A stellar collision, defined as the merging of two stars within a cluster, found a new meaning on Sunday when two former Georgia football standouts made a significant impact against one of their own.
Philadelphia Eagles rising stars, defensive lineman Jalen Carter and linebacker Nolan Smith Jr., played key roles in the Eagles’ 28-22 victory over Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams on a chilly, snowy day in Philadelphia.
Former Bulldog and No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford delivered an impressive performance, completing 26 of 44 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns. However, it was the emerging talents of Philadelphia’s young defenders that had an equally significant impact on the game’s outcome.
Late in the third quarter, following a safety where a visibly struggling Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was sacked in the end zone, the Rams had closed the gap to 16-15 and seemed poised to seize control of the game. That’s when Philadelphia’s rising stars stepped up and delivered their most impactful plays.
On back-to-back drives, the Rams were plagued by critical turnovers, with Jalen Carter forcing a fumble on Kyren Williams and Nolan Smith sacking Matthew Stafford, causing another fumble. These game-changing plays shifted momentum back to the Eagles and helped secure their victory. The two former Georgia Bulldogs had an outstanding performance, combining for 10 quarterback pressures, five QB hurries, three sacks, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and one pass deflection.
The Philadelphia Eagles are starting to see their investment in Georgia football talent pay off in a big way. Their next test comes in the NFL Championship game next Sunday, where they will face their division rival, the Washington Commanders.
