Eagles secure Super Bowl ticket with commanding win over Washington

The Philadelphia Eagles punched their ticket to New Orleans to play for their chance at Super Bowl LIX after thumping NFC East rivals Washington Commanders 55-23 at Lincoln Financial Field to represent the NFC. The Eagles’ offence put on a spectacular show, setting a new record for the most points scored in a conference championship game since the 1970 merger.

Jalen Hurts had an outstanding game as he dominated the field with 20/28 completions, 246 yards, and one touchdown despite wearing a brace on his left knee, whilst Saquon Barkley rushed for 118 yards on 15 carries.

For the Commanders, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels showed flashes of brilliance, throwing for 255 yards with one touchdown and one interception. However, Washington’s efforts were hampered by four costly turnovers, which Philadelphia converted into touchdowns on each occasion.

Washington opened the game with a methodical 18-play, 75-yard drive that consumed over seven minutes, showcasing rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ poise. However, Philadelphia’s red-zone defence stiffened, holding the Commanders to a 34-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez. The Eagles wasted no time responding: on their first offensive snap, Saquon Barkley took a pitch to the left, broke tackles from linebacker Jamin Davis and safety Darrick Forrest, and exploded for a 60-yard touchdown.

The score tied Barkley with Derrick Henry (2020) for the most 60+ yard touchdowns in a single season (7). Washington’s defence, already compromised by the absence of star defensive tackle Daron Payne (knee), struggled to contain the Eagles’ ground game, surrendering 6.8 yards per carry in the quarter.

The Commanders’ momentum unravelled early in the quarter. Wide receiver Dyami Brown fumbled after a strip-sack by Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, setting up Barkley’s second touchdown—a 4-yard plunge. Daniels briefly reignited hope with a 36-yard touchdown strike to Terry McLaurin, but a failed two-point conversion left Washington trailing 14-9. Philadelphia capitalised on further mistakes: returner Jeremy McNichols muffed a kickoff, leading to a 9-yard scrambling touchdown by Jalen Hurts. Just before half-time, a pass interference penalty on cornerback Marshon Lattimore in the end zone set up Hurts’ third score—a 1-yard “Tush Push.” Washington’s self-inflicted wounds—four penalties for 45 yards and two turnovers—overshadowed Daniels’ 148 first-half passing yards.

Daniels sparked a glimmer of hope early in the third quarter, evading Haason Reddick and Jordan Davis on a 48-yard scramble for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 34-23. But Washington’s optimism vanished instantly: running back Austin Ekeler fumbled on the ensuing drive, recovered by Eagles linebacker Oren Burks. Hurts capitalised with another “Tush Push” touchdown, extending the lead to 41-23. Philadelphia’s defence then clamped down, forcing three consecutive three-and-outs. Rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean emerged as a standout, breaking up two critical passes targeting Terry McLaurin. Despite concerns over Hurts’ lingering knee issue, the Eagles’ offensive line held firm, allowing zero sacks in the quarter.

Barkley delivered the final dagger midway through the quarter, stiff-arming cornerback Emmanuel Forbes into the turf on a 4-yard touchdown run. The Eagles’ dominance continued as backup running back Kenny Gainwell added a 12-yard score, and linebacker Nakobe Dean sealed the rout with a 22-yard pick-six off a tipped Daniels pass. Washington’s offence, visibly demoralised, managed just 47 total yards in the quarter.

The Eagles didn’t just win—they threw a demolition party in Washington’s Cinderella castle. Philly’s now heading to a Chiefs rematch, where the only thing hotter than the stakes is Andy Reid’s postgame BBQ order. As for Washington? They’ve got a rookie QB who’s basically the human version of a Tesla Cybertruck: flashy, fast, and occasionally glitchy. The future’s bright… assuming they don’t trip over their own hype. Again.

Here are the key takeaways from a historic NFC Championship Game…

Eagles’ offensive line resilience and ground game dominance

Philadelphia’s offensive line transcended adversity through a combination of strategic depth and schematic precision. When Cam Jurgens exited with a back injury, Brett Toth’s seamless transition at centre highlighted the Eagles’ emphasis on positionally versatile backups—a hallmark of their roster construction. Lane Johnson’s performance, despite a partially torn MCL, underscored his technical mastery; he allowed zero pressures on 28 pass-blocking snaps while neutralising Dorance Armstrong, Washington’s most disruptive edge rusher (0 sacks, 1 QB hit).

Saquon Barkley’s 60-yard touchdown was a product of outside-zone blocking, with Landon Dickerson’s pull block creating a runway. The Eagles’ seven rushing touchdowns, tied for a postseason record, were facilitated by Kellen Moore’s heavy 12-personnel usage (two tight ends on 68% of snaps), which forced Washington into base defensive alignments ill-suited to stop inside power runs. Philadelphia averaged 3.2 yards before contact per carry, the highest in a playoff game since 2018, illustrating their line’s ability to create displacement at the point of attack.

Defensive opportunism and turnover mastery

Vic Fangio’s defensive game plan exploited Washington’s offensive vulnerabilities through calculated aggression. By deploying safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson as a hybrid linebacker/spy on Jayden Daniels, the Eagles limited the rookie’s scrambling effectiveness (Daniels averaged 5.1 yards per carry, down from 7.3 in the regular season). Zack Baun’s strip-sack, which led to a touchdown, was a product of schemed pressure: Baun attacked RG Sam Cosmi’s outside shoulder while Jordan Davis collapsed the pocket inward, funnelling Daniels into the hit.

Cooper DeJean’s lockdown coverage on Terry McLaurin—holding him to 0.9 yards per coverage snap—reflected Fangio’s confidence in the rookie’s press-man technique. Philadelphia converted 75% of Washington’s turnovers (3 of 4) into touchdowns, a stark contrast to their regular-season rate of 48%. The defence’s 38% pressure rate, per PFF, forced Daniels into a 52.9 passer rating under duress, validating Fangio’s high-risk, high-reward blitz packages.

Jalen Hurts’ leadership and clutch gene

Hurts’ performance was a masterclass in situational efficiency. Despite a Grade 1 MCL sprain, he executed play-action at an elite level, completing 8-of-10 attempts for 112 yards (14.0 yards per attempt). His 9-yard scramble touchdown, following Jeremy McNichols’ muffed kickoff, exemplified his ability to leverage defensive misalignments: Washington’s Cover 3 shell left the middle third vacated, allowing Hurts to attack vertically.

Jayden Daniels’ poise amid chaos

Daniels’ performance validated his projection as a franchise cornerstone. His 48-yard touchdown scramble, which reached a top speed of 20.1 mph (per Next Gen Stats), exploited Philadelphia’s over-pursuit in a simulated pressure look. As a passer, Daniels thrived on quick-game concepts, completing 72% of throws under 2.5 seconds, including a 36-yard touchdown to Terry McLaurin against Cover 2 zone — a play in which he identified the safety’s flat-footed leverage pre-snap.

However, his late-game interception (a tipped pass under interior pressure) highlighted lingering issues with progression timing; Daniels held the ball for 3.1 seconds on average, the third-highest among playoff QBs. Still, his 891 regular-season rushing yards (a rookie QB record) and five fourth-quarter comebacks signal a trajectory reminiscent of early Lamar Jackson.

Self-Inflicted wounds derail promising start

Washington’s undoing was rooted in unforced errors and schematic mismatches. Dyami Brown’s fumble, caused by poor ball security on a slant route, was emblematic of a receiver group that ranked 28th in contested catch rate (48%) during the regular season. Jeremy McNichols’ muffed kickoff—Washington’s fourth special teams turnover of 2024—exposed systemic issues in their return unit, which allowed 12.3 yards per return (24th in the NFL).

Defensively, the Commanders’ inability to adjust to Philadelphia’s outside zone runs (6.8 yards per carry) without Daron Payne underscored their lack of two-gap-capable linemen; their linebackers (Jamin Davis, Cody Barton) averaged a 12.3% missed tackle rate in the game, per PFF. Dan Quinn’s reliance on single-high safety looks (used on 65% of snaps) left Washington vulnerable to play-action, which Hurts exploited for 9.8 yards per attempt.

Foundation for a resurgent franchise

Washington’s 2024 season marked a structural pivot, blending Daniels’ elite ceiling with a young core. Rookie WR Luke McCaffrey’s 71% route win rate against zone coverage provided a reliable safety valve, while CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.’s improved tackling efficiency (8.3% missed tackle rate, down from 18.7% in 2023) signalled developmental progress. Kliff Kingsbury’s offence, which ranked fifth in EPA per play on designed QB runs, maximised Daniels’ mobility but exposed protection flaws (56 sacks allowed).

With $86 million in cap space, Washington can target free-agent guards to stabilise the interior, while the draft offers opportunities to add a field-stretching WR and a run-stuffing DT. Defensively, integrating more pattern-match zone concepts could mitigate communication breakdowns that plagued them against Philly’s motion-heavy sets. This off-season isn’t about rebuilding—it’s about refining a blueprint that has already redefined the franchise’s trajectory.

Looking ahead

The Eagles will now look ahead to a rematch of Super Bowl LVII as they will get revenge against the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs who are looking to be the first team in the Super Bowl era to win three consecutive Super Bowls. 

While for the Commanders, they can look forward to the off-season where they’ll come up with ideas on how to do one better and get to the Super Bowl next season.