Tim McManus
John Keim
John Keim
ESPN Employees Author
John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Submit. He began overlaying the crew in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored 4 books. You can even take heed to him on ‘The John Keim Report’, which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and observe him on Twitter @john_keim
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles delivered a whole sport on the most opportune of instances, punching their ticket to Tremendous Bowl LIX with a decisive 55-23 win over the upstart Washington Commanders within the NFC title sport Sunday at Lincoln Monetary Area.
Questions on Jalen Hurts’ well being swirled all week after he injured his left knee in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams within the divisional spherical. Hurts not solely regarded wholesome, however he additionally had one among his greatest video games of the season, totaling 4 touchdowns, together with three on the bottom.
MVP candidate Saquon Barkley received the occasion began with a 60-yard run on the Eagles’ first offensive play of the sport and completed with three touchdowns. He and Hurts turned the primary pair of teammates to have at the least three speeding touchdowns every in an NFL playoff sport.
Editor’s Picks
1 Associated
In the meantime, the protection was its common, takeaway-generating self, serving to to drive three Washington turnovers.
The season is over for the Commanders, however rookie quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels introduced his arrival in a giant approach this season. There may be hope within the Washington space for the primary time in a very long time that the Commanders could be a menace within the NFC for years to return.
For now, the convention crown belongs to the Eagles. It was simply two years in the past that they fought their approach to the Tremendous Bowl, solely to be denied by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. A troublesome 12 months ensued that included a late-season collapse, the firing of each coordinators and questions concerning the job standing of head coach Nick Sirianni.
The addition of Barkley and a few laborious classes discovered from 2023 helped elevate the Eagles again into the massive sport. They will be seeking to seize simply the second Lombardi Trophy in franchise historical past.
Promising pattern: Receiver A.J. Brown had a breakout sport after a quiet postseason so far. Brown, who has been working by means of a knee damage, had simply three receptions for twenty-four yards mixed in his first two playoff video games. He regarded far more like his regular self in opposition to the Commanders, hauling in six grabs for 96 yards and a landing.
Pivotal play: After going up 20-12 with just below two minutes to play on a Hurts quarterback sneak, the Eagles’ particular groups pressured a turnover on the following kickoff when Will Shipley jarred the ball unfastened from Jeremy McNichols. Seven performs later, Hurts discovered Brown for a 4-yard landing to increase the result in 15 earlier than the half.
Eye-popping stat: Hurts now has 4 profession video games with 200 passing yards and three speeding TDs, together with playoffs. No different participant has a couple of such sport in NFL historical past, common season and playoffs. — Tim McManus
Subsequent sport: Tremendous Bowl LIX vs. Chiefs/Payments (Sunday, Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox)
Washington Commanders (12-5)
A dream season resulted in a nightmare for the Washington Commanders.
A crew that had taken excellent care of the ball and compelled turnovers in its first two postseason wins did not do both Sunday, and it was expensive. A crew with a stronger roster flexed its muscle mass and reminded the upstart Commanders that they’ve work to do to shut the hole between the groups.
The Commanders turned the ball over 4 instances, main to twenty-eight factors. The Washington protection, which pressured 5 turnovers to assist beat Detroit within the divisional spherical, may drive solely two punts and had no takeaways. The protection additionally struggled to cease the run, permitting 232 yards Sunday.
It was not the specified ending to Washington’s first journey to the championship sport for the reason that 1991 season. The Commanders went from 4-13 a season in the past to 12-5 amidst nice organizational change. Common supervisor Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn overhauled the roster, and Daniels supplied the ultimate — and maybe biggest — cause for hope.
Troubling pattern: Cornerback Marshon Lattimore didn’t make the specified influence after Washington acquired him from New Orleans forward of the commerce deadline. He was crushed in essential moments in opposition to the Eagles, together with giving up 31 yards on a fourth-and-5 move. He was slowed by a hamstring damage this season however, regardless, in two video games versus Philadelphia he was flagged 5 instances and misplaced his composure within the first half Sunday.
Pivotal play: On the following sequence after Barkley sprinted 60 yards for a landing, Washington receiver Dyami Brown fumbled on the Washington 48-yard line — the Commanders’ first turnover this postseason. The Eagles turned it into one other landing six performs later. A 14-3 lead left Washington chasing all of them day — a foul place to be in opposition to an explosive crew.
QB breakdown: Daniels was not capable of play Superman once more Sunday, and that is what the Commanders wanted, particularly after turning the ball over 4 instances. Daniels performed a stable sport — 255 yards passing with one landing and one interception and 48 yards speeding with one other rating — and didn’t appear like a rookie. He wasn’t the explanation Washington misplaced and stays the No. 1 cause for optimism for the long run. — John Keim
