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 the 55-23 thrashing of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship.
Philadelphia will wait to see who will represent the AFC in Super Bowl LIX as the Kansas City and Buffalo Bills get underway in 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 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 with the ball for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half in the NFC championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
In just the first offensive snap for the Eagles in this game, following an 18-man drive that opened a drive that ended with a field goal, Barkley ripped off a 60-yard touchdown run to put the Eagles up 7-3. after the extra point after the extra point .
The response from the commanders was not good, as receiver Dyami Brown lost after a hit by Zack Baun while tackling his opponent. And unfortunately for Washington, fumbles became a bad trend throughout this game.
The last time these two teams played, the commanders changed the ball five times. However, Jayden Daniels and the Commanders ended up winning on a last-second drive in a 22-point fourth quarter.
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But the comeback didn’t happen this time with turnovers, as Jeremy McNichols missed a kick return near the end of the first half, and Austin Ekeler fumbled in the second half.
And all of those turnovers led to touchdowns.
Barkley scored from four yards after the Brown fumble, and Hurts got his first Tush drive score of the game to make it 20-12 near halftime, finding AJ Brown for his only touchdown of the contest to take a solid 27- 12 drive to the locker room.
However, the second half is where things unraveled for Dan Quinn’s Commanders, as Hurts’ second touchdown on the ground was a nine-yard score in the third quarter to make it 35-14. And even though Daniels scored on the ground to cut the lead a bit, Ekeler’s fumble saw another Tush push touchdown to bring Hurts within three on the night.
With desperation on their sideline, Quinn had no choice but to force Daniels to go for it on every fourth down as the fourth quarter began, and Nolan Smith’s sack on fourth-and-11 ultimately led Barkley to his third touchdown with a four yards Run, which basically sealed the deal at 48-23.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates after a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half in 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 a play during the first half of the NFC NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Daniels’ last effort in the quarter was a deep ball down the left sideline to Terry McLaurin, who scored a 36-yard touchdown early in the game but was intercepted in the end zone by rookie Quinyon Mitchell.
The cherry on top for Philadelphia was, with the backups in the game, Shipley would score a touchdown from two yards out after breaking out a 57-yard run earlier in the drive.
Celebrations ensued for the home team, and rightly so after incredible performances from Hurts (20 of 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 of 48 for 255 yards, while rushing for 48 yards on six carries.
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