One of the best comebacks in recent memory just took place in the “City of Brotherly Love”. When they were down 19-0 at halftime, the Super Bowl LIX-winning Philadelphia Eagles didn’t flinch. They casually pulled off the 7th largest comeback in franchise history. Here’s how they did it.
69,879 fans poured into the Linc to see a rematch of the NFC Divisional game that was snowy, chilly, and won by the hometown Eagles. Many thought the Rams would be the better team, and without the frigid conditions unheard of in LA, the Rams would trample the Eagles. Those who thought this were wrong.
The Eagles scored first, with a “Tush Push” 1-yd run by Jalen Hurts to make the score 7-0 Philadelphia. Rams Kicker Joshua Karty nailed a 51-yard Field Goal to make it 7-3. And with 1:20 remaining in the first quarter, veteran QB Matt Stafford threw a 44-yd bullet to Davante Adams, giving the Rams the lead, which they’d hold until there was under two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Three consecutive Field Goals from Karty would give the Rams a 19-7 lead at halftime. I can only imagine what Eagles HC Nick Sirianni said to his players in the locker room, but whatever it was, it lit a fire in the team, on both sides of the ball.
After halftime, the Rams were able to score another seven points, with Kyren Williams scoring a touchdown with a 10-yd pass from Stafford, making the score 26-7. Little did many Eagles fans know, this was the last time the Rams would score. Many fans would’ve turned off the TV at this point. I’m ashamed of it, but I did too.
When I tuned back in, I saw my hope getting restored, as Eagles TE Dallas Goedert was celebrating a touchdown, with a 33-yd pass from Hurts, making the score 26-14. Later in the third quarter, WR A.J. Brown would score a touchdown, with a 9-yd pass from Hurts. The score was now 26-21 going into the fourth quarter. This game was actually in sight if the Eagles were able to stop the Rams from scoring. They did.
Into the fourth quarter, the Eagles didn’t let their foot up off the pedal. Jalen Hurts threw a short pass to DeVonta Smith, for a touchdown, the score now 27-26 Philadelphia.
There’s now only 1:48 left in the game. If the Rams get into Field Goal range, the game could very well be over. The Rams work their way downfield and get to the 34-yard line. 69,879 Philadelphia faithful rise to their feet, cheering, chanting, screaming, doing anything to throw off the kicker. Three seconds left in the game. Karty takes his stride, runs up, kicks through…
BLOCKED! The field goal was blocked by 336-pound Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis! The big man runs 62 yards for a touchdown. Final Score: 33-26.
After the first career touchdown for Davis, he joked in his press conference: “Shoot, I don’t know what miles per hour I hit, but I’m pretty sure it was something crazy!” and “I just started running and my legs carried me there.”
According to NFL’s NextGen Stats, Davis hit a top speed of 18.59 miles per hour on his touchdown run, the highest top speed of a player over 330 pounds since 2017.
After the win, Coach Sirianni took the blame for the sluggish start from the Eagles, saying “ I don’t think I did a good enough job,” and “You judge yourself coming out of a game. Did you play to the standard of your culture and, win, lose or draw, did you play to that standard?”
Next week, the Eagles fly down to Tampa to face the Buccaneers on Sunday, at 1:00 PM. The Bucs are notably without star WR Mike Evans for the next few weeks, with Evans suffering a hamstring injury in their win against the New York Jets.
Who will win? Who’s to say. We’re due for a great game of gridiron, and I can’t wait.
