A lethal offensive performance and a defense and special teams that had a combined four takeaways led the way for the Eagles on Sunday in a 55-23 win over Washington in the NFC Championship Game, sending Philadelphia to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on February 9 against the winner of Sunday night’s AFC Championship Game between Buffalo and Kansas City.
The Eagles, in their third meeting with Washington in the 2024 season, put together a great performance that demonstrated everything about a team that started the season 2-2 and has since reeled off 15 wins in 16 games.
On Championship Sunday, the Eagles played a complete game in dismantling Washington. Here are some observations from the team’s second NFC Championship in three seasons and third in eight seasons …
1. Eagles offense starts the right way
After Washington used 18 plays and more than 7 minutes off the clock on the first possession to jump out to a 3-0 lead, the Eagles struck quickly.
Will Shipley returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the 40-yard line and then, boom, it was Saquon Barkley time. He took a pitch from quarterback Jalen Hurts on the left side as left tackle Jordan Mailata and left guard Tyler Steen (more on that below) crushed the line of scrimmage, tight end Grant Calcaterra had a key block outside, and then it was all Barkley in the open field. He spun free of two defenders, safeties Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin at the Washington 45-yard line, then cut toward the middle of the field into the open and he … was … gone. A 60-yard touchdown run to get it rolling for the offense.
“It was a good tone setter. We knew they we’re going to sell out to stop the run, we kind of knew that. And then, he breaks two or three tackles to start, we get a great block from A.J. (Brown) to get around the edge. And then, great block by Dallas (Goedert) to set it off,” Head Coach Nick Sirianni said. “Special performance, special player, special job by the entire group.”
Then, after the defense recovered a Washington fumble at the Commanders’ 48-yard line, Hurts and Barkley went to work again. Hurts completed a 10-yard pass to tight end Dallas Goedert, then connected with wide receiver DeVonta Smith for 20 yards to the 18-yard line – great tippy-toe catch from Smith on the sideline, went to wide receiver A.J. Brown on the right side for an 11-yard gain to the 4-yard line and then Barkley took a handoff, saw the middle was blocked, bounced right and raced to the corner of the end zone for his second score and, after Jake Elliott’s PAT, put the Eagles ahead, 14-3.
Philadelphia scored 27 points in the first half, rang up 15 first downs, and 233 total net yards of offense. Hurts made big plays when he saw Washington covering Smith and Brown in man-to-man looks and he kept the offense on schedule. Good variety, good execution from an offense that dictated to Washington in those opening two quarters.
“Well, I’ve told you guys, this is not a matter that we can’t. It’s just a matter of if we do. It all comes down to how we execute. Comes down to our approach, and everyone being on the same page and playing with good rhythm, and ultimately finding a way to win. I think the beautiful thing about this sport, about this team, and for me, from my vantage point, [is] how we’ve been able to evolve over the years since I’ve been here, finding ways to win in multiple ways,” Hurts said. “It’s a great help when you have a defense like that turning the ball over, playing hard, playing ferocious, and flying to the ball. We just need to find it in us to muscle out one more.”
2. Changes along the offensive line? No problem
For most teams, having a starting center, a Pro Bowl player at that, in limbo right up until game time would be a real challenge.
But not so much for the Eagles.
Cam Jurgens, bothered by a back injury all week and limited in practice, was listed as questionable to play against Washington. The Eagles practiced all week with Landon Dickerson moving from left guard to center, with Tyler Steen taking over at left guard. Dickerson, a standout center in college at Alabama, was on point for the entire first half at center, and as great as he is at guard – Dickerson is a three-time Pro Bowl Games electee – he showed what an incredible football player he is by playing so well at center until he suffered a knee injury and left after the first half.
Jurgens, who was active and on the sidelines in the first half, stepped in and played center in the second half and played extremely well as the Eagles’ offense continued to function at a high level.
“That was huge. Cam’s a warrior for that. Because I know Cam, he was definitely battling through that injury for a while. Having to step in when someone has an injury, he was already nowhere 100 percent, so, that’s huge. Just having that toughness to go out there and finish the game,” Steen said.
3. Crush rush works to slow Jayden Daniels
Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio gave quarterback Jayden Daniels a lot of different looks in coverage and he mixed in a blitz here and there, but for the most part, the Eagles played Daniels with a crush rush – they stayed disciplined in their lanes and worked to win one-on-one battles. When you’re playing a quarterback like Daniels and an offense like Washington has, you’re going to give up some yards and some plays and some points. The Eagles sacked Daniels three times – Oren Burks, a really important one in the third quarter from Jordan Davis, and one late on fourth down by Nolan Smith. They limited Daniels and his running game – he had a long gain of 19 yards – but was bottled up for most of the game – and kept everything in front of them.
“You have to keep your foot on the gas, especially in the playoffs, because that’s when they come back,” Baun said. “We knew we couldn’t let them stick around.”