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From Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Australia’s Jordan Mailata has come up with two huge plays to help the Philadelphia Eagles into the NFC Conference Championship game.
In tough and blizzardy conditions, the home side was able to handle the weather better in the end, forcing a number of costly turnovers late in the 28-22 Divisional Round victory against the Los Angeles Rams.
As offensive tackle, Mailata played a role in the first and last Eagles touchdowns to both quarterback Jalen Hurts and star running back Saquon Barkley.
It was the first game in such thick snow for the 27-year-old Aussie, who was born in Bankstown in Sydney’s west, with the temperature dropping below zero during the game.
“It wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be,” Mailata said post game in his locker room interview.
“Both teams had to play in that, so it was okay, we did a good job of changing cleats at halftime to get more grounding when you’re moving your feet so it sticks in the ground.
“It was alright, just different.”
He is the last Australian remaining in the NFL, after Baltimore Ravens’ offensive lineman and fellow Aussie, Daniel Faalele was eliminated by the Buffalo Bills in a 27-25 loss in the AFC Divisional Round game.
Philadelphia got off to the perfect start against the Rams with a touchdown on the opening drive inside the first three minutes. Hurts rushing for 44 yards on the eighth play to give the home team a 6-0 lead, after the missed extra point.
The Aussie played an instrumental role in the scoring play, surging through the defensive line and clearing a path for his quarterback to stroll through, and he could not be caught on the way to the end zone.
The Rams hit straight back on the next drive, going 67 yards with the assistance of a successful challenge that overturned quarterback Matthew Stafford’s incomplete pass that gave LA first down five yards short of halfway. A few plays later, the visitors had the lead off a four-yard touchdown pass.
In worsening weather conditions, Mailata became the key to the Eagles’ running game, but a Hurts-Barkley rushing-dominated drive came up short of even a field goal. It would set the tone for the rest of the half as Philadelphia heavily favoured run plays.
However, it wasn’t all smooth for the Australian offensive tackle. A Mailata penalty for a false start put the Eagles under pressure from the following possession and backed them up on their own 6 yard line.
Luckily for the home team, it turned out to be a great escape. Under pressure, Hurts hurried a pass almost sideways to Barkley, who took it 16 yards from the end zone for a first down.
With time running down in the half, at 2nd and 1, the Eagles went to their passing game and thought they have come up with the perfect way to end the half, but wide receiver AJ Brown could not take the catch cleanly inside three yards.
It would be a scrappy end after that, as Hurts was sacked twice and nearly fumbled possession.
The Rams started the second half the strongest, but despite going 58 yards on their drive after the main break, the Eagles’ defence stood strong at their own end of the field, and only conceded three points as Los Angeles drew level at 13-13.
Without a snap in the red zone in the first three quarters, Philadelphia were soon back under more pressure. Not only were they forced to give up a safety – reducing the lead to just one point – but the snow and wind seriously intensified, swirling around the stadium ahead of the fourth quarter.
Almost immediately it caused an error from the Rams with a fumble picked up by the Eagles Isaiah Rodgers and taken 10 yards away from the end zone.
Despite the hosts being awarded a touchdown a few plays later, the ruling on the field was overturned and the Eagles kicked a field goal to extend the lead to four.
The snow, which made the field look more like an ice hockey rink, was playing into Philly’s hands, with Stafford struggling to make a completed pass, and soon fumbling for his team’s second of the match.
It allowed the Eagles to kick a FG and extend the lead back out to seven points with six minutes remaining.
Things were starting to unravel for the Rams as Stafford struggled to get a pass to stick and was sacked for the fourth time in the game.
Los Angeles would soon pay dearly for their offensive woes as Barkley put the home side up by 13 points with a 78 yard touchdown. It was again assisted by Mailata who produced the perfect block, opening up a big hole for the running back to surge through with clear running to the end zone.
The Rams scored a TD to set up a thrilling final three minutes with Philly’s lead just six points, but Stafford could not get the job done, the final drive ended with a sack and incomplete pass. From there it was just about winding down the clock to a jubilant Eagles home crowd, with their team now just one win away from the Superbowl.
The Eagles return home to host the Conference Final next weekend against the Washington Commanders.
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