NFL play-off results: Philadelphia Eagles hold on to beat Los Angeles Rams
Barkley is the season’s rushing leader with 2,005 yards – eighth most all-time – and Philadelphia has the league’s second-best rushing attack.
The weather forecast is also not ideal for the passing game, so this promises to be a run-heavy game.
However, it was Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, not Barkley, who broke through tackles on the opening drive for a 44-yard touchdown, the longest of his career.
The Rams responded with a four-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to tight end Tyler Higbee before Barkley burst on for a 62-yard score on his first burst.
The Rams scored on a field goal to cut the halftime deficit to 13-10, and the snow fell significantly after the break, with both teams trading field goals in the third quarter.
Hurts suffered a knee injury on the Eagles’ drive, and on their next possession he was trapped in his own end zone by Neville Gallimore for a safety, cutting the deficit to 16-15.
It became increasingly difficult to handle, with the Rams turning the ball over on consecutive possessions and the Eagles punishing every turnover with field goals to start the fourth quarter.
Barkley’s ensuing 78-yard score helped him finish with 205 yards, the fifth-best rushing total in postseason history.
That touchdown ultimately proved to be the decisive one, but the Eagles needed their defense to step up in a tight finale.
