Honestly, the Eagles vs Rams 2024 matchup in Week 12 felt less like a football game and more like a track meet where only one person had cleats on.
Saquon Barkley didn't just play well. He broke the Philadelphia Eagles. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around at SoFi Stadium on November 24, 2024, the Rams' defense looked like they were trying to catch a ghost in a hallway.
Philadelphia walked away with a 37-20 win.
But the score doesn't really tell the whole story of how demoralizing this was for Los Angeles. It was the Eagles' seventh win in a row. They were 9-2 and looking like the scariest team in the NFC. Meanwhile, the Rams fell to 5-6, their playoff hopes flickering like a dying lightbulb.
The Night Saquon Barkley Became an Eagles Legend
Let’s talk about the numbers because they’re kinda ridiculous.
255 rushing yards.
That is an Eagles franchise record. It obliterated LeSean McCoy’s old mark of 217 yards from that famous "Snow Bowl" game back in 2013. Saquon averaged 9.8 yards per carry. Basically, every time he touched the ball, the Eagles were getting a first down.
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He had two touchdown runs of 70-plus yards. The first was a 70-yarder right after halftime. It sucked the air out of the stadium. Then, just to put a bow on it, he ripped off a 72-yarder with less than three minutes left in the game.
- Total Scrimmage Yards: 302 (First Eagle ever to hit 300)
- Top Speed: 21.38 mph (Per Next Gen Stats)
- Historical Context: First player since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2009 with two 70+ yard TD runs in one game.
The weirdest part? He only had 73 yards at halftime. The Rams actually kept him somewhat in check for two quarters. Then the second half started and the Eagles' offensive line—led by Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson—just started moving people against their will.
Why the Rams Couldn't Keep Up
It wasn't just the run game. Matthew Stafford was under siege all night.
The Eagles' defense, which was ranked number one in the league at the time, sacked Stafford five times. Jalen Carter was a nightmare in the middle. Even Brandon Graham was turning back the clock before he sadly suffered a torn triceps that ended his season.
Stafford finished with 243 yards and two touchdowns, but it was hollow. The Rams went 0-for-8 on third down. You can't beat a team like Philadelphia if you can't stay on the field.
Kyren Williams fumbled on the very first drive. That's a death sentence against a Vic Fangio defense. Puka Nacua had a solid night with 117 yards, and Cooper Kupp caught a late touchdown, but by then, the Eagles fans had already taken over the stadium. It sounded like a home game for Philly in Inglewood.
That Replay Drama in the Second Quarter
People forget the game was actually close for a while.
The Rams led 7-3 at one point.
With about a minute and a half left in the second quarter, Jalen Hurts threw a 6-yard pass to A.J. Brown. The refs originally called it incomplete. It looked like Brown lost the ball as he went to the ground.
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But Nick Sirianni knew.
Replay showed Brown had firm control with both feet down before the ball moved. The call was overturned. Touchdown. That play gave the Eagles a 13-7 lead going into the break and completely shifted the momentum. If that call stays incomplete, maybe we’re looking at a different second half.
The Post-Season Sequel
Interestingly, this wasn't the last time these two saw each other in the 2024 season.
They met again in the NFC Divisional Round in January 2025. While the Rams put up a much bigger fight in a snowy Philadelphia, the result was the same. The Eagles won that one 28-22.
Saquon was the hero again, of course. He had a 78-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of that game to seal it. It seems the Rams just never figured out how to gap-fill against him.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans
If you're looking back at the Eagles vs Rams 2024 season series to understand where these teams are headed, keep these things in mind:
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- Watch the Trenches: The Eagles' offensive line remains the gold standard. If you're betting on or analyzing Philly, look at their health upfront. When they are healthy, Saquon is untouchable.
- Rams' Defensive Identity: L.A. struggled with explosive plays all year. Their young defensive line has talent (Jared Verse is a stud), but they need veteran help in the secondary to stop those "home run" plays.
- Stafford's Window: Matthew Stafford is still elite, but he needs a run game to survive. When Kyren Williams is bottled up or fumbling, Stafford is forced to hold the ball too long against elite pass rushes.
Check out the full game highlights on the NFL's official YouTube channel or the Eagles' team site to see those 70-yard sprints for yourself. Seeing the speed Saquon hits in person is different than just reading the box score.