The Washington Commanders managed to take a 3-0 lead with an 18-play drive, but it only took the Philadelphia Eagles 18 seconds to seize the lead and never look back, cruising to a 55-23 victory to punch their ticket to Super Bowl 59. Let’s break down how things unfolded at Lincoln Financial Field today.
Saquon Sets the Stage
Saquon Barkley wasted no time making an impact, bursting for a 60-yard touchdown on the Eagles’ first offensive play. The NFL’s top rusher finished with 118 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns. In three matchups against Washington this season, Barkley racked up an astounding 414 yards and seven touchdowns.
However, the real difference in the game came down to turnovers, with the Eagles capitalizing on four Commander mistakes, scoring 28 points off those turnovers. To put it in perspective, the Eagles had only scored 13 points off six turnovers in their previous two playoff games.
Hurts’ Knee, No Problem
Jalen Hurts, despite dealing with a knee issue, showed no signs of slowing down, rushing for three touchdowns and adding another through the air. Hurts finished 20/28 for 246 yards and a touchdown, rushing for just 16 yards on 10 carries but finding the end zone three times. His performance earned him a quarterback rating of 110.1, and his nine postseason rushing touchdowns now stand as the most by any QB in NFL history.
Big Plays from Brown and Goedert
A.J. Brown stepped up with a stellar performance, catching six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Dallas Goedert had six crucial receptions for 85 yards, playing a pivotal role in several of the Eagles’ seven touchdown drives.
Red Zone Perfection
One of the most remarkable stats from the game was the Eagles’ flawless execution in the red zone. They went a perfect 7/7, scoring touchdowns on all seven trips inside the Commanders’ 20-yard line. In total, the Eagles scored seven touchdowns on 13 drives.
Commanders’ Rookie QB Struggles
Washington’s rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, put up a valiant effort, completing 29 of 48 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown on six carries. However, he couldn’t keep up with the Eagles’ explosive offense and finished with a quarterback rating of 72.8, also suffering three sacks.
The Eagles are heading to their second Super Bowl in the last three years, where they’ll face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in a rematch of Super Bowl 57.
