Eagles flying to Super Bowl after crushing Commanders
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Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis sacks Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
The Eagles are heading back to the Super Bowl after toppling the Washington Commanders in Sunday's NFC Championship game.
Why it matters: The Birds have a chance to win the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy — and avenge a stinging Super Bowl loss to Kansas City in 2023.
Driving the news: The Eagles are going to New Orleans to face the Chiefs on Feb. 9.
- The Birds will look to stop Kansas City from becoming the first team in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.
Catch up quick: On Sunday, the Eagles put together their most complete game of the playoffs in their 55-23 win, with QB Jalen Hurts scoring three times — two on the Birds' patented "brotherly shove" play.
- Philadelphia scored seven rushing TDs in the game.
There was no comeback in store for Washington this time.
- The Eagles' top-ranked defense stayed true to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's bend-but-don't-break philosophy.
- They forced four turnovers — converted all of them into touchdowns — and came up with a game-sealing, fourth-down sack of Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels that star running back Saquon Barkley turned into a knockout TD, his third of the game, a few plays later.
Zoom in: The win touched off celebrations throughout the city. Thousands of fans lined Broad Street, some climbing greased-up poles in pure euphoria.
- In the Birds locker room, Philly rapper and influencer Gillie Da Kid donned an Eagles championship T-shirt while doing his viral "Blow the Whistle" shimmy.
Zoom out: The Empire State Building lit up green in honor of the Eagles and Barkley, the Giants' former star.
- Even Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) got in on the fun. He wrote on X after attending the game with his sons that it was a moment they'd "remember ... forever."
By the numbers: The Eagles (14-3) tied a franchise record for regular-season wins, powered by Barkley, who left NFC East rival the Giants in free agency to sign a three-year, $37.8 million deal with the Birds.
- Helping douse the heat on head coach Nick Sirianni, Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards in the regular season, almost eclipsing Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record.
- And he's racked up nominations for league MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.
The intrigue: Hurts is the first Eagles quarterback to reach two Super Bowls.
- "We gotta finish," he said after Sunday's game.
- "Don't doubt him," Sirianni told Fox's Terry Bradshaw about Hurts during the postgame celebration. "All he does is win."
What's ahead: A rematch with the Chiefs pits the Eagles against their former longtime coach, Andy Reid, plus tight end Travis Kelce, the younger brother of retired center Jason Kelce.