Eagles vs. Commanders: 24 winners, 4 losers, and 4 IDKs

The Philadelphia Eagles are by to the Tremendous Bowl after beating the Washington Commanders within the NFC Championship Recreation!

This was domination.

The Birds set a brand new NFL file for factors scored in a convention title recreation with 55.

With a failed two-point conversion and a missed subject aim, the Eagles weren’t too far off from dropping a 60-burger on a division rival.

Earlier than we totally flip our consideration to the Eagles’ rematch towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, it’s time handy out some winners, losers, and IDKs from a particular evening at Lincoln Monetary Area.

For much more evaluation, try my look on The Ringer’s Philly Particular postgame podcast with Sheil Kapadia:

WINNERS
JALEN HURTS

Hurts saved his greatest recreation of the season for his largest recreation of the season so far.

The numbers: 20/28 (71.4% completion), 246 yards (8.8 yards per try), 1 TD, 0 INT, 110.1 passer score … 10 carries, 16 dashing yards, 3 TD.

Hurts largely excelled as a pocket passer; he accomplished 18 of 20 pocket passes for 216 yards and his sole passing landing.

He was correct. He was decisive. He was clutch.

On that final level, Hurts excelled in high-leverage conditions. 4th-and-5 go ball to A.J. Brown, proper on the cash. Third-and-13 scramble with strain bearing down on him, he acquired the ball to DeVonta Smith for a landing that was dropped however the Commanders acquired flagged for defensive move interference ultimately zone anyway.

Throughout his postgame press convention, Hurts talked about how Nick Sirianni “let me out of my straitjacket a little bit today.” It was fairly refreshing to see such an efficient passing recreation. The outcomes on this regard underscore why it’s been such an enormous speaking level this season. As a result of when the Eagles can lastly get their aerial assault clicking, the offense appears to be like extremely dominant! Completely raises their ceiling.

Contemplating how he shined in his final Tremendous Bowl begin, there’s each cause to imagine Hurts is able to one other big-time efficiency. The second clearly isn’t too huge for him.

With Sunday’s win, Hurts joined Corridor of Fame firm.

Jalen Hurts is the eighth QB in NFL historical past to succeed in a number of Tremendous Bowls of their first 5 seasons.

The opposite 7:

Tom BradyPatrick MahomesRussell WilsonBen RoethlisbergerKurt WarnerTroy AikmanJohn Elway#Eagles

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 27, 2025

SAQUON BARKLEY

Barkley had the right reply for Washington’s 18-play, 54-yard opening subject aim drive.

He merely took it 60 yards to the home on the Eagles’ first offensive play.

Discuss a tone-setter.

All instructed, Barkley’s 15 carries went for 118 yards (7.9 common) and three touchdowns. He had a fourth dashing landing get vultured by the Brotherly Shove.

With one recreation left to play, Barkley is simply 30 yards away from the most efficient dashing season in NFL historical past.

He gained’t win common season MVP however Tremendous Bowl MVP could be very a lot on the desk.

That consequence can be fairly becoming since he’s been the primary character of the 2024 NFL season.

Most dashing yards produced by an NFL working again in a single season, together with playoffs:

1) Terrell Davis with 2,476 in 1998 2) Saquon Barkley with 2,447 (and counting) in 2024#Eagles

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 26, 2025

NICK SIRIANNI

The Eagles’ head coach performed an enormous position on this recreation’s inflection level.

Going through a 4th-and-5 from the plus 45-yard line along with his staff up 14 to 12, Sirianni was NOT a coward. He didn’t merely attempt to get the protection to leap offside (like I admittedly thought was the case within the second).

As a substitute, Sirianni determined to attempt to give his staff an edge by being aggressive. And the mission was completed by Hurts hitting A.J. Brown down the left sideline for a 31-yard acquire. A number of performs later, the Eagles scored a landing to take a 20 to 12 lead. After which Will Shipley forcing a kick return fumble arrange one other Eagles landing for a 27 to 12 lead. Huge sequence.

I promise I’m not simply crediting Sirianni as a result of the choice labored. I’d’ve revered the decision even when it failed. I stated previous to the sport that Sirianni wanted to be extra aggressive. Particularly in a matchup towards Dan Quinn, who clearly wasn’t afraid to go for it on fourth down (besides surprisingly on the Commanders’ first drive when Washington settled for a subject aim for some cause).

Sirianni’s aggression on this spot conjures up hope that he may not be so conservative on this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl. That’s an thrilling thought since 1) he wasn’t aggressive sufficient in his final Tremendous Bowl and a couple of) the Eagles gained their solely Tremendous Bowl with their head coach being aggressive.

After all, Sirianni deserves credit score past a single fourth down name. The Eagles solely proceed to win beneath his steering. The vibes are immaculate. The tradition appears to be actually good.

NFL head coaches who’ve reached a number of Tremendous Bowls of their first 4 profession years:

Joe Gibbs Mike TomlinNick Sirianni#Eagles

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 27, 2025

Record of all NFL head coaches to succeed in two Tremendous Bowls with out lacking playoffs in first 4 seasons:

Nick Sirianni#Eagles

— Deniz Selman (@denizselman33) January 26, 2025

KELLEN MOORE

The Eagles’ offensive coordinator was cooking.

Primarily based on EPA per drive, that is the most effective Eagles offensive efficiency since… their Tremendous Bowl win over the Patriots.

The Eleventh-best offensive efficiency by any staff in a recreation this season.

— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) January 26, 2025

Drive outcomes recap:

1st – TD2nd – TD3rd – Missed FG4th – TD5th – TD6th – Punt7th – TD8th – Punt (from plus 40-yard line)ninth – TD10th – TD11 – Finish of recreation (victory formation)

That’s fairly good things.

Most likely didn’t harm his possibilities of touchdown the New Orleans Saints’ head teaching job.

LANDON DICKERSON

Dickerson acquired the beginning at heart with Cam Jurgens injured. He clearly acquired banged up however he gutted it out to complete the primary half. That was huge.

CAM JURGENS

Jurgens wouldn’t have performed if it weren’t for an emergency. However that actual scenario arose with Dickerson getting banged up. Kudos to Jurgens for toughing it out and having the ability to play many of the second half.

How a lot did right this moment take?

Eagles heart Cam Jurgens: “It took fucking everything.”

— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) January 27, 2025

TYLER STEEN

Simply how good is Steen? That a lot stays to be seen.

However right here’s a reality: two of the Eagles’ three highest scoring outputs this season (55 on this recreation and 37 towards the Cincinnati Bengals) got here with Steen within the beginning lineup.

On the very least, he’s clearly not a hindrance to main offensive success.

A.J. BROWN

All of us knew Brown was too good to be saved quiet for too lengthy.

After having two unhealthy drops final weekend, Brown redeemed himself by catching six of his eight targets for a team-high 96 receiving yards and one landing.

DALLAS GOEDERT

Goedert caught seven of his eight targets for 85 yards and likewise had two jet sweep carries for 13 dashing yards.

Eagles followers have been understandably pissed off with Goedert struggling to remain wholesome. Some have referred to as for the staff to maneuver on from him after this season.

However Goedert’s been fairly nice within the playoffs. All instructed, his 18 postseason targets have resulted in 15 catches for 188 receiving yards and one landing.

DEVONTA SMITH

Smitty didn’t submit the flashiest numbers however he was fairly environment friendly by catching all 4 of his targets for 45 yards and two first downs. A type of grabs included a toe-tapping effort alongside the sideline.

He additionally drew a 16-yard defensive move interference penalty ultimately zone to show Third-and-13 right into a Brotherly Shove landing from the 1-yard line.

WILL SHIPLEY

How about Will Shipley?!

What a recreation for the rookie working again.

It began with a 35-yard kick return to arrange the Eagles’ offense at their very own 40. That was proper earlier than Barkley’s 60-yard TD run.

Shipley then pressured a fumble on a Commanders kick return to provide the Eagles the ball on the plus 24-yard line. Seven performs later, the Birds have been in a position to rating a landing to take a 15-point lead.

With Kenny Gainwell dominated out attributable to a concussion, Shipley stepped up as RB2 and broke off huge runs on the Eagles’ penultimate drive. He then discovered the top zone for the primary time in his NFL profession to complete with 4 carries for 77 yards and one TD.

For perspective, Shipley had 82 dashing yards on 30 carries in 16 common season video games.

VIC FANGIO

The Commanders have been averaging 373.3 yards per recreation and 28.8 factors per recreation.

The Eagles’ protection saved them beneath these marks with 350 yards gained and 23 factors scored.

72.8 was the third-worst passer score of Jayden Daniels’ profession.

Fangio had some methods up his sleeve to stump the rookie quarterback:

Keep in mind final week when Fangio referred to as a drop-8 Cowl 4 with 3 DL on the sphere on an enormous Third down within the purple zone towards the Rams and Jalyx Hunt acquired a protection sack on the play. Sudden, basically unscouted calls on key downs within the playoffs. Sure, please.

— Deniz Selman (@denizselman33) January 28, 2025

Now for some nit-picking!

Positive didn’t like how the Commanders have been in a position to rating three factors late within the second quarter after they began at their very own 30-yard line with 0:39 on the clock and nil timeouts to work with. It was means too simple for them to get a 42-yard subject aim. A part of that drive concerned Fangio blitzing Daniels, which was bizarre to see since Daniels had lots of success towards the Eagles’ blitz again in Week 16.

JALEN CARTER

Carter generated a team-high eight pressures, in line with Professional Soccer Focus. No different Eagles defender had greater than 4. He was disruptive from the primary play.

This sort of energy is insane:

NOLAN SMITH

Smith was credited with 4 stops (second highest on the staff) and 4 pressures, together with his fourth down sack to power a turnover on downs that allowed the Eagles to take over on the plus 31-yard line and make it a four-possession lead with 7:48 left within the fourth quarter.

Smith is as much as 10.5 sacks in his final 15 video games.

The Eagles’ prime 10 all-time playoff sack leaders:

1) Brandon Graham: 5.52) Nolan Smith: 4.53) Reggie White: 4.04) Hugh Douglas: 4.05) Derrick Burgess: 4.06) Haason Reddick: 3.57) Darin Walker: 3.08) Josh Sweat: 2.59) Fletcher Cox: 2.510) Trent Cole: 2.5

ZACK BAUN

He simply makes affect defensive performs each single week.

Baun notched his SIXTH pressured fumble this season by punching Cooper DeJean’s hand into the ball to strip Dyami Brown for a Reed Blankenship restoration.

Later, Baun jumped on an Oren Burks’ pressured fumble for an Eagles restoration.

The man is a ball magnet.

Baun led the Eagles with 12 complete tackles and eight solo.

OREN BURKS

Burks logged a team-high seven stops, that are outlined as tackles that represent a failure for the offense.

He had a sack, a TFL, and a pressured fumble to halt a possible Commanders scoring drive that would’ve made it a one-possession recreation.

Burks did additionally miss a team-high three tackles, so, he’s not good. However he’s been actually good so far as expectations for a backup linebacker go.

QUINYON MITCHELL

Quinyon Mitchell had zero interceptions in 16 common season video games.

Quinyon Mitchell has two interceptions in three playoff video games.

Go determine.

Q as soon as once more shut down Terry McLaurin.

Numbers from NFL Subsequent Gen Stats:

Quinyon Mitchell lined up towards Terry McLaurin on 36 of his 48 routes (75%), aligning in press protection on half of these matchups. Mitchell allowed only one reception for 7 yards on 4 targets towards McLaurin, together with a fourth quarter interception. The rookie cornerback didn’t need to shadow McLaurin based mostly on each participant’s alignment tendencies. McLaurin ran 40 of 48 routes on left facet of the formation, whereas Mitchell performed proper cornerback (towards the offense’s left) on 69 of 72 defensive snaps.

Underrated play: Mitchell was in place to cease Ekeler in need of the aim line on a two-point conversion strive that failed.

COOPER DEJEAN

DeJean helped to power the fumble on Dyami Brown. He additionally broke up two passes, together with a downfield shot to Austin Ekeler.

The rookie additionally picked up Jamison Crowder like he was just a little child at one level.

JORDAN DAVIS

Davis doesn’t usually replenish the stat sheet however he had a sack and a TFL on this recreation!

Simply the second sack of his season (final one got here in Week 3) to provide him 4.5 in his profession.

It was an enormous one, too. Davis beat his blocker clear to get to Daniels for a 12-yard loss to carry up Third-and-20 at Washington’s personal 16-yard line. That sack prompted the Commanders’ solely punt of the complete recreation. And simply their second punt in the complete playoffs.

MILTON WILLIAMS

Williams was the Eagles’ prime graded defender by PFF. He generated 4 pressures, knocked down two passes, and logged two stops.

HOWIE ROSEMAN

A win of this magnitude is a testomony to the expertise disparity between these two groups.

Roseman has constructed a juggernaut.

In the course of the wage cap period (since 1994), Howie Roseman is the 4th GM in NFL historical past to construct 3 Tremendous Bowl rosters with the identical franchise.

The others: Invoice Belichick, Brett Veach, Kevin Colbert.#Eagles

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 27, 2025

8 of the 14 GMs in league historical past who constructed 3 Tremendous Bowl rosters with the identical franchise are members of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.#Eagles

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 27, 2025

JEFFREY LURIE

Laborious to take good possession as a right.

Dallas Cowboys followers would kill for Lurie to personal their favourite staff as a substitute of Jerry Jones.

Jeffrey Lurie is the twelfth proprietor in NFL historical past to advance to 4 Tremendous Bowls.#Eagles

— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 27, 2025

THE REFS

Am I the one nerd who was truly accustomed to the rule that the refs can award a landing?

Clearly it didn’t come to that on this recreation however it was humorous to listen to the refs warn the Commanders that it might occur.

“Washington has been advised, that at some point the referee can award a score if this type of behavior happens again.”

It’s true. I’ve the main points on the rule, and the hilarious historical past of it being referred to as. pic.twitter.com/0FAkKSyNdY

— Kyle Brandt (@KyleBrandt) January 27, 2025

ZACH ERTZ

Ertz was a tricky cowl for the Eagles; the veteran tight finish caught 11 of his team-high 16 targets for 104 yards.

This was a reasonably good season for Ertz after coping with damage points as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. He’s nonetheless acquired some gasoline left within the tank. Can be to see what his market appears to be like like. Could be good to see the man who caught the game-winning landing move for the Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LII not enjoying for a division rival once more.

I don’t assume he finally ends up again in Philly. However we’ll see.

LOSERS

I refuse to place any members of the Eagles within the losers sections after a win like that.

JOSH HARRIS

Promote the Sixers.

MARSHON LATTIMORE

AKA A.J. Brown’s son.

Lattimore was focused six occasions and allowed 4 catches for 88 yards. He additionally dedicated a 16-yard DPI penalty ultimately zone to arrange an Eagles landing.

Regardless of being a much-heralded acquisition, Lattimore actually struggled in his two video games towards the Eagles.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS FANS

On one hand, they have been completely dominated by a division rival within the NFC Championship Recreation.

Alternatively, they’ll all the time have that point they took over the Laborious Rock Cafe on Market Avenue.

Commanders followers will cope by saying they imagine the longer term is shiny. They usually is perhaps proper. Jayden Daniels definitely appears to be like legit.

However Daniels might be topic to a sophomore stoop just like the one we noticed from C.J. Stroud this season.

The Commanders might need endurance. However they’ve nonetheless but to show that a lot.

DALLAS COWBOYS FANS

Cowboys followers are speaking themselves into Brian Schottenheimer (or they ultimately will likely be in the event that they aren’t but) because the Eagles are going to a different Tremendous Bowl.

The Philadelphia Eagles have been to eight NFC Championship Video games and 4 Tremendous Bowls because the Dallas Cowboys final went to one in all both.

— RJ Ochoa (@rjochoa) January 26, 2025

I DON’T KNOWS
BRANDON GRAHAM

Will BG have the ability to go well with up within the Tremendous Bowl?!

He hasn’t dominated it out. However we nonetheless don’t know for certain.

JAKE ELLIOTT

Elliott is now 1/8 from 50+ this season after lacking a 54-yard subject aim on this recreation.

Elliott was 7/8 from 50+ in 2023.

He’s missed 13 kicks this season after lacking 11 over the past three years mixed.

On the brilliant facet, he did go 7/7 from additional level vary.

MICHAEL CLAY

The Eagles permitting the Commanders to transform that pretend punt was fairly annoying.

It simply felt like an extremely apparent spot for one thing tough. I actually stated “it’s a fake” aloud within the press field earlier than the ball was snapped.

How might the Eagles be caught off guard by the league’s most aggressive head coach on fourth down going for it in a scenario the place a punt would’ve given the Eagles the power to make it a 21 to three recreation? C’mon.

The Eagles’ particular groups coordinator didn’t have his gamers correctly ready for that scenario.

KELEE RINGO

Unhealthy job by Ringo to lose monitor of the place he was on the sphere and wipe out Sydney Brown’s effort to assist pin the Commanders deep.

Ringo’s mistake value the Eagles about 16 yards of subject place on a drive the place Washington had an opportunity to make it a one-score recreation.