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Tag: NFC

Hot mic catches moment Commanders’ Jayden Daniels was perplexed by odd referee announcement in NFC title game

During the Philadelphia Eagles’ beatdown of the Washington Commanders in the NFC championship, there was an odd moment at the goal line in the second half when Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu tried to stop a “tush push” by jumping over the offensive line.

But he was called for encroachment … multiple times.

“Inside the NFL” caught the moment Luvu leaped over the Eagles’ offensive line without the ball being snapped. And, because he did it so many times, referees stepped in.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels celebrates a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the second half of a divisional playoff game Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

What was said, though, shocked many people, including Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.

“Encroachment, defense, No. 4,” the referee said. “Washington has been advised that, at some point, the referee can award a score if this type of behavior happens again.”

“Award a score? You can give them a touchdown?” Daniels responded on the sideline.

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Although it worked out in their favor, the Eagles’ defenders watching their offense about to punch in another score never heard of the rule either.

“Next time they do that, they award a score?” Darius Slay asked fellow defensive back Cooper DeJean.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, left, and Saquon Barkley (26) celebrate after Hurts ran for a touchdown in the second half in Arlington, Texas, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

“The refs can give us a touchdown I guess if they do it again or something,” DeJean responded.

The obscure rule is found in the NFL Rulebook as Rule 12, Section 3, Article 4.

“PALPABLY UNFAIR ACT: A player or substitute shall not interfere with play by any act which is palpably unfair. 51 Rule 12 Penalty: For a palpably unfair act: Offender may be disqualified. The Referee, after consulting the officiating crew, enforces any such distance penalty as they consider equitable and irrespective of any other specified code penalty. The Referee may award a score.”

The rule is for obvious unfair situations, and referees felt Luvu consistently jumping the gun on his leap to stop Jalen Hurts and the tush push was too much because the Eagles didn’t snap the ball.

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Hurts eventually got into the end zone on a tush push for his third rushing touchdown against the Commanders in the 55-23 rout.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 31, 2025
Tom Brady clears the air on feelings toward Super Bowl champ Nick Foles during Eagles NFC title win

The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Washington Commanders in this past Sunday’s NFC Championship game to earn a spot in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

Seven-time Super Bowl winner and FOX Sports broadcaster Tom Brady was in the broadcast booth at Lincoln Financial Field for the Eagles’ 55-23 victory.

At one point during the playoff game, television cameras panned to former Eagles quarterback and Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles, who was sitting in one of the stadium’s suites.

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Spotting Foles in the crowd prompted Brady, who suffered one of his three career Super Bowl defeats to the Foles-led Eagles, to recall the infamous loss.

Tom Brady of the New England Patriots talks to Nick Foles of the Philadelphia Eagles after a preseason game at Gillette Stadium on Aug. 16, 2018, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)

While Brady has appeared in a record 10 Super Bowls, Foles and Eli Manning are the only starting quarterbacks to have knocked off the decorated former NFL star in the big game.

Brady used Foles’ NFC title game appearance as an opportunity to admit he does not harbor any jealousy toward the former Eagles signal caller. “Nick, I don’t hate you. I’m just jealous of you. You caught it, I didn’t,” Brady said after FOX Sports lead play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt jokingly asked Brady if he knew who Foles competed against in the Super Bowl in February 2018.

Brady’s “you caught it” comment referenced the famous “Philly Special” trick play during Super Bowl LII. Foles lined up in the backfield on the play, before offensive lineman Jason Kelce snapped the ball to running back Corey Clement.

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The running back then pitched the ball to tight end Trey Burton, who found Foles in the end zone for a one-yard touchdown. Foles wrote his name in history books by becoming the first player in Super Bowl history to throw and catch a touchdown pass in the NFL’s annual championship game.

While Foles successfully hauled in the pass thrown his way during Super Bowl LII, Brady failed to catch a pass from one of his wide receivers later in that same game. Eagles fans have not let Brady forget about dropping what would have been a first down.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles lines up as a wide receiver during Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Feb. 4, 2018. (Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

“I get reminded of that play every time I see an Eagles fan,” Brady said via SiriusXM in 2022.

“I sure as hell can’t catch anything, everyone’s seen that drop against the Eagles in the Super Bowl, but I can throw it a little bit,” Brady joked in 2021 – his second season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – during a postgame interview.

Brady won six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots, before winning his seventh championship with the Buccaneers. In February 2023, Brady announced he was retiring “for good.”

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

Foles’ second stint with the Eagles ended after the 2018 season. He went on to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts. He last appeared in an NFL game in 2022.

The Eagles drafted quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round in 2020. Hurts helped the Eagles advance to Super Bowl LVII, but suffered a 38-35 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in that game. This year’s big game, on Feb. 9 in New Orleans, will be a rematch of the Super Bowl from two years ago.

A victory over the Eagles would secure an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title for the Chiefs. But, if Philly is victorious, it would mark the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 28, 2025
Eagles star Saquon Barkley has heartwarming reaction to rookie teammate’s first career TD in NFC Championship

Saquon Barkley found the end zone three times for his Philadelphia Eagles, as they walloped the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship to cement their spot in Super Bowl LIX.

But it was the last touchdown scored for Philadelphia that had Barkley jumping and screaming for joy, and there’s a big reason why.

Will Shipley, the rookie out of Clemson, is the third string running back for the Eagles. With Barkley getting the lion’s share, and veteran Kenneth Gainwell spelling him for snaps throughout the season, Shipley has mainly played special teams while getting some time in blowouts.

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Eagles running back Will Shipley reacts during the game against the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 8, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Well, a blowout win is what occurred at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, and Shipley was given that moment where he could pad the stats a bit. But what transpired was a career first for the young running back, as he scored his first-ever NFL touchdown.

And cameras on the FOX broadcast caught Barkley’s reaction, which was simply heartwarming.

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He went ballistic on the sideline, jumping up and down and screaming as Shipley celebrated on the field. And what was even more impressive than the two-yard score was Shipley’s 57-yard dash down the field that put the Eagles in the red zone once again.

Shipley had just 82 yards on 30 attempts during the regular season, picking up two first downs in the process. He played 58% of special teams snaps and only 6% on offense.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley during the Los Angeles Rams game on Nov. 24, 2024, at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, California. (Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Barkley’s reaction, though, shows just how much of a team player he is, as he was hyped for his running backs room partner to get his time to shine on the playoff stage.

This isn’t anything new for Barkley in his first year with the Eagles either, as he famously told head coach Nick Sirianni to allow the backups to get their time on the field against his former New York Giants despite being just 13 rushing yards away from a career-high.

“It’s all good,” he told Sirianni. “I’m good. I promise. I’d rather see the young boys eat.”

Barkley would later smash that record anyway, ripping off a whopping 255 yards against the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 24, 2024, which was the ninth-highest rushing yardage in a single game in NFL history.

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Everybody ate for the Eagles in this divisional demolition, and even though he wasn’t on the field, Barkley was loving every second of his teammates putting in work to cap a conference title that sends them to the “Big Game” in the “Big Easy.”

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
Jalen Hurts’ agent gets last word as Eagles win NFC title after ‘pretty privilege’ remark

Nicole Lynn, the agent for Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts, got the last laugh on Sunday when the team won the NFC Championship to advance to Super Bowl LIX.

Lynn fired back at a wild remark made by ESPN NFL analyst Dominique Foxworth earlier in the season following Hurts’ four total touchdowns in a 55-23 romp over the Washington Commanders.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, #1, rushes for a gain as Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, #54, defends during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

“That pretty privilege paying off,” she wrote on X.

Hurts was 20-for-28 with 246 passing yards and a touchdown pass and had 16 rushing yards with three touchdowns. The touchdown pass was thrown to A.J. Brown.

Foxworth had described Hurts as having benefited from “pretty privilege” earlier in the season after the quarterback fired back at reporters following the team’s win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hurts had been criticized for his passing numbers slipping year over year. He told the media at the time, “that’s what they wanted to see?”

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Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, left, and quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrate after the Eagles won the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

“He got up at the press conference after the game, and he acted like he was Josh Allen,” Foxworth said. “Look at this man with his Kangol looking like Nino Brown… with three thousand million trillion dollars worth of diamonds on his neck, and he acting like he just went for 400 yards for three weeks in a row.

“Man, you had one good week passing. And everyone forgets it when he starts batting his eyes at you.”

“Pretty privilege” or not, the Eagles are in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years and have to meet a similar nemesis in the Kansas City Chiefs.

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The major difference between the last time the two teams met is that Philadelphia has Saquon Barkley in the backfield.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
3 injured as driver plows into pedestrians after Eagles NFC title game, police say

A driver in Philadelphia hit and injured three pedestrians in a crowd of people after the Eagles’ NFC Championship win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday, police said.

The driver, who was not immediately identified, was in custody. Philadelphia police said the incident didn’t immediately appear to be intentional. The victims reportedly suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

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“Auto Vs. Pedestrians crash at Broad and Spring Garden – driver of vehicle is in custody. Does not appear intentional at this time,” police said in a post on X.

The driver struck the crowd near the City Center area around 9:30 p.m. ET – a few hours after the game was finished at Lincoln Financial Field.

Hundreds of Eagles fans flocked to the street to celebrate the Eagles win. Fans were seen on top of cars, shooting off fireworks and climbing the greased light poles.

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Three pedestrians were injured on Sunday night. (City of Philadelphia )

The Eagles defeated the Commanders, 55-23, behind big-time plays from running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Police warned fans ahead of time about precautions taken before the game – whether the team won or lost. Authorities announced road closures, safety precautions and the greasing of light poles.

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“Don’t climb the poles, greased or not greased, please don’t climb the poles, because you could break the poles and that’s expensive, and it’s money we could spend on other things,” Philadelphia’s managing director Adam Thiel said, via FOX 29 Philadelphia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
NFL world mocks Giants after Saquon Barkley dominates in NFC Championship

Saquon Barkley put up more ridiculous numbers in the Philadelphia Eagles’ NFC Championship victory over the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, leading to jabs at the New York Giants.

Barkley finished with 118 rushing yards on 15 carries and scored two touchdowns. Both scores came in the first quarter – one was a 60-yard scamper that got Eagles fans buzzing early.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, #26, celebrates after scoring against the Washington Commanders during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

As the Eagles celebrated getting to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years, NFL fans mocked the Giants for letting Barkley go in the offseason.

New York chose to re-sign Daniel Jones to a four-year contract before the 2023 season and gave Barkley a one-year deal. Before the 2024 start, the Giants let Barkley walk to free agency, much to the chagrin of Giants fans. He decided to sign with one of their archrivals.

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New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, #26, takes the field at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Tom Brady and the rest of the NFL world made sure to let the Giants know they made a huge mistake.

“Giant mistake letting him go,” Brady said during the FOX broadcast.

In Barkley’s first season with Philadelphia, he nearly ran for the most yards in a single season. He may have gotten the record, but he was held out of the Eagles’ last game of the season to rest for the playoffs. It turned out to be a crucial move as he has yet to let his foot off of the gas pedal in the postseason.

He has 442 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in three playoff games so far.

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Stream Super Bowl LIX for free on Tubi. (Tubi)

The Eagles will play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
Eagles fans take to streets to celebrate team’s NFC title win; fan drops from light pole

Philadelphia Eagles fans poured into the streets on Sunday night and celebrated the team’s NFC Championship win and impending Super Bowl appearance.

It is the second appearance in three years for the Eagles. This time, the Eagles pummeled the Washington Commanders behind scoring from Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts. Both players elevated the Eagles to the upper stratosphere as they won the game, 55-23.

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As soon as the clock hit triple zeroes, the party moved from Lincoln Financial Field to Broad Street in Philadelphia. Views from overhead showed hundreds of fans in the streets, climbing on light poles and shooting off fireworks.

Philadelphia officials were ready regardless of the outcome. Law enforcement issued safety precautions, closed roads and greased light poles in preparation for either a celebration or defeat, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia.

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“Don’t climb the poles, greased or not greased, please don’t climb the poles, because you could break the poles and that’s expensive, and it’s money we could spend on other things,” Philadelphia’s managing director Adam Thiel said before the chaos.

The Eagles will now have a Super Bowl LVII rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans. The game will take place on Fox and can be streamed on Tubi.

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Stream Super Bowl LIX for free on Tubi. (Tubi)

Philadelphia will look to prevent history from being made as the Chiefs go for three consecutive Super Bowl titles.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 27, 2025
National anthem at Eagles-Commanders NFC Championship has fans feeling patriotic: ‘Can’t get any better’

The Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders were more than just division rivals on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field as they played for a spot in Super Bowl LIX.

But one thing both fan bases could agree on was how great the national anthem performance was before the game.

Fans took to social media to voice their love for the patriotic scene that involved an actual Eagle, a brilliant rendition by Mark Kate Morrissey, who plays Elphaba in Broadway’s “Wicked,” and fighter jets doing a flyover.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels kneels before the start of the NFC Championship against the Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

“I’m not an Eagles fan but their national anthem is the absolute best with the bald eagle flying in the stadium,” one X user wrote. “It can’t get any better.”

“Absolutely beautiful!” another one added.

An American flag the size of the football field was displayed by numerous fans, creating a perfect wide shot of the whole scene before the two teams got to work on the gridiron.

But the live eagle flying around the stadium from one trainer to another while Morrissey reached the climax of “The Star-Spangled Banner” was talked about the most on social media.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley runs with the ball for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half of the NFC Championship at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)

A general view during the national anthem before the start of the game between Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports/File)

“Not an Eagles fan but DAMN…that Bald Eagle flying during the singing of the National Anthem brought tears of pride to my eyes,” another X user said.

As Morrissey finished singing, four F-16s from the 177th Fighter Wing flew over the stadium, putting the cherry on top of the patriotic scene.

Things got off to a hot start for the Eagles faithful in this game, too, as the home team saw star running back Saquon Barkley score two touchdowns in the first quarter, including one on the Eagles’ first offensive snap of the game to take a commanding lead from the start.

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Many teams pull out all the stops for their national anthems during the season, but fans believe the Eagles are the cream of the crop after what transpired in this conference championship game.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 26, 2025
Eagles pummel Commanders, punch ticket to Super Bowl LIX with NFC Championship win

The Philadelphia Eagles are back in the Super Bowl after the dynamic duo of Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley combined for six rushing touchdowns in the 55-23 beatdown of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship.

Philadelphia will wait to see who will represent the AFC in Super Bowl LIX, as the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills get underway in the Midwest on Sunday night.

Hurts and the Eagles were in the “Big Game” in 2022, where they lost to the Chiefs in Arizona. But what the Eagles didn’t have then was Barkley, the NFL’s leading rusher in 2024, and he showed why he might be the missing piece to win the Vince Lombardi after an incredible performance at home.

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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the first half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)

On just the first offensive snap for the Eagles in this game, following an 18-play Commanders opening drive that ended with a field goal, Barkley ripped off a 60-yard touchdown run to immediately put the Eagles up 7-3 after the extra point.

The Commanders’ response wasn’t a good one, as receiver Dyami Brown fumbled after a Zack Baun punch while tackling his opponent. And unfortunately for Washington, fumbles became a bad trend throughout this game.

The last time these two teams played, the Commanders turned the ball over five times. However, Jayden Daniels and the Commanders ended up winning on a last-second drive in a 22-point fourth quarter.

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But the comeback didn’t happen this time with the turnovers, as Jeremy McNichols fumbled on a kick return near the end of the first half, and Austin Ekeler fumbled in the second half.

And all of those turnovers led to touchdowns.

Barkley scored from four yards out after the Brown fumble, and Hurts got his first tush push score of the game to make it 20-12 near halftime, he found A.J. Brown for his only passing touchdown of the content to take a solid 27-12 lead into the locker room.

The second half, though, is where things unraveled for Dan Quinn’s Commanders, as Hurts’ second touchdown on the ground was a nine-yard score in the third quarter to make it 35-14. And despite Daniels scoring on the ground himself to cut the lead a bit, Ekeler’s fumble saw another tush push touchdown for Hurts to make it three on the night.

With desperation on their sideline, Quinn had no choice but to force Daniels to go for it on every fourth down as the fourth quarter began, and Nolan Smith’s sack on fourth-and-11 ultimately led Barkley to his third touchdown with a four-yard run, which basically sealed the deal at 48-23.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates after a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the second half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown (11) and Washington Commanders’ Marshon Lattimore (23) exchange words after a play during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

The last-ditch effort from Daniels in the fourth was a deep ball down the left sideline to Terry McLaurin, who scored a 36-yard touchdown earlier in the game, but it was intercepted in the end zone by rookie Quinyon Mitchell.

The cherry on top for Philadelphia was, with the backups in the game, Will Shipley scoring a touchdown from two yards out after ripping a 57-yard run earlier in the drive.

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Celebrations ensued for the home team, and rightfully so after incredible performances from Hurts (20-for-28 for 246 yards), Barkley (15 rushes for 118 yards) and Brown (six catches for 96 yards).

For the Commanders, Zach Ertz, the former Eagles tight end, certainly did his part with 11 catches for 104 yards. Daniels finished 29-for-48 for 255 yards, while rushing for 48 yards on six carries.

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

January 26, 2025
Eagles’ Saquon Barkley sends NFL fans into frenzy with incredible TD run to start NFC title game

The Philadelphia Eagles answered the Washington Commanders’ long drive to start the NFC Championship with a rather short one.

It only took 18 seconds. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts pitched the ball back to running back Saquon Barkley and the superstar player did the rest.

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Eagles running back Saquon Barkley celebrates after running for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders during the NFC Championship game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Barkley found a hole, broke one tackle and spun around a Commanders defender to run for a 60-yard touchdown. Philadelphia went up 7-3 early in the first quarter.

Jayden Daniels led Washington on an 18-play, 54-yard drive to begin the game. The Commanders made two fourth-down conversions before Zane Gonzalez nailed a 34-yard field goal. On Washington’s next drive, the Eagles defense caused wide receiver Dyami Brown to fumble and Philadelphia recovered.

The Eagles and their fans were buzzing at Lincoln Financial Field. The NFL world was just as hyped on social media.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts pitched the ball back to running back Saquon Barkley and the superstar player did the rest. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

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Barkley wasn’t done. He scored again later in the first quarter as the Eagles went up 14-3.

Barkley appeared to be building upon his incredible performance in the Eagles’ divisional round win over the Los Angeles Rams. He had two long touchdown runs in the win to go along with his 205 rushing yards. Philadelphia won the game 28-22.

The former New York Giants running back has run for at least 100 yards in four straight games and nearing a fifth straight game. The streak dated back to Philadelphia’s three-point loss to Washington on Dec. 22.

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The winner of the NFC Championship will punch their ticket to Super Bowl LIX.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

January 26, 2025