The Washington Commander’s remarkable journey to the Super Bowl was cut short this Sunday in a devastating 23-55 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game. After everything he contributed, this was not the historic ending Commander’s star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels wanted.
From the start, the Eagles were in command. They kept the Commander’s offense on lockdown as Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, and wide receiver A.J. Brown scored one touchdown after another. Though Hurts and Barkley were injured, this beast of a trio made crucial plays at the right moments.
Barkley had 15 carries for 118 yards and three touchdowns, including a 60-yard run to the endzone. A.J. Brown had 6 catches for 96 yards and 1 touchdown. Jalen Hurts completed 20 of 28 passes for 246 yards along with one passing touchdown and three rushing. He also officially became the first Philadelphia quarterback in history to lead the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances.
Throughout the game, the Commanders struggled from forced turnovers. The team committed zero turnovers in their prior playoff games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions. Yet four times during Sunday’s game, the Commanders gave up the ball and then struggled to maintain Philadelphia’s offense. 28 of the Eagle’s 55 points came solely from Commander turnovers.
Penalties also played a crucial role in the Commander’s loss. The Commanders had nine total penalties for a total loss of 47 yards, disrupting the Commander’s rhythm and providing the Eagles with multiple scoring opportunities.
For the Eagles, this victory represents a remarkable achievement, marking their second Super Bowl appearance in the past three years. They made their last appearance during the 2023 season against the Kansas City Chiefs. If the Chiefs win their championship game against the Buffalo Bills, then the Eagles can get the rematch they’ve been waiting for.
The Commanders, despite the disappointing end to their season, flashed a new brilliance under Jayden Daniel’s leadership. No one person can take the blame for what happened Sunday, but as Daniels said post-game, “…we’ll move on from this.” The Washington Commanders have shown promise this season and are on the brink of something truly extraordinary to come.