Honestly, if you missed the Eagles rams playoff score from this past January, you missed one of those games that people are going to be talking about at bars in South Philly and Los Angeles for the next decade. It was cold. It was snowy. It was everything playoff football is supposed to be, and it ended with a 28-22 victory for the Philadelphia Eagles that felt much closer than the final whistle suggests.
The atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field was basically a scene out of a movie.
Snow started dumping down right before kickoff, turning the green turf into a white sheet. You could barely see the yard lines. Most people thought it would be a defensive slog, but Saquon Barkley had other ideas. He basically put the entire city of Philadelphia on his back.
The Breakdown: How the Eagles Rams Playoff Score Settled at 28-22
The game didn't start with a whimper; it started with Jalen Hurts reminding everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous dual-threat guys in the league. On the opening drive, he took off. 44 yards. Straight to the end zone.
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He shook off an ankle tackle and just outran the Rams' secondary.
But then, the weirdness started. Jake Elliott missed the extra point. That "6-0" score stayed on the board and felt ominous. It was a sign of the special teams' chaos to come.
Quarter-by-Quarter Chaos
- First Quarter: After Hurts' long run, Matthew Stafford answered back. He led a methodical 13-play drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Higbee. The Rams actually took a 7-6 lead. Then, Saquon Barkley decided he wanted a piece of history. He ripped off a 62-yard touchdown run. Just like that, it was 13-7 Philly.
- Second Quarter: The snow got heavier. Both offenses stalled. The Rams managed a 30-yard field goal from Joshua Karty. That was it for the half. 13-10, Eagles leading, everyone freezing.
- Third Quarter: This is where things got wild. Karty tied it up with another field goal. Then Elliott put the Eagles back up 16-13. But with 26 seconds left in the quarter, Neville Gallimore sacked Hurts in the end zone for a safety. 16-15.
- Fourth Quarter: The drama peaked. Barkley broke a 78-yard touchdown run—tying a franchise record for playoff rushing yards—to make it 28-15. Stafford, being the vet he is, marched the Rams down for a Colby Parkinson touchdown. 28-22.
The Rams actually had the ball back at the end. They got all the way to the Eagles' 13-yard line. Stafford looked for Puka Nacua in the end zone on 4th down, but the pass fell incomplete. Game over.
Why Saquon Barkley was the Difference Maker
You’ve got to look at the numbers to really appreciate what happened. Saquon finished with 205 rushing yards. That's a franchise playoff record. He surpassed Steve Van Buren’s 1949 record, which, coincidentally, also happened in a title game against the Rams.
It wasn't just the yards; it was the timing.
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Every time the Rams gained momentum, Barkley would find a hole and vanish down the sideline.
The Rams' defense, led by Jared Verse and Kobie Turner, played their hearts out, but they just couldn't contain the explosive plays. Stafford threw for 324 yards and two scores, showing he’s still got plenty in the tank even at this stage of his career. Puka Nacua was a machine, hauling in catches in the driving snow, but they couldn't finish the job in the red zone when it mattered most.
Historical Context of the Eagles-Rams Rivalry
This wasn't the first time these two met with high stakes. People forget the 1949 NFL Championship where the Eagles won 14-0 in a literal monsoon. Or the 2001 NFC Championship where the "Greatest Show on Turf" Rams edged out Donovan McNabb's Eagles 29-24.
The Eagles rams playoff score history now stands at 2-2 all-time in the postseason.
It’s a rivalry that doesn't get the "classic" label as often as Cowboys-49ers, but the games are almost always bangers. This 28-22 result just adds another layer to that history.
Key Lessons for Next Time
If you're betting on or analyzing the next matchup between these two, keep a few things in mind:
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- The Run Game vs. The Blitz: The Rams tried to pressure Hurts, and while they got home for a safety, they left themselves vulnerable to Barkley’s explosive runs.
- Weather Matters: Kickers in the Linc during January are playing a different game. Two missed extra points by Jake Elliott almost cost Philly the game.
- Red Zone Efficiency: The Rams moved the ball better in the air (402 total yards to Philly's 350), but the Eagles' ability to score from distance was the equalizer.
Moving forward, keep an eye on the injury reports for the secondary. The Eagles lost Quinyon Mitchell to a shoulder injury during this game, which is part of why Stafford was able to carve them up late. If these two meet again in the 2026 cycle, the health of that Philly backfield will be the number one thing to track.
To get the most out of your post-game analysis, watch the film specifically on Saquon Barkley's 78-yarder. Pay attention to Jordan Mailata's block on the edge; that’s the kind of detail that wins playoff games. You should also compare the turnover margins between the regular season and this playoff meeting to see how Sean McVay adjusts his protection schemes after a loss.