Eagles vs. Saints results: Score, highlights as New Orleans advances to NFC championship game

Drew Nantais

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Eagles vs. Saints results: Score, highlights as New Orleans advances to NFC championship game image

The Eagles' playoff magic ran out as they fell to the Saints in the NFC divisional round 20-14 Sunday night. 

The Eagles got off to a strong start as Cre'von LeBlanc intercepted Drew Brees on the first play of the game. Nick Foles then drove down the field on back-to-back drives to give Philly a 14-0 lead with 4:37 remaining in the first quarter. 

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The Eagles had a shot to go ahead, but a pass from quarterback Nick Foles went through the hands of wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and was picked off by the Saints' Marshon Lattimore sealing the win for New Orleans.

The Saints shook off their rough start and shut out the Eagles over the remaining three quarters outscoring them 20-0. Wide receiver Michael Thomas hauled in 12 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown while quarterback Drew Brees threw for 301 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the win. 

The Saints move on to their first NFC championship since Jan. 24, 2010, hosting the Rams next Sunday for a chance to advance to Super Bowl 53. 

Sporting News provided live updates and highlights from the game below.

Eagles vs. Saints: Score, highlights

Saints: 20
Eagles: 14

(All times ET)

FINAL: Saints 20, Eagles 14

7:44 p.m.: Kamara picks up a first down on third-and-10 and the Saints will run out the clock and move on to the NFC championship.

7:39 p.m.: INTERCEPTION SAINTS. Foles' pass goes right through the hands of Jeffery and is intercepted by Lattimore, who returns it 14 yards to the New Orleans 33-yard line with 1:52 to go.

7:38 p.m.: Foles finds Ertz for a 16-yard gain and a first down on second-and-10. New Orleans' Marcus Davenport is flagged for roughing the passer on the ensuing play.

7:36 p.m.: MISSED FIELD GOAL SAINTS. Lutz pushes it just to the right of the upright on the 52-yard attempt and the Eagles will have a shot to take the lead with 2:58 to go. Saints lead 20-14.

7:35 p.m.: Bennett tackles Kamara several yards behind the line of scrimmage on third-and-8 to force a long field-goal attempt by Lutz.

7:31 p.m.: Brees hits Thomas for 22 yards again for another first down. Thomas now has 12 catches, 171 yards and one touchdown on the day. 

7:23 p.m.: The Saints defense comes up with a stop and forces another punt by the Eagles. Philly has been unable to generate much offense since the first quarter.

7:15 p.m.: FIELD GOAL SAINTS. Lutz converts a 39-yard field goal and the Saints extend their lead. Saints lead 20-14.

7:09 p.m.: The Saints convert on third-and-5 on a Brees pass to Thomas for 15 yards. Mark Ingram then breaks loose for a 36-yard run down to the Philly 27-yard line.

7:04 p.m.: Foles' pass to Golden Tate falls incomplete and the Eagles punt it back to the Saints.

7:02 p.m.: Eagles start the fourth quarter with the ball and face a third-and-8.

End of third quarter: Saints 17, Eagles 14

6:51 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN SAINTS. After a 15-yard run by Kamara, Brees hits Thomas for the 2-yard score. Saints take the lead after an 18-play, 92-yard drive that lasted nearly 11 minutes. Saints lead 17-14.

6:48 p.m.: Facing a third-and-16, Thomas hauls in a 20-yard pass from Brees to pick up the first down and then some. New Orleans with the ball at the Philly 12-yard line.

6:43 p.m.: Brees then hits Thomas for a 20-yard gain and a first down on the ensuing play.

6:41 p.m. Hill hits Kamara for a 46-yard touchdown, but the play's called back after a holding call on Andrus Peat.

6:36 p.m.: Injury update for Philly:

6:30 p.m.: Philly goes three-and-out and will punt it away to New Orleans.

6:28 p.m.: Eagles start at their own 25-yard line after the touchback.

Halftime: Eagles 14, Saints 10

6:10 p.m.: FIELD GOAL SAINTS. Will Lutz hits a 45-yard field goal to cut the Eagles' lead to four. Eagles lead 14-10.

6:08 p.m.: Ginn hauls in a 15-yard throw from Brees at the Philly 27-yard line. Saints then spike the ball with 11 seconds to go.

6:07 p.m.: Brees finds Ginn for 21 yards to the New Orleans 39-yard line. Brees then connects with Alvin Kamara two plays later for a 23-yard gain down to the Philly 32-yard line with 48 seconds to go.

6:02 p.m.: Foles' pass on third-and-9 is tipped at the line of scrimmage and falls incomplete. Philly will punt it back to New Orleans with 1:18 left until the half.

6:00 p.m.: Injury update on Cox:

5:55 p.m.: Brees is sacked on third-and-3 and the Saints will punt after the 2-minute warning.

5:52 p.m.: Foles' pass on third-and-10 falls incomplete and the Eagles will punt it away. Seems like momentum is beginning to shift in favor of New Orleans.

5:43 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN SAINTS. Thomas is stopped just two yards shy of the goal line on third-and-goal. New Orleans elects to go for it on fourth-and-goal and Brees finds Keith Kirkwood for the 2-yard score. Eagles lead 14-7.

5:37 p.m.: Philly's Fletcher Cox was injured on the fake punt, but was able to walk off the field on his own power. Now Michael Bennett is down for Philly and walks off on his own power.

5:35 p.m.: Brees hits Michael Thomas for 42 yards down to the Philly 24-yard line on the ensuing play. Saints' offense beginning to find some rhythm after that slow start.

5:32 p.m.: On fourth-and-1, the Saints line up to punt, but run a fake to Taysom Hill who picks up four yards and the first down.

5:26 p.m.: INTERCEPTION SAINTS. Foles throws one deep for Zach Ertz and is picked off by the Saints' Marshon Lattimore at the New Orleans 21-yard line.

End of first quarter: Eagles 14, Saints 0

5:20 p.m.: After review, the officials rule that Graham never possessed the ball, so instead of it being first-and-10 for New Orleans, it's fourth down and the Saints will punt it away.

5:17 p.m. Brees' arm is hit and he fumbles. Philly's Brandon Graham recovers then fumbles it. New Orleans' Ryan Ramczyk then falls on it. The play is under further review.

5:14 p.m.: Brees connects with Michael Thomas for a 21-yard gain on third-and-10. Biggest play by the Saints' offense today. 

5:12 p.m.: Brees fumbles the snap, recovers his own fumble and is then swallowed up by several Eagles defenders. Saints then can't get the snap off on time on the ensuing play and are flagged for delay of game. 

5:08 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN EAGLES. Foles punches it in on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to extend the Eagles' lead. Eagles lead 14-0.

5:07 p.m.: Foles hits Alshon Jeffery for a 30-yard gain down to the New Orleans 4-yard line. 

5:03 p.m.: Philly's Pro-Bowl guard Brandon Brooks goes down with an injury and they're bringing the cart out now. 

5:02 p.m.: New Orleans' Sheldon Rankins is carted off the field after a leg injury. 

4:53 p.m.: New Orleans starts with the ball at its own 25-yard line after the kickoff and goes three-and-out. Not the start the NFC's top seed was hoping for.

4:47 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN EAGLES. Nick Foles caps of a 7-play, 76-yard drive with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Matthews. Eagles lead 7-0.

4:42 p.m.: INTERCEPTION EAGLES. On the first play of the game, Drew Brees goes deep for Ted Ginn Jr. and is intercepted by Philly's Cre'von LeBlanc at the Philadelphia 24-yard line.

4:41 p.m.: Philadelphia wins the toss and defers to the second half. New Orleans will start with the ball at its own 35-yard line.

Pregame

3:21 p.m.: Inactives for today's game:

3:03 p.m.: Both teams are eager to get this one underway.

Drew Nantais