The Philadelphia Eagles are advancing to the NFC Championship Game after beating the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL playoffs! Final score: 28 to 22.
Man. This was a pretty insane game!
Missed kicks! Big plays! Turnovers! Snow! Chaos!
It looked like the Birds had everything wrapped up when Saquon Barkley — who ran all over the Rams once again with 26 carries for 205 yards — broke a 78-yard touchdown run to give the Eagles a 13-point with a little over four minutes remaining in the game.
But the Rams scored a quick touchdown right after and then got a stop to give themselves a chance for a game-winning touchdown. LA’s offense got as close as the plus 13-yard line before a HUGE Jalen Carter sack forced a fourth down attempt that went unsuccessful!
Talk about a roller coaster of emotions.
Nevertheless, thanks to big efforts from Barkley and a defense that only allowed 20 points (two were scored on Jalen Hurts getting sacked for a safety), the Eagles are through to the next round.
And next up is the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders, which will take place at Lincoln Financial Field.
Big-time NFC East battle on deck!
Read on for a recap and stay tuned for BGN’s postgame coverage.
FIRST QUARTER
The Eagles lost the coin toss and the Rams elected to defer to put Philly’s offense up first. The Eagles took over at their own 26-yard line. The Eagles’ first play was an under center play-action rollout (!) for a Jalen Hurts completion to Dallas Goedert for 14 yards and a first down. Facing 3rd-and-1, a Barkley carry got past the marker for a first down. Hurts took off running and broke through contact for a 44-yard run to the end zone! Great opening drive for QB1. Jake Elliott missed the extra point, though. Not ideal. EAGLES 6, RAMS 0.
Excellent opening drive from Jalen Hurts.
3/3 for 25 yards as a passer and then a 44-yard TD run where he broke through contact to find the end zone.
Hurts held his hand up to his ear after the score.
Jake Elliott misses the XP, though.
Eagles 6, Rams 0.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 19, 2025
That is Jalen Hurts’s 61st career rushing TD between the regular season and playoffs.
His previous longest was 26 yards. That one goes for 44. (Next time let him go for 2.)
— Mitch Goldich (@mitchgoldich) January 19, 2025
Jalen Hurts’ 44-yard rushing TD is the longest by an Eagle in a playoff game since Brian Westbrook’s 62-yard TD on 1/13/07 at New Orleans.
It is the longest opening-drive rushing TD by an NFL player in a postseason game since Tim Hightower’s 70-yard rushing TD on 1/16/10 at New…
— John Gonoude (@john_gonoude) January 19, 2025
The Rams took over at their own 33-yard line after Elliott’s kickoff was well short of reaching the end zone. Darius Slay dropped a pick on Matthew Stafford’s first passing attempt. That would’ve really sent The Linc into a frenzy. Facing 3rd-and-7, Stafford’s pass to Tyler Higbee was ruled incomplete for hitting the ground. Sean McVay challenged the call … and the ruling was overturned for a first down. Kyren Williams ripped off a 20-yard gain into plus territory. Stafford ripped a throw over the middle to Puka Nacua for a first down into the red zone. Quinyon Mitchell broke up a Stafford pass to Nacua to bring up third down. Facing 3rd-and-6, Stafford took off running up the middle for five yards. Facing 4th-and-1, the Rams handed off to Williams for a first down at the six-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-goal from the 4-yard line after a Slay pass breakup, Stafford hit Higbee at the goal line for a touchdown. EAGLES 6, RAMS 7.
With the Rams about to take over on offense, the Eagles put Jared Verse’s quote about how he hates Eagles fans on their video board and then showed Verse sitting on the sideline.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 19, 2025
Rams TD drive to go up 7 to 6:
13 plays, 67 yards, 5:23.
Costly dropped pick by Darius Slay on Matthew Stafford’s first throw.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 19, 2025
The Eagles took over at their own 32-yard line. A.J. Brown dropped a very good tight window throw by Hurts. Facing 3rd-and-6, Hurts got sacked. Three-and-out.
The Rams gained 18 yards on a punt return (Sydney Brown missed the Rams returner and instead tackled his teammate) to take over at their own 34-yard line. Oren Burks made a nice tackle for loss on a screen to bring up third down. Facing 3rd-and-3, Jalen Carter got to Stafford and sacked him by picking him up, lol.
The Eagles took over at their own 17-yard line. Hurts aired it out deep to DeVonta Smith, who immediately got lit up after the ball hit his hands. The refs threw a flag for unnecessary roughness for the helmet-to-helmet shot. Facing 3rd-and-4, Barkley ripped a 62-yard run to the end zone for another Eagles touchdown! AND THEN JAKE ELLIOTT ACTUALLY MADE THE EXTRA POINT! EAGLES 13, RAMS 7.
Saquon Barkley’s TD run followed up by snow starting to fall here again at The Linc.#Eagles
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 19, 2025
Saquon Barkley has THREE 60-yard rush TD vs the Rams this season, tied for the most by any player vs 1 team in a season all-time (2003 Jamal Lewis vs Browns)
— Doug Clawson (@doug_clawson) January 19, 2025
The Rams took over at their own 30-yard line. Stafford aired it out deep and almost got picked off by Rodgers but Demarcus Robinson was able to come down with possession. Would’ve been better for Rodgers to try to knock it down there instead of losing the contested ball.
SECOND QUARTER
The Rams got knocked back by an offensive holding call, THE FIRST ONE DRAWN BY JALEN CARTER ALL SEASON LONG. Facing 3rd-and-2 after too easily making up lost ground, C.J. Gardner-Johnson got to Williams in the backfield for a TFL. Huge. Sean McVay cowardly opted for the 30-yard field goal attempt … and the Rams’ rookie kicker made it. A more aggressive coach could’ve had the Eagles trailing after that possession. EAGLES 13, RAMS 10.
The Eagles took over at their own 43-yard line after a good 45-yard kick return by Kenny Gainwell. Facing 3rd-and-3, Hurts to Brown on the slant went for the first down. Automatic. Barkley ran for a first down into field goal range. Hurts sailed a throw out of bounds to Brown for what would’ve been a first down. Facing 3rd-and-8, Jared Verse sacked Hurts out of field goal range. The Eagles punted from 4th-and-17 at the plus 39-yard line.
The Rams took over at their own 7-yard line. The Rams moved quickly to approach midfield. Facing 3rd-and-1, Josh Sweat logged a TFL on Williams. Facing 4th-and-3, McVay decided to punt.
The Eagles took over at their own 9-yard line after Cooper DeJean recovered his muffed punt. Jordan Mailata had a false start to knock the offense back. Facing 3rd-and-14 after Barkley got stopped for a loss, a Hurts dump off to Barkley resulted in a first down. Then Gainwell picked up a first down after a short catch. Then Gainwell ran for a first down to hit the two-minute warning. Hurts ran for another first down and he was contacted after he went out of bounds … no flag. Barkley ran for eight yards and then Hurts took a shot to Brown, who bobbled the ball on his way down for an incompletion instead of making the catch for goal-to-go. Costly mistake. Facing 3rd-and-2, a Barkley carry moved the chains. A checkdown to Barkley only picked up two yards and caused the Eagles to call their second timeout at 0:30. Hurts was strip-sacked and Gainwell, who blew his pass protection assignment, fortunately recovered but Nick Sirianni let time run instead of calling a timeout. The Eagles called a timeout at 0:03 to set up a Hail Mary attempt. The Rams called a timeout of their own to get a look at the Eagles’ formation. Hurts was sacked before he could even get a Hail Mary throw off. Really bad ending to what should’ve been a scoring drive.
What is Sirianni doing?!? Call a timeout, run a play, maybe get back in FG range before the end of the half. You’re content to run it all the way down and try a Hail Mary? Really?
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) January 19, 2025
Nick again f’ing up EOH strategy.
Call a TO at 10 seconds and u get 2 shots with little risk
— Brent Cohen (@EaglesRewind) January 19, 2025
Jalen Hurts only attempted three passes thrown further than 5 air yards in the first half. All were incomplete. He was 9-of-9 for 66 yards on passes with 5 or fewer air yards in the first half.
Via @ESPNStatsInfo
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) January 19, 2025
THIRD QUARTER
The Rams took over at their own 30-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-8, Stafford’s pass was completed short of the sticks to bring up a Rams three-and-out.
The Eagles took over at their own 15-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-3, Hurts’ pass to Brown was wide of the WR for an incompletion. Three-and-out.
The Rams took over at their own 26-yard line after a 55-yard punt by Mann and a special teams tackle by Sydney Brown.
Facing 3rd-and-5 after Stafford overthrew Nacua deep, Stafford connected downfield with Cooper Kupp with Rodgers unable to make a play on the ball to prevent the catch. Then Kyren Williams broke a run through missed tackles to the 8-yard line. Williams dropped a handoff for a fumble recovery that resulted in a 7-yard loss. Facing 3rd-and-13, Jalyx Hunt got to a scrambling Stafford for a sack. The Rams brought on Joshua Karty for a game-tying 34-yard field goal attempt and he made it. EAGLES 13, RAMS 13.
The Eagles took over at their own 30-yard line. Facing 3rd-and-5, Hurts hit Goedert — who was wide open with a nearby defender falling down — for a 31-yard gain into plus territory. It looked like Hurts had Jahan Dotson open deep in his vision for a TD but he instead checked down for a short gain. Hurts threw a dangerous pass in the end zone to Brown that was in jeopardy of being picked off. A tight end screen to Goedert resulted in another big gain … until ineligible man downfield on Mekhi Becton brought the offense back. Then Hurts took a sack and looked banged up but stayed in for third down. Facing 3rd-and-16, Barkley took a coward’s draw for two yards. Elliott came in for the 44-yard field goal … and made it despite the snowy/windy conditions. Much-needed points to avoid four straight scoreless drives. EAGLES 16, RAMS 13.
The Rams took over at their own 30-yard line. Higbee dropped a catch over the middle with no one near him. Facing 3rd-and-3, Nacua dropped a first down conversion. Three-and-out.
The Eagles took over at their own 4-yard line after DeJean didn’t bother to return a punt (not sure if he was able to see the ball in the air). Hurts got sacked despite having Goedert open for a checkdown. EAGLES 16, RAMS 15.
Jalen is having a very, very bad game
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 19, 2025
The Rams took over at their own 35-yard line with snow intensifying.
FOURTH QUARTER
Jalen Carter forced a fumble for an Isaiah Rodgers recovery 40 yards to the plus 10-yard line! HUGE.
The Eagles took over at their own 10-yard line. Barkley took a carry to the 1-yard line. Instead of the Brotherly Shove, a Barkley carry went for a loss. Facing 3rd-and-goal from the 2-yard line, Barkley got to the goal line for a touchdown! The play went under review … and the ruling on the field was overturned with Barkley being just short. Facing 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line, the refs called a false start on Lane Johnson. Instead of going for it, Sirianni brought in the field goal team … and Elliott made the 23-yard kick. EAGLES 19, RAMS 15.
The Rams took over at their own 29-yard line. Zack Baun came up with a big TFL to knock the Rams back. Facing 3rd-and-10, Stafford hit Robinson for a first down. Baun deflected a screen pass to bring up another third down. Facing 3rd-and-10, Nolan Smith strip-sacked Stafford for a Baun recovery! Defense taking over.
The Eagles took over at the plus 40-yard line with 11:04 left in the game. Facing 3rd-and-5 after a shortly Barkley run and a short Barkley catch, Barkley ran for no gain. Facing 4th-and-5, Hurts made a clutch throw to Brown on a slant for a big-time first down. Nice job by Sirianni to go for it there with a FG being far from guaranteed. Facing 3rd-and-4, Barkley ran for a loss. Sirianni brought Elliott in for a 37-yard field goal attempt that was GOOD. Great job by Braden Mann on the hold. EAGLES 22, RAMS 15.
The Rams took over at their own 30-yard line with 6:18 left in the game. Moro Ojomo immediately got to Stafford for a sack. First of Ojomo’s career. Facing 3rd-and-10, Oren Burks deflected Stafford’s pass for an incompletion. McVay decided to punt for a three-and-out.
The Eagles took over at their own 22-yard line with 4:47 left in the game and the Rams having three timeouts to work with. Barkley immediately ripped off a 78-yard touchdown run! And then Elliott missed the extra point. EAGLES 28, RAMS 15.
Saquon Barkley is the first player in NFL history with 200+ scrimmage yards in a game against the same opponent in both the regular season game and a playoff game in the same season.
— Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL) January 19, 2025
The Rams took over at their own 30-yard line with 4:36 left in the game. They quickly moved into plus territory. And then into the red zone. And then into goal-to-go at the 2-yard line. Burks got to Williams for a big TFL to help run some clock. Facing 3rd-and-goal at the 4-yard line, Stafford hit Colby Parkinson with Slay beaten. 10 plays, 70 yards, and only 1:48 off the clock. Just can’t let them score that quickly.
The Eagles took over at their own 30-yard line with 2:48 on the clock and the Rams still having all three timeouts. Barkley gained three yards and the Rams took their first timeout at 2:44. Hurts slid for a sack with a defender in his face on a rollout and the Rams took their second timeout at 2:39. Facing 3rd-and-19, Barkley ran the ball for six yards and the Rams took their final timeout at 2:35. Offense totally failed to close the game out on their terms.
The Rams took over at their own 19-yard line after a Mann punt that went 55 yards with the Rams letting it bounce and roll. The Rams picked up a first down at their own 31-yard line at the two-minute warning. Cooper DeJean dropped a pick on a downfield pass. Slay knocked down a Stafford pass to bring up third down. Facing 3rd-and-10, Stafford hit Robinson for a first down. Stafford hit Nacua deep downfield for 37 yards to move the Rams to the plus 21-yard line. The Rams had a false start to get knocked back. Facing 3rd-and-2, Carter sacked Stafford for a big loss. Facing 4th-and-11, Stafford’s pass went out of bounds! GAME!
Victory formation.
FINAL SCORE: EAGLES WIN, 28 to 22
EAGLES LINEUP NOTES
Oren Burks got the start at linebacker in place of Nakobe Dean, as expected. Unlike the last game Dean missed, the Eagles did not rotate Burks and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
EAGLES INJURY NEWS
Quinyon Mitchell (shoulder) left the game on the Rams’ first drive. He was replaced by Isaiah Rodgers. Mitchell was evaluated in the medical tent for a long time and ruled questionable to return. Mitchell then entered the tunnel holding his shoulder. Early in the third quarter, Mitchell was officially ruled OUT.
Trainers were looking at Saquon Barkley’s shoulder/arm after the running back picked up a catch-and-run first down late in the second quarter. After missing a few snaps, he returned.
Jalen Hurts was slow to get up after a late third quarter sack. He remained in the game for one play before heading to the medical tent. Kenny Pickett took
