Jalen Hurts was electric in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 55-23 NFC Championship win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday, leading the team to their second Super Bowl appearance in three years. Hurts racked up 262 total yards, throwing for 246 yards and a touchdown and rushing for three more scores.
His performance was a welcome break from the team’s more conservative offensive game plan, as the Eagles have leaned heavily on the MVP-caliber running of Saquon Barkley this season.
“Coach let me out of my straitjacket a little bit today,” Hurts quipped after the win, reflecting on the freedom he had in the passing game.
Despite his individual success, Hurts stressed that his focus was never on personal stats. “I play the game to win,” Hurts said, downplaying his own performance and deflecting the credit to his teammates. He’s been instrumental in keeping turnovers at bay, having cut down on his giveaways in the latter half of the season.
Barkley also had a standout performance, rushing for 118 yards on 15 carries, including a 60-yard touchdown run on the Eagles’ first offensive play. He also added three rushing touchdowns, making history alongside Hurts as the first pair of teammates to each have at least three rushing touchdowns in a playoff game.
The Eagles’ defense remained as strong as ever, forcing four turnovers and maintaining their turnover-free streak in the postseason. Jalen Hurts’ ability to manage the ball and control the pace helped the Eagles bounce back from a 2-2 start to finish the regular season with a dominant 14-3 record.
Nick Sirianni praised his quarterback after the win, saying, “I don’t want anybody else leading this team at quarterback other than him. He’s a winner.”
Hurts, who had been battling a knee injury and illness leading up to the game, showed no signs of being hindered. He attributed his success to the team’s focus and collective mindset. “The mission is to win,” Hurts said. “And that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
The Philadelphia Eagles now head into Super Bowl LIX with Hurts at the helm, poised to add another chapter to their championship story.
