Philadelphia, PA— The Philadelphia Eagles are heading back to the Super Bowl, fueled by a dominant performance from Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts in a 55-23 rout of the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
Barkley set the tone early, sprinting 60 yards for a touchdown on the Eagles’ first offensive play. He finished the game with 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Hurts added three rushing scores of his own, along with 246 passing yards and a touchdown.
With the win, the Eagles secured their second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons, where they will face either the Buffalo Bills or the Kansas City Chiefs, led by former Eagles head coach Andy Reid.
Barkley’s Breakout Performance
Barkley, who has been a game-changer all season, electrified the Lincoln Financial Field crowd with his opening touchdown. Later in the first quarter, he capitalized on a Commanders turnover with a 4-yard touchdown run, helping Philadelphia take a commanding 14-3 lead.
The star running back also extended his own NFL record by scoring his seventh rushing touchdown of 60-plus yards in a single season.
“I tried to downplay it in my head, but this is incredible,” Barkley said. “The goal wasn’t just getting here—it’s to win it all.”
Hurts Leads the Charge
Despite wearing a brace on his left knee, Hurts delivered a stellar performance. He ran for three touchdowns, including a signature “tush push” score in the second quarter, and connected with A.J. Brown on a 4-yard touchdown pass just before halftime.
“How about our quarterback? He’s a stud,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. “All he does is win.”
Brown led the Eagles’ receivers with six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Commanders’ Comeback Falls Short
Washington entered the game riding momentum after upsetting top-seeded Detroit last week. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, hoping to make history as the first rookie QB to reach the Super Bowl, threw for 255 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on a 36-yard touchdown pass that cut the deficit to 14-12 in the second quarter. However, Washington was ultimately undone by four turnovers, including a crucial third-quarter fumble by Austin Ekeler when trailing 34-23.
“We believed we belonged here,” Daniels said. “It just didn’t go our way today.”
Super Bowl Bound
The Eagles, who won their only Super Bowl in 2017, now have another shot at glory. Former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles was honored as an honorary captain during the game, a reminder of Philadelphia’s championship pedigree.
The crowd erupted in celebration as green confetti began to fall late in the fourth quarter. With a dominant performance behind them, the Eagles now set their sights on New Orleans, where they’ll compete for the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 9.
Injuries
- Eagles: Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens played despite a back injury. Guard Landon Dickerson suffered a knee injury, while running back Kenneth Gainwell was evaluated for a concussion.
What’s Next
Philadelphia will take on the AFC champion in the Super Bowl, with the chance to bring home the franchise’s second championship.
