Opening-play blunder from Green Bay Packers leads to NFL playoffs exit as Philadelphia Eagles advance
Jalen Hurts tossed two touchdown passes in his first game since a concussion, Dallas Goedert threw three stiff-arms on a rugged touchdown catch and the Philadelphia Eagles rode their NFL-best defence to a 22-10 playoff win over the Green Bay Packers.
Hurts threw for a modest 131 yards but played with no hesitation in his return from a three-week layoff after a concussion in December.
He started strong — six straight completions to open the game — and held off the Packers with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Goedert in the third quarter that will be forever stamped on the franchise's postseason highlight reel.
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Philadelphia's defence handled the rest against a gallant Packers outfit who never really got off the ground after a fumble on the opening play of the game led to a touchdown.
Philadelphia Eagles pounced on a mistake from the Packers. ESPN
Jordan Love was picked off twice in the first half in a disappointing end to a tremendous season for the Green Bay quarterback.
Quinyon Mitchell had one final interception of Love with 1:51 left in the game that sealed the win for the NFC East champions, who'll host a division game next week.
“It’s playoff football," running back Saquon Barkley said. "That team is really well coached and they’ve got a lot of really great players. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
“At the end of the day, no matter how it looks, just want to get the win.”
Saquon Barkley has been in strong form for the Eagles. Getty
Barkley, who led the NFL in rushing with 2005 yards in the regular season, had 119 yards in his Eagles’ post-season debut.
“A year ago, I put out a tweet when I was on my couch watching playoff football that I gotta find a way to get back in it,” said Barkley, who spent his first six NFL seasons with the New York Giants. “So I’m just happy to be here.
“And shoutout to my teammates and, most importantly, we move on. And we get another home game, so that’s good.”
In the earlier game on Monday (AEDT), the Denver Broncos were smashed by the Buffalo Bills in the third and final AFC fixture of the wildcard round.
