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January 26, 2025

Handing out 10 awards from the Eagles-Commanders NFC Championship Game

There may never be a more enjoyable Eagles win in your life.

Eagles NFL
012625JalenHurts Bill Streicher/Imagn Images

One to go.

After a 55-23 blowout win over the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game, the Philadelphia Eagles are headed back to the Super Bowl for the third time in eight seasons.ย As always, win, lose, or tie, we hand out 10 awards.

1) The 'But the QB...' Award ๐Ÿ˜ฌ: Jalen Hurts

In the analysis (mine included) leading up this matchup, the common sentiment was that the Eagles had the better offensive line, the better defensive line, the better skill position players, the better secondary, the better this, the better that...ย 

But the quarterback ๐Ÿ˜ฌ...

Well, the the Eagles had the better quarterback on Sunday, too, as Jalen Hurts completed 20 of 28 passes for 246 yards, 1 TD, and as usual, 0 INTs. He also rushed for 3 TDs, and had a fourth called back due to a penalty.

Meanwhile, rookie phenom Jayden Daniels completed 29 of 48 passes for 255 yards, a TD, and an INT. He made a few plays with his legs, but was mostly bottled up.

Even in a win in an NFC Championship Game, Hurts provided a quote that is certain to be discussed at length for the next two weeks (and probably beyond).

The Eagles are never boring.

2) The 'They're Back!' Award ๐Ÿ™Œ: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert

Brown, Smith, and Goedert combined for 17 catches on 20 targets for 226 yards and a TD, plus 33 yards on pass interference penalties.

When you have the best offensive line in the NFL, plus a trio of receivers like A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert, that's probably what their numbers should look like.

Brown broke out of a slump, catching six passes for 96 yards and a TD.

When the passing game is working along with the run game, and the defense is creating turnovers, I suppose that's a recipe for putting up a 50 burger.

3) The 'Spark Plug' Award ๐ŸŽ๏ธ: Saquon Barkley

Barkley got the Eagles' offense off to a fast start with a 60-yard TD run on the Eagles' first offensive play of the night.

On Thursday night before the Super Bowl, some quarterback is going to be named MVP of the league instead of this guy.

4) The Peanut Punch Award ๐Ÿฅœ๐Ÿ‘Š: Zack Baun and Oren Burks

The Eagles force an abnormal number of fumbles, and it's remarkable how accurately and powerfully they punch at the football. Zack Baun had the first forced fumble of the night:

The Eagles' other starting linebacker, Oren Burks, had a Peanut Punch of his own:

The Eagles' backup running backs โ€” Will Shipley and Kenny Gainwell โ€” also combined for a forced fumble and recovery on a kickoff, and Quinyon Mitchell intercepted Daniels late in the game.

The Eagles were +4 on turnovers on the night, and are now +10 for the playoffs.

5) The 'Big Balls Nick' Award ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ: Nick Sirianni

One of the biggest plays of the game was a on a 4th and 5 from the WAS 45 with 2:14 left in the first half and the Eagles up 14-12. Sirianni opted to go for it, and Hurts hit Brown down the sideline for a 31 yard gain.

Bigtime call, bigtime throw, bigtime catch.

The Eagles would score a TD on that drive, and then another one after Shipley and Gainwell created their turnover on the ensuing kickoff.

6) The 'Warrior' Award ๐Ÿช–: Cam Jurgens

Jurgens was a "gametime decision," and it was decided that he would not start, but would be active in case of an emergency. When Landon Dickerson got hurt, Jurgens filled in and played almost the entire second half.ย Postgame, he very much looked like a guy who had a hurt back.

โ€œThey had a lot of emotion, and they talked a lot, and we executed," Jurgens said in the locker room after the game.

7) The 'I'LL TURN THIS CAR RIGHT AROUND!' Award ๐Ÿ˜ก: The officials

During an Eagles possession at the goal line, Commanders cheap shot artist Frankie Luvu kept trying to jump over the line to disrupt a potential Brotherly Shove. And why not? The penalty is half the distance to the goal which eventually amounted to mere inches.

Eventually, the officials had to intervene (via @CoachDonCasey):

I love that phrasing, lol. "If this type of behavior happens again." He sounded like an angry dad yelling at his kids in the back seat of the car to shut up.

8) The 'Didn't Hit S***' Award: The Commanders' defense

During the week, Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt gave a tough guy interview about how his players were going to hit Jalen Hurts all day.

Whitt's defense gave up seven rushing TDs.

9) The 'No Podium For You' Award ๐Ÿ™…โ€โ™‚๏ธ: Josh Harris

Commanders owner Josh Harris also owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils. There are a whole lot of Sixers fans who would love for Harris to sell the team, and would have been super annoyed to have to watch him give a speech while accepting the NFC Championship trophy with a rival team.ย 

Luckily for them, that didn't happen.ย 

10) The 'Big Easy' Award โšœ๏ธ: The Eagles

In two weeks the Eagles will face either the Chiefs or the Bills in the Super Bowl. Getting to the Super Bowl three times in eight seasons is obviously not at all easy, but the Eagles sure did make it look that way on Sunday.

In their last three NFC Championship Games, the Eagles have a point differential of +87:

Eagles vs. Vikings: 38-7
Eagles vs. 49ers: 31-7
Eagles vs. Commanders: 55-23

Grease the poles.


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