PHILADELPHIA – For the Rams to rebound from a 1-4 start to reach the playoffs is a remarkable achievement in and of itself. Unfortunately, that ride ended Sunday with a 28-22 loss to the Eagles on a snowy Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in the divisional round.
A safety by nose tackle Neville Gallimore cut Los Angeles’ deficit to 16-15 with 26 seconds remaining in the third quarter. However, that momentum stalled with two fourth quarter fumbles: One by running back Kyren Williams on the possession following the free kick after the safety, and another on quarterback Matthew Stafford getting strip-sacked on the offensive series after that.
Philadelphia was held to field goals after both of those turnovers, but a 78-yard touchdown run by Eagles running back Saquon Barkley effectively put the game out of reach when it gave them a 28-15 lead with 4:36 to play.
The Rams responded with a 4-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to tight end Colby Parkinson to cut their deficit to 28-22, then got a defensive stop – while using all three of their timeouts – and the ball back at their own 18 with 2:23 to play.
The Rams reached the Eagles 13 with 1:19 remaining, but then Stafford was sacked on 3rd and 2 for a loss of 9. His incomplete deep pass intended for wide receiver Puka Nacua on fourth down sealed the result.
Los Angeles’ defense notched seven sacks in the loss, led by outside linebacker Jared Verse‘s two, but Barkley was the difference-maker with 26 carries for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensive end Braden Fiske exited the game early with a knee injury and was ruled questionable to return before being downgraded to out early in the second half.
Here is the complete game recap, presented by Toyota:
The Eagles struck first with a 44-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jalen Hurts on the opening drive to take an early 6-0 lead (extra point attempt was missed). Hurts shook loose from an ankle tackle on the keeper, then followed his blockers downfield for the score.
Sustained by a conversion on 4th and 1 from the Eagles 10, the Rams matched the Eagles with a touchdown drive of their own via a 4-yard pass from Stafford to tight end Tyler Higbee. That drive was also sustained by the Rams successfully challenging and overturning an initial incomplete ruling on a third-down catch by Higbee.
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