NFL playoffs: Eagles run past Rams in the snow

When the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Los Angeles Rams 37-20 during the NFL regular season on Nov. 24, running back Saquon Barkley rolled up 255 yards on the ground with touchdown runs of 70 and 72 yards.

That game was played on a cool night in Inglewood, California. When the teams squared off again in the second round of the NFC playoffs on Sunday, they played in the snow in Philadelphia. But the formula for the Eagles was the same: Barkley rolled up 205 yards on the ground with touchdown runs of 62 and 78 yards in Philadelphia’s 28-22 victory.

The Rams still had a chance to win at the end, thanks to two missed extra points by the Eagles’ Jake Elliott, a safety on one of Los Angeles’ seven sacks of Jalen Hurts and Matthew Stafford’s second TD pass with 2:48 to play.

The Rams got as close as the Philadelphia 13-yard line. But a third-down sack by defensive tackle Jalen Carter and a fourth-down incompletion by Stafford sealed the victory for the Eagles with 26 seconds to play.

Los Angeles lost even though it had the edge in yardage 402-350 in the game, with Stafford passing for 324 yards.

Before the snow started, Hurts opened the scoring with a 44-yard run with 11:55 left in the first quarter.

The former Alabama signal-caller’s touchdown run was the fourth-longest by a quarterback in an NFL playoff game, behind a 56-yarder by the San Francisco 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick in a 45-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 12, 2013, a 52-yarder by the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen in a 31-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 15, 2024, and a 48-yarder by the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson in a 20-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Jan. 10, 2021.

Hurts completed 15-of-20 passes for 128 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and ran seven times for 70 yards.

In addition to Hurts, seven other players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Los Angeles-Philadelphia game:

  • Reed Blankenship (West Limestone) started at safety for the Eagles. Blankenship tied for the team lead with six tackles.
  • Eagles fullback Khari Blasingame (Buckhorn) did not record any stats. Philadelphia elevated Blasingame from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
  • Eagles defensive back James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
  • Landon Dickerson (Alabama) started at left guard for the Eagles.
  • Eagles offensive lineman Jack Driscoll (Auburn) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
  • Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) dressed for the game but did not play.
  • Eagles linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville) made two tackles on special teams. Philadelphia elevated Morrow from its practice squad on Saturday to make him eligible to play after he signed with the Eagles on Tuesday.
  • Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
  • DeVonta Smith (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Eagles. Smith had four receptions for 21 yards to become Philadelphia’s career leader in postseason receiving yards.
  • Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen (Alabama) did not record any stats.
  • Eagles tight end C.J. Uzomah (Auburn) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
  • Darious Williams (UAB) started at cornerback for the Rams. Williams made two tackles.
  • Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Philadelphia will play the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game at 2 p.m. CST Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. FOX will televise the game.

The Commanders defeated the Detroit Lions 45-31 on Saturday night to advance.

The Eagles won the NFC East with a 14-3 regular-season record, then defeated the Green Bay Packers 22-10 on Jan. 12 in the first round. They’re now one victory from returning to the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons.

Los Angeles won the NFC West with a 10-7 regular-season record. As the No. 4 seed, the Rams defeated the Minnesota Vikings 27-9 in the first round on Monday night.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches the football during an NFL playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs for a touchdown during an NFL playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts runs for a touchdown during an NFL playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.