After two playoff games where it seemed like the Eagles weren't playing at their full potential, they finally seemed to put it all together in the NFC Championship game against their division rival Washington Commanders, winning in blowout fashion 55-23. Not only did Saquon Barkley have another incredible performance, but Jalen Hurts looked more like his old self, passing for 246 yards and scoring four total touchdowns (One passing and three rushing). Terry McLaurin was locked up in Quinyonamo Bay for the second time this season, but he was able to score on a 36-yard catch-and-run play when Mitchell wasn't defending him. Nick Sirianni became the first Head Coach in NFL history to appear in two Super Bowls without missing the playoffs in their first four seasons. Before we get into the Eagles' performance on both sides of the ball, we're taking a moment to give Jayden Daniels his credit, even if he is a rival. He brought the Commanders from 4-13 to 12-5 and a playoff appearance. He then went on to win two games on the road as the underdog, including beating the one-seed Lions who were Super Bowl favorites for most of the season.
Offensive Domination
The Eagles' offense had a record-breaking performance in the NFC Championship Game. They scored 55 points, punching in eight total touchdowns with seven of them being rushing scores. Seven rushing TDs is an NFCCG record, and it ties the 1940 Bears for most rushing TDs in a playoff game. Jalen Hurts had three of those scores, giving him 10 total in the playoffs, the most by any QB in a single postseason. Hurts also completed 20 of his 28 attempts for 246 yards and a passing TD, giving him four total TDs in the game. Saquon Barkley had another jaw-dropping performance and he wasted no time getting started. He ran in a 60-yard TD on the Birds' first play of the game, his seventh 60+ yard play this season.
He finished the game with 118 yards on 15 carries averaging eight yards per carry. Rookie RB3 Will Shipley had an underrated performance in the Conference Championship. The rookie had four carries for 77 yards and his first career rushing TD. 57 of his yards came on one single run. He also had impacts on special teams,
AJ Brown finally got to shine in these playoffs reeling in six catches for 96 yards and the team's only receiving TD of the game. Dallas Goedert, who has been a huge part of the Eagles' pass game this postseason, had another big game putting up seven receptions for 85 yards.
Defense Stands Strong
The regular season's number-one defense has been playing like the number-one defense in the playoffs as well. Every player is elevating their play and the defense as a whole is possibly the biggest reason the Eagles are NFC Champions. In the NFCCG they allowed 23 points, just eight of which came in the second half, zero fourth-quarter points, one TD allowed on two red zone trips, 7-17 on third down and they forced four turnovers. Jalen Carter is the third player ever to have 20+ pressures in a single postseason. He has 20 exactly and if he can get four in the Super Bowl he could pass Aaron Donald for the most pressures in a single postseason ever.
The Birds' cornerbacks of the future, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, have been playing like vets in these playoffs. Quinyon Mitchell has been targeted 15 times, allowing just 5 receptions for 24 yards, ZERO touchdowns, and two interceptions after having none in the regular season. Coop has also been targeted 15 times allowing 10 receptions for 97 yards and no touchdowns.
Zack Baun had 12 tackles and one TFL in the NFC Championship and had played great in the absence of Nakobe Dean. He's had 26 tackles, three TFLs, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and two pass deflections. This has been an unbelievable breakout season for him that almost nobody saw coming.
Final Score: Eagles 55, Commanders 23
Dixon's Three Stars
1st Star- Jalen Hurts (71% Completion Percentage, 246 Yards, 4 Total TDs)
2nd Star- Saquon Barkley (15 Carries, 118 Yards, 3 TDs)
3rd Star- Quinyon Mitchell (3 targets, 1 Catch Allowed, 7 Yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT)
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