Commanders-Agres NFC Championship showdown held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon:
marquee matchup
Commanders Quarterback Jaden Daniels vs. Eagles Safety CJ Gardner Johnson
Daniels is looking to add a layer to the best rookie quarterback season of all time by becoming the first to reach the Super Bowl.
Most of his throws go to 1,000-yard receiver Terry McLaurin, but tight end Zach Ertz re-emerged later in his career as his first appearance in the red zone.
Standing in their way is a ball hawk with six interceptions playing for the Eagles in each of his last two seasons (2022 and 2024).
Is it a coincidence that Daniels threw three of his five touchdown passes against the Eagles in Week 16 after being ejected for two personal foul penalties early in the third quarter? ? Johnson then said, “You have to raise hell.”
“I think he always knew how important he was to the defense,'' Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “He's very good at taking the football away and playing with energy. influence.”
Dunleavy's decision
An argument can be made that the Eagles' roster is better at every position except the most important, where Daniels may already be the NFC's best quarterback.
Saquon Barkley was unstoppable all season. Also against the Commanders (296 yards and four touchdowns in two games).
He and the four Pro Bowlers on the offensive line were able to win games on their own.
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter took his Pro Bowl season to new heights with two sacks and a forced fumble in the final game.
It's not the first time the Commanders are without their best offensive lineman after right guard Sam Cosmi's ACL injury.
Eagles 31, Commanders 27
four down
Very painful: Quarterback Jalen Hurts (knee) was a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday after being limited on Wednesday. His mobility was clearly limited at the end of last week's win.
Hurts said his recovery is “in progress” but he “anticipates” wearing a knee brace. If he scrambles, the commander will have no pity.
“We’re going to treat him like a running back,” defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. said. “We're going to let him hit like that. If they want him to hit like he's going to be hit, that's their decision.”
Tight end Dallas Goedert (ankle) is ready to go after not practicing on Thursday. Center Kam Jurgens (back) is questionable.
For the Commanders, defensive tackle Daron Payne (knee, finger) is out, but linebacker Bobby Wagner (ankle) will play.
revenge game: Brian Johnson was considered a rising star when the Eagles made the Super Bowl two years ago.
He was the quarterbacks coach responsible for Hart's rapid development to NFL MVP runner-up and offensive coordinator soon after Shane Steichen became the Colts' head coach.
Now, Johnson's one season of called plays was a disappointment. He was fired last January.
A year later, Johnson would pass as the commander's game coordinator under offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury during Jaden Daniels' rookie record-setting debut.
“I can just share what he used with Jaylen in Philadelphia, things that worked, things he would like to do differently. “Obviously, that's what they had there. Because that's the instant credibility of success. He was a blessing to us.”
3rd and 8: With the win, the Commanders become the third No. 6 seed to reach the playoffs, and the third team to defeat the conference's top three seeds (No. 3 Buccaneers, No. 1 Lions, No. 2 Eagles) . Super Bowl.
Dan Quinn, who previously took the 2016 Falcons to the Super Bowl, was joined by Bill Parcells (Patriots, Giants), Don Shula (Colts, Dolphins), Dick Vermeil (Eagles, Rams) and John Fox. (Panthers, Broncos), Mike Holmgrenlengen (Packers, Seahawks), Dan Reeves (Falcons, Broncos), Andy Reid (Chiefs, Eagles) are the eighth to lead multiple franchises to the Super Bowl. As a head coach.
Parcells, Shula and Vermeil are Hall of Famers, Holmgren is a current finalist, Reeves was deferred for selection and Reid is a future lock.
Fourth guts: The Commanders led the NFL during the regular season by converting nearly 87% of their fourth downs (23-for-20).
Their 66.7% hitting percentage in the playoffs (9-6) against a good defense is even more impressive.
Quinn bypassed four field goals in the win against the Buccaneers, turning 12 points into 14 when he went 2-for-4 on fourth down.
All three of Commander's conversions against the Lions, one of the NFL's most offensive No. 4 teams, resulted in touchdowns.
The Eagles converted 73% (26-for-26) during the regular season with one of the most unstoppable plays in the NFL, the “Tush Push” back. Nine of the 10th and 1st runs moved the chains.
One of the hallmarks of coach Nick Sirianni's four years has been fourth downs in Eagles territory.
“I think the flow of the game and things like that will affect it going into the later moments,” Sirianni said. “That’s going to be key to the game on both ends.”
