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Saquon Barkley led the Philadelphia Eagles to a thrilling 28-22 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round on Sunday (January 19). Barkley, a Lehigh Valley native, set a franchise playoff record with 205 rushing yards, surpassing the previous record held by Steve Van Buren. His performance included two long touchdown runs of 62 and 78 yards, helping the Eagles advance to the NFC Championship Game, where they will host the Washington Commanders.
The game, played at Lincoln Financial Field in snowy conditions, saw Barkley dominate the field. He averaged 7.9 yards per carry, showcasing his ability to break through the Rams' defense. Barkley expressed his excitement, saying, "This is what you dream about. This is why I came to Philly. I wanted to be part of games like this."
Quarterback Jalen Hurts contributed with a 44-yard rushing touchdown but suffered a knee injury in the third quarter. Despite the injury, Hurts finished the game and is expected to play in the upcoming championship match. The Eagles' defense also played a crucial role, forcing key turnovers that helped secure the win.
The Rams, who started the season 1-4, put up a strong fight but were hindered by fumbles and missed opportunities. Matthew Stafford led a late-game drive but failed to connect with Puka Nacua on a crucial fourth-down play, ending their playoff run.
The Eagles will now prepare to face the Commanders, aiming for a spot in the Super Bowl. Barkley, reflecting on the team's journey, said, "It's going to be a team effort, and we did that today."