The Philadelphia Eagles are a victory away from punching their ticket to Super Bowl LIX. Saquon Barkley and the Eagles’ defense made sure of that.
The dynamic running back rushed for a historic 205 yards and two touchdowns and Philly’s defense came up with the key stops needed to lead the Eagles to a 28-22 home win over the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the NFC Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs on Sunday.
With the win, the Eagles will now meet the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game next weekend for the right to play in the Super Bowl.
Barkley ran roughshod on the Rams Sunday, his first TD coming in the opening quarter when he followed his lead blocks for the 62-yard rushing score.
Though the Rams would pull within 16-15 of the Eagles’ lead entering the fourth quarter, the Eagles’ defense forced two fumbles — on Kyren Williams and a strip sack on Matthew Stafford. Each of those turnovers was followed by an Eagles’ field goal and Barkley gave the Eagles breathing room with a 78-yard touchdown rush to extend their lead to 28-15 with 4:36 left.
Barkley's 205 rushing yards were the fifth most for an NFL playoff performance.
Though the Rams would score a touchdown on a short pass from Stafford to Colby Parkinson with 2:48 remaining and would threaten to score again, Stafford being sacked on a crucial third down with 1:12 left and then tossing an incomplete pass on fourth down helped seal the Eagles’ victory as their magical season continues.