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Tim McManus, ESPN Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA — Running back Saquon Barkley is not the only dangerous player in the Philadelphia Eagles‘ run game.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts broke off a 44-yard run on Philadelphia’s first possession to stake the home team to an early lead over the Los Angeles Rams in their divisional round playoff game Sunday. Kicker Jake Elliott missed the extra point to make it a 6-0 advantage.
Jalen Freaking Hurts 44-yd run ladies & gentlemen 😌@jalenhurts | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/9Hc4tUz3zI
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 19, 2025
Operating from the shotgun, Hurts faked a handoff to Barkley before finding a seam on the right side of the formation. He escaped a leg tackle before racing down the sideline for the score. It was the longest run of his NFL career.
After the Rams answered on the ensuing drive, Barkley — who went off for a franchise-best 255 rushing yards Week 12 against L.A. — picked up where he left off in the first matchup, breaking off a 62-yard touchdown run down the right side late in the first quarter to make it 13-7.
May we interest you in a Saquon Barkley 62-yd TD run? 🥶@Saquon | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/6LMfgx82H3
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 19, 2025
On third-and-4, he found a big hole between center Cam Jurgens and right tackle Mekhi Becton and sprinted to daylight. He had enough room at the end of the run to allow edge rusher Jared Verse to catch up for a moment before trotting into the end zone.
Barkley had two touchdown runs of 70-plus yards in the previous matchup against the Rams.