The Philadelphia Eagles returned to the Super Bowl as the dynamic duo of Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley scored six rushing touchdowns as they defeated the Washington Commanders 55-23 in the NFC Championship.
Philadelphia will wait to see who will represent the AFC in Super Bowl LIX as the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills open the Midwest series on Sunday night.
Hurts and the Eagles played in the “Big Game” in 2022, losing to the Chiefs in Arizona. But what the Eagles didn't have at the time was Barkley, the NFL's leading rusher in 2024, and why he was the missing piece to get Vince Lombardi after a great performance at home. showed that it is possible.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half of the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-Imagine Images)
On the Eagles' first offensive snap of the game, following the Commanders' 18-play lead-off drive that ended with a field goal, Barkley scored a 60-yard touchdown run that immediately put the Eagles up 7-3 after the extra point. took the lead. .
The manager didn't respond well, as receiver Diyami Brown fumbled after being punched by Zach Baun during a tackle. And unfortunately for Washington, fumbles were a negative trend throughout the game.
The last time these teams met, the manager turned the ball over five times. But Jaden Daniels and the Commanders ultimately clinched the victory on a drive with two seconds left in the fourth quarter that scored 22 points.
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However, this time there was no turnaround due to turnovers, with Jeremy McNichols fumbled a kick return near the end of the first half, and Austin Ekeler fumbled in the second half.
And all those turnovers resulted in touchdowns.
After a Brown fumble, Barkley scored from four yards to go, giving Hurts their first pushing score of the game and making it 20-12 near halftime. He returned to the locker room with AJ Brown scoring the only passing touchdown of the game, ensuring a 27-12 lead.
But in the second half, things become clearer for Dan Quinn's command. In the third quarter, Hurts got his second ground touchdown, 9 yards, making it 35-14. Daniels then scored himself on the ground to cut the lead a bit, but Ekeler's fumble led to another touchdown and Hurts was up by three points on the night.
In desperation, Quinn had no choice but to go for it on Daniels on every fourth down as the fourth quarter began, culminating in a sack of Nolan Smith on 4th-and-11 that resulted in Barkley's third for 4 yards. succeeded in scoring a touchdown. This basically made the trade 48-23.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half of the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher Iman Images)
AJ Brown of the Eagles and Marshon Lattimore of the Washington Commanders exchange words after a play during the first half of the NFC Championship game on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Daniels' final shot in the fourth was a deep ball down the left sideline for Terry McLaurin to score an early 36-yard touchdown, but it was intercepted in the end zone by rookie Kunyon Mitchell. .
The best takeaway for Philadelphia was that Will Shipley, along with his backups, ran for 57 yards early on the drive and scored a touchdown with two yards left.
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After great performances from Hurts (20 of 28 for 246 yards), Barkley (15 rushes for 118 yards) and Brown (6 catches for 96 yards), a well-deserved celebration ensued for the home team. .
On the command side, former Eagles tight end Zach Ertz certainly played a role with 11 catches for 104 yards. Daniels completed 29 of 48 for 255 yards while rushing for 48 yards on six carries.
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