Barkley was the rushing leader this season with 2,005 yards — the eighth-highest ever — and Philadelphia has the second-best rushing attack in the league.
The weather forecast was also far from ideal for a passing match, so it was bound to be a very intense match.
However, it was Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, not Barkley, who broke the tackle on the opening drive to score a 44-yard touchdown run — the longest of his career.
The Rams responded with a four-yard Stafford touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Higbee, before Barkley made his first burst for a 62-yard score.
The Rams scored a field goal to cut the halftime deficit to 13-10 and the snow became noticeably heavier after halftime, with both teams settling for a field goal in the third quarter.
Hurts injured his knee on an Eagles drive, and on their next possession, he was trapped in his own end zone by Neville Gallimore for a safety, cutting the score to 16-15.
The handling became increasingly difficult and the Rams fumbled on back-to-back shots, with the Eagles punishing each mistake with a field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Barkley's subsequent 78-yard score helped him finish with 205 yards — the fifth-best rushing total in postseason history.
That touchdown ultimately proved decisive, but the Eagles needed their defense to step up in a thrilling finale.
