out of bounds.

Handling pressure quickly became an issue for Hurts and the Eagles’ offensive front. In the first half alone, the Rams mustered three sacks on Hurts that stalled drives. The first sack from Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske on the Eagles’ second possession of the game forced them to go three-and-out. The next two were more significant momentum-killers, with the Eagles deep in Rams territory. A sack from Rams rookie defensive end Jared Verse on third-and-8 at the Rams’ 30-yard line knocked the Eagles out of field-goal range and forced them to punt.

Hurts took another sack with 30 seconds remaining in the first half from Rams linebacker Omar Speights at the Rams’ 32-yard line for a loss of 8 yards. The play, which occurred on second down, knocked the Eagles out of field-goal range. In an odd sequence of events, Nick Sirianni opted to take a timeout after 27 seconds had run off the clock, leaving time for just one more play, but Hurts was sacked on the ensuing dropback.

He took yet another sack late in the third quarter deep in Rams territory, setting up an Elliott 44-yard field goal. Hurts was banged up on the play, but after a brief visit to the medical tent, he returned to action. His struggles didn’t end — Hurts was sacked in the end zone for a safety, cutting the Eagles’ lead to 16-15. The quarterback finished the night with 15 completions on 20 passing attempts for 128 yards.

Carter and Rodgers to the rescue

After Hurts was sacked for a safety late in the third quarter, Stafford and the Rams offense returned to the field looking to take the lead. Carter had other plans. The second-year defensive tackle forced a fumble on Rams running back Kyren Williams at the Rams’ 46, the ball sliding across the snow. Isaiah Rodgers, the backup cornerback who was filling in for the injured Quinyon Mitchell, scooped up the ball and returned it 40 yards to the Rams’ 10-yard line.

Carter was a force on Sunday, sacking Stafford in the first quarter and the fourth. He also drew a holding penalty against Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein in the second quarter on a drive that ultimately forced the visitors to settle for a field goal.

Hurts and the offense returned to the field, but they failed to reach the end zone. Barkley was ruled just short of the goal line on his 2-yard carry on fourth down. The Eagles attempted a Tush Push on fourth-and-1, but Lane Johnson was flagged for a false start. Elliott’s 23-yard field goal attempt was good, putting the Eagles up, 19-15.

Baun steps up

Zack Baun continued to show why he was deserving of Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in his first year as a starting inside linebacker. The 28-year-old made his presence felt halfway through the fourth quarter as the Rams continued their attempt at a comeback following the Carter forced fumble.

On the first play of the possession, Baun shot the A gap and tackled Williams for a loss of 3 yards. Three plays later, on second-and-10 from the Rams’ 45, a blitzing Baun broke up a pass at the line of scrimmage that Stafford had intended for receiver Puka Nacua.

Second-year outside linebacker Nolan Smith surged on the ensuing drop back. Smith beat Havenstein and brought down Stafford, who fumbled the ball away in the process. Baun, who was sent on a blitz again, fell on the loose ball. Once again, the Eagles offense couldn’t reach the end zone, but Elliott continued to rebound by making a 37-yard field goal in the snow.

Injury report

Halfway through the first quarter, Mitchell went down after making a tackle on a scrambling Stafford. After a lengthy visit to the medical tent, Mitchell returned to the locker room favoring his right shoulder. He did not return to action and Rodgers took his place at cornerback. Rodgers went down in the fourth quarter, too, but he returned to the game after a brief hiatus.

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