The city of Philadelphia roared as their team in green gifted their fans a 55-23 win.
The Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field for the first NFL semi-final play-off of the night.
It was their 181st meeting in their history but only their second ever play-off meet.
The Commanders started off the game with a seven-minute-long drive. Former Eagle Zach Ertz received on the second down, which was then followed by an incomplete pass in the third down by the tight end.
Jayden Daniels’ scramble resulted in him comically losing his boot upon tackle.
The Commanders’ drive concluded with Zane Gonzalez completing a 34-yard field goal to open the scoreboard.
Eagles showed straight away that they meant business, and only one play was required.
Running back Saquon Barkley scored the first touchdown of the game after the Eagles were in possession for just eighteen seconds. He spun off the cornerbacks out on the left to then cut inside and drive through the middle of the field.
The score then went to 3-7 after a completed conversion by Jake Elliott.
The Eagles then recovered the ball on the Commanders’ third down with a double-man tackle.
Barkley then won his second touchdown and on the sixth play, with an insjde hand-off from Jalen Hurts – Elliott scored his second conversion.
In special teams, a fake was made by the Commanders, resulting in Ben Sinnott receiving for a fourth down pass completion.
The first quarter ended with excellent zone coverage from Zach Baun, and the Eagles led 14-3.
In the second quarter, Washington’s field goal team entered the field after second down – Gonzalez added to the score from 46 yards.
After a 10-play drive, the Eagles called for a timeout, but returned to a Commanders blitz, which saw Hurts being brought down in a big sack.
They then opted for the field goal, but Elliott’s kick was miles wide of the right post.
Washington got their first touchdown in their second down, as Terry McLaurin cut inside behind the protection to take the score to 12-14.
The Eagles went with their trademark brotherly shove, but Hurts’ indecisiveness seeped back in from their previous game against the LA Rams.
Another third down blitz by the Commanders forced another pass incompletion, but on fourth AJ Brown received a deep pass on the left side.
Despite contact on Dallas Goedert in the touchdown zone, no flags were thrown.
However, a flag was then thrown after Marshon Lattimore made unnecessary contact on CJ Gardner-Johnson in the touchdown zone.
The following brotherly shove led to a fight between Lattimore and Brown. The Eagles then went for the two-point attempt but it came to no success.
Back-up center Landon Dickerson, who was replacing starting center Cam Jurgens, hobbled around with a knee injury that was first braced-up.
After recovering possession from a fumble, Hurts scrambled through into the touchdown zone, but a ten-yard penalty due to holding from Dickerson.
The game’s feistiness continued with Mike Sainristil making a personal foul out of the field.
Brown then made a four-yard touchdown and the completed conversion took the score to 27-12.
In the last fifteen seconds of the first half, Daniels scrambled towards field goal territory. Ertz then received a short pass on the next down.
Gonzalez was then brought in for a 42-yard field goal to steal three points before half-time.
The second half saw Jurgens take to the field in replacement of Dickerson, who was now looking worse for wear.
Goedert received a pass from Hurts in a neat pocket, ten yards from the touchdown zone on their third play.
Hurts then scrambled through his protection out left for his first touchdown of the game.
The completed conversion from Elliott took the game to 34-15.
Another quarterback touchdown then came, with Daniels scrambling on a speed option. The Commanders then went for the two point attempt, which was a pass completion into Olamide Zaccheaus.
Despite gaining good ground through a Daniels and Ertz pass link-up, Washington turned over possession for the third time of the game.
Barkley’s running prowess continued as he picked the ball up from the fumble and made his way to the one-yard line.
The Eagles then forced some brotherly shoves, but Frankie Luvu performed a Superman-like acrobatic display of encroachment, and then he did it again.
Washington were then advised that if similar actions continued then the Eagles could be awarded a score. However, the home team pushed their way into the touchdown zone for Hurts’ second touchdown of the game.
The Commanders were caught out with another bout of pass interference after Jeremy Chinn impeded Goebert from catching in the touchdown zone.
In their fourth play, Barkley was handed the ball to run out far right for yet another touchdown to add to his stellar season.
It was then Eagles’ defence’s time to shine again with a long-watched pick in the touchdown zone that was made by cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
Will Shipley said it’s not just Barkley, as he broke past Washington’s defence to run for 57 yards before he was pulled down. Two downs later, Shipley drove the ball in for his first career touchdown.
The clock was run down and the chants of FLY EAGLES FLY were sounded.
Their Super Bowl opponents will be decided later tonight as Kansas City Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills.
