Lamar Jackson Jersey Elite from linchao's blog

With the wind and against it.

With Nick Foles engineering several long drives http://www.cowboysauthorizedshops.com/authentic-dalton-schultz-jersey , Jake Elliott converting three field goals, and the defense getting stingy in the tightest spot, Philadelphia moved into the NFC championship game with a 15-10 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday.

Foles directed brilliant marches of 74 and 80 yards in the second half – one into the whipping wind, the other with it – and Elliott atoned for missing an extra point by converting from 53 yards at the end of the second quarter, 37 and 21 in the second half. Then the Eagles (14-3) held when Atlanta (11-7) got to the 9-yard line with a first down, and to the 2 on fourth down.

When Matt Ryan’s final pass sailed over Julio Jones’ head in the end zone , Philly could celebrate its first playoff victory since the 2008 season.

Next Sunday, the Eagles will host either Minnesota or New Orleans for the conference crown. The Eagles last made the Super Bowl in the 2004 season, losing to New England.

”I mean, we just kept believing in each other http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-barkevious-mingo-jersey ,” said Foles, who became the starter when Carson Wentz, a leading MVP contender, injured his knee in December. ”That was it. Our team never wavered, defense did an amazing job, special teams – that’s just been the story this year is that we just all stuck together…”

The Falcons, of course, memorably blew a 28-3 second-half lead to the Patriots in last year’s Super Bowl. They will not get the opportunity to atone for it, though Ryan got them close at the end.

Despite being underdogs as the No. 1 seed, the Eagles showed plenty of moxie.

”Just keep on disrespecting and we’re going to keep proving people wrong Lamar Jackson Jersey Elite ,” receiver Alshon Jeffery said.

A masterful 74-yard, 12-play drive on which Foles threw for 70 yards led to Elliott’s 37-yard kick into the wind that made it 12-10. The Eagles then put together their best drive, an 80-yarder covering 14 plays, yet again faltered close to the end zone. Elliott added a 21-yarder with 6:02 remaining after coach Doug Pederson briefly considered going for it on fourth-and-1 at the Atlanta 3.

”It was tricky out there, really gusty,” Elliott said.

Then, as the fans in the Linc held their breath, the Eagles held deep in their territory.

”Man, just stay calm,” said defensive tackle Fletcher Cox Jason Sanders Color Rush Jersey , who was a force all day. ”We always talk about that. We’ve been in those situations during the regular season, so we kind of know how to handle those situations, not try to make a play but let the play come to us.”

And the road to the Super Bowl remains through Philly.

WINDY DECISIONS

Falcons coach Dan Quinn could have opted to take the wind in the fourth quarter after deferring on the opening coin toss. Instead, he took the ball to start the second half, but it was the Eagles who got the only points of the third period.

And in the end, Atlanta had to deal with the currents on that final drive, which did include a 20-yard completion to Jones on fourth-and-6.

”It was a tough game for us tonight,” Quinn said, ”and as we go through, we will go back and assess everything we have done.”

ERROR-FILLED HALF

Mistakes hurt the Eagles in the opening half. Jay Ajayi’s fumble and a misplayed punt that bounced off Bryan Braman led to all 10 Atlanta points.

Things began nicely for Philadelphia when safety Brian Poole was tagged with pass interference on a deep pass by Foles that was held up by the wind. But Ajayi fumbled on the next play with Keanu Neal recovering.

Atlanta efficiently mixed runs and passes to drive to Matt Bryant’s 33-yard field goal for an early lead.

Philadelphia got the run game going with Ajayi in the opening period. Then Cheap Saquon Barkley Jersey , with the wind in the next quarter, the Eagles kept the Falcons so off-balance Atlanta took two timeouts in three plays.

Receiver Nelson Agholor’s 21-yard run got the ball to the 3, and Foles botched a handoff to Corey Clement. But the quarterback quickly dived on the loose ball and was ruled to have scored. Replay showed otherwise.

Pederson showed no hesitation going for it, and Blount surged in from the 1. Elliott’s missed extra point left it 6-3.

Soon after came Matt Bosher’s punt that took a wicked bounce and hit Braman while he was blocking. From the Philly 18, the Falcons benefited from two penalties before Ryan scrambled from pressure and found Devonta Freeman for a 6-yard TD and a 10-3 lead.

With 46 seconds left in the half, the hosts got lucky. Foles’ errant pass ricocheted off Neal’s hands to Torrey Smith for 20 yards. Jeffery made a long stretch to haul in another throw with 1 second remaining, and Elliott’s 53-yard field goal just made it over the crossbar.

”It was great for momentum,” Foles said. ”Jake did an awesome job of kicking that for us.”

QB NUMBERS

Foles finished a very efficient outing by going 23 of 30 for 246 yards.

Ryan was 22 of 36 for 210 yards on a difficult day to throw. Jones had nine receptions for 101 yards.

UP NEXT

Philadelphia will host either Minnesota or New Orleans next Sunday night for the NFC title.

Atlanta’s season ends after a wild-card berth and a win at Los Angeles before Saturday’s defeat.

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The Clippers and coach Doc Rivers have agreed to a contract extension that will keep him around to oversee the post-Lob City era.

The team announced the extension Wednesday while not disclosing terms of the deal. Rivers was set to enter the final year of his five-year contract next season.

The 56-year-old coach has a 259-151 record in five years with the Clippers. They missed the playoffs this season for the first time in his tenure. Because of injuries, Rivers used a league-high 37 different starting lineups before the team finished with a 42-40 mark after trading Blake Griffin to Detroit in January.

Rivers was stripped of his duties as president of basketball operations a year ago. His undivided attention led to one of his best coaching jobs this season that began with nine new players on the roster after the offseason departures of Chris Paul, J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford.

Despite the injuries that led to 11 players missing a total of 265 games Authentic Baker Mayfield Jersey , the Clippers kept their playoff hopes alive until the final week of the regular season.

Rivers said he’s proud of the team’s past success but ”there is more work to be done.”

With Paul and Griffin already gone, DeAndre Jordan, the last of the Big Three, could depart via free agency this summer if he and the team don’t agree on an extension.

Rivers will preside over the team’s remaking. The Clippers have two lottery picks in the June draft.

”Doc is one of the top coaches in the NBA, coming off one of his finest seasons since joining the Clippers,” owner Steve Ballmer said. ”We trust Doc to lead a competitive, tough, hard-working team while upholding a culture of accountability expected to resonate throughout the organization.”

Rivers is the winningest coach in franchise history with 259 victories and a winning percentage of .632. He is second to only San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich among active coaches with 846 career wins.

During his 19-year coaching career, he led the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA championship.

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