the Philadelphia Eagles They returned to the Super Bowl after the dynamic duo of Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley combined for six rushing touchdowns in a 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game.
Philadelphia will wait to see who will represent the AFC in Super Bowl LIX as Kansas City Chiefs The Buffalo Bills begin action in the Midwest on Sunday night.
Hurts and the Eagles were in the “Big Game” in 2022, losing to the Chiefs in Arizona. But what the Eagles didn’t have then was Barkley, the NFL’s leading rusher in 2024, showing why he could be the missing piece to win Vince Lombardi after a stunning home run.
SIGN UP TO TUBI AND STREAM SUPER BOWL LIX FOR FREE
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, after an 18-play opening drive that ended with a field goal, Barkley ripped off a 60-yard drive to immediately put the Eagles up 7-3 after the extra point. .
The Commanders didn’t respond well as receiver Deami Brown fumbled after punching Zach Baun while tackling his opponent. Unfortunately for Washington, fumbles became a bad trend throughout this game.
The last time these two teams played, the Leaders turned the ball over five times. but, Jayden Daniels The Leaders ended up winning on the final drive in the fourth quarter by 22 points.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
But the comeback didn’t happen this time with turnovers, as Jeremy McNichols fumbled a punt return near the end of the first half and Austin Ekeler fumbled in the second half.
All these transformations led to decline.
Barkley scored from four yards out after a Brown fumble, and Hurts got its first score of the game to make it 20-12 near halftime. He found AJ Brown for his only touchdown of the contest to take a commanding 27-12 lead into the locker room.
But the second half is where things unfolded for Dan Quinn’s leads. Hurts’ second touchdown on the ground was a nine-yard run in the third quarter to make the score 35-14. Although Daniels scored on the ground himself to cut the lead slightly, an Ekeler fumble led to another tough touchdown for Hurts to seal the third goal of the night.
With desperation on their sidelines, Quinn had no choice but to force Daniels to go on every TD as the fourth quarter began, and a Nolan Smith sack on fourth-and-11 eventually led Barkley to his third touchdown on a 4-yard run. Run, which basically sealed the deal at 48-23.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates after a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half of the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Photos by Bill Streicher-Imagine)
Eagles’ AJ Brown and Washington Commanders’ Marshon Lattimore exchange words after playing during the first half of the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, January 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Daniels’ final attempt of the fourth period was a deep ball down the left sideline to Terry McLaurin, who had scored a 36-yard touchdown run earlier in the game, but it was intercepted in the end zone by rookie Quinion Mitchell.
The cherry on top was for Philadelphia, with the backups in the game, as Will Shipley scored a two-yard touchdown run after going 57 yards earlier in the drive.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Celebrations ensued for the home team, following stunning performances by Hurts (20-for-28 for 246 yards), Barkley (15 rushes for 118 yards) and Brown (six catches for 96 yards).
For the leaders, former Eagles kicker Zach Ertz certainly did his part with 11 catches for 104 yards. Daniels finished 29-for-48 for 255 yards while rushing for 48 yards on six carries.
Stream Super Bowl LIX for free on Tubi. (Toby)
Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on Xand subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
