Quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley put on a clinic as the Philadelphia Eagles thrashed the Washington Commanders 55-23 in Sunday¡¯s NFC championship game to advance to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.
Barkley reached the end zone twice in the first quarter and again in the fourth, while Hurts ran in three touchdowns and connected with receiver A.J. Brown for another score.
They will meet the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl next month in New Orleans.
¡°I tried to downplay it in my head but it¡¯s amazing, man, it¡¯s amazing we¡¯re here,¡± Barkley said. ¡°We¡¯re going to celebrate, enjoy this and then get right back to work.¡±
The loss marked the end of the Commanders¡¯ fairy-tale season, with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels leading Washington to its first conference championship game in 33 years.
Barkley swung the momentum in the Eagles¡¯ favor halfway through the first quarter when he shook off a pair of Commanders defenders and ran 60 yards into the end zone to wild cheers from the home crowd at Lincoln Financial Field.
He ran in another touchdown less than three minutes later.
The Commanders put up a trio of field goals and a touchdown in the first half, but it was not enough as Hurts plowed his way through the Washington defense for a touchdown after the two-minute warning.
Hurts connected with Brown in the end zone about a minute later and sneaked around the Washington defense and into the end zone six minutes into the second half.
Daniels rushed 10 yards into the end zone with five minutes left in the third, but the Eagles slammed the door from there.
Hurts got over the line one more time early in the fourth quarter, and Barkley rushed four yards into the end zone with eight minutes left in the game.
The celebratory Gatorade came pouring down on coach Nick Sirianni¡¯s head with more than three minutes left to go, as inspired rookie running back Will Shipley ran in his first career touchdown.
The Eagles are back in the Super Bowl after losing against the Chiefs in 2023.
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