The Philadelphia Eagles are back in the Super Bowl after the dynamic duo of Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley combined for six rushing touchdowns in a 55-23 rout of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship.
Philadelphia will be waiting to see who will represent the AFC in Super Bowl LIX, as Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills hit the Midwest on Sunday night.
Hurts and the Eagles were in the “Big Game” in 2022, where they lost to the Chiefs in Arizona. But what the Eagles didn’t have back then was Barkley, the NFL’s leading rusher in 2024, and he showed why he could be the missing piece to win the Vince Lombardi after an incredible performance at home.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half of the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
On just the Eagles’ first drive of the game, after an 18-play opening drive by the Commanders that ended with a field goal, Barkley ripped off a 60-yard run to immediately put the Eagles up 7-3 after the extra point. .
The Commanders’ response wasn’t good, as receiver Dyami Brown fumbled after Zack Baun’s hit while making a tackle. And unfortunately for Washington, turnovers have become a bad trend during this game.
The last time these two teams played the Commanders turned the ball over five times. However, Jayden Daniels and the Commanders finished with a last-second fourth quarter victory with 22 points.
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But the comeback didn’t happen on a turnover this time, as Jeremy McNichols fumbled a punt return late in the first half and Austin Ekeler fumbled in the second half.
And all those turnovers led to touchdowns.
Barkley scored from four yards out on a Brown fumble and Hurts scored his first of the game to make it 20-12 near halftime, finding AJ Brown for his only touchdown pass for a solid 27-12 lead into the locker room.
Things unraveled for Dan Quinn’s Commanders in the second half, however, as Hurts’ second touchdown on the ground was a nine-yarder in the third quarter to make it 35-14. And despite Daniels scoring on the ground himself to cut the lead a bit, Ekeler’s fumble saw another punt push the touchdown for Hurts to make it three on the night.
With desperation on his side, Quinn had no choice but to force Daniels to go for every fourth down early in the fourth quarter, and Nolan Smith’s sack on fourth-and-11 eventually led to Barkley’s third touchdown from four yards out. run, which effectively sealed the deal at 48-23.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates after a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half of the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
Philadelphia Eagles AJ Brown (11) and Washington Commanders Marshon Lattimore (23) exchange words after the game during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Daniels’ final drive in the fourth was a deep ball down the left sideline to Terry McLaurin, who had scored a 36-yard touchdown earlier in the game but was intercepted in the end zone by rookie Quinyon Mitchell.
The cherry on top for Philadelphia was, with backups in the game, Will Shipley scoring a two-yard touchdown after ripping off a 57-yard run earlier in the offense.
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A celebration ensued for the home team, and rightfully so after incredible performances from Hurts (20-for-28 for 246 yards), Barkley (15 rushes for 118 yards) and Brown (six catches for 96 yards).
For the Commanders, former Eagles tight end Zach Ertz certainly did his part with 11 catches for 104 yards. Daniels finished 29-for-48 for 255 yards while rushing for 48 yards on six carries.
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