Category: Game Preview

Brian Dawkins narrates Eagles hype video for NFC Championship game vs. Commanders

Brian Dawkins narrates Eagles hype video for NFC Championship game vs. Commanders

Brian Dawkins played in four NFC championship games as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles from 2001–2004. The Eagles won the NFC championship in 2004 but lost in the championship game the previous three years.

Philadelphia will face the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon in a bid to win Super Bowl 59. The legendary Hall of Fame safety will have fans, players, and pundits ready to run through a wall for Nick Sirianni.

Philadelphia has advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the eighth time under Jeffrey Lurie’s ownership, marking the 2nd-most conference championship games in the NFL since 2001, behind New England (13). Notably, one-third of the Eagles’ seasons dating back to the 2001 campaign have resulted in conference title games. Philadelphia has hosted six conference championships since 2002, leading the NFL during that stretch. The next closest are San Francisco and Seattle, which have three.

Jalen Hurts injury updates: Latest news as Eagles QB ponders wearing a knee brace

Jalen Hurts is dealing with a knee injury, but practiced fully Friday. Here are the latest updates on Eagles quarterback ahead of NFC Championship game vs. Commanders

Philadelphia just wrapped up their final practice of the week ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship game and quarterback Jalen Hurts addressed the media. The Eagles returned to practice on Thursday, and star quarterback Jalen Hurts was a full participant with no designation. Hurts was a full participant again, with no injury designation.

Still he’s expected to wear a brace on his injured knee, and confirmed such during his sit-down with the media.

In Philadelphia’s NFC divisional round win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Hurts was sacked and bent back awkwardly. He appeared to injure his knee on the play but remained in the game.

Hurts ranked among the top 8 in the league in yards per attempt (4th, 8.0), passer rating (5th, career-high 103.7), completion percentage (8th, career-high 68.7%) and total TDs (8th, 32) in the regular season.

In addition, Hurts tied for the 5th-most rushing TDs (14) in the league (1st among QBs). He is the first NFL player to rush for 13+ TDs in three straight years since LaDainian Tomlinson (six, 2002-07).

Jalen Carter has quickly become a dominant player and vocal leader for the Eagles

Jalen Carter has rapidly emerged as a powerhouse at defensive tackle and an influential Eagles leader, showcasing his exceptional talent and strong presence on and off the field.

Jalen Carter has rapidly emerged as a powerhouse at defensive tackle and an influential Eagles leader, showcasing his exceptional talent and strong presence on and off the field.

The Athletic recently took at Carter’s second season in the NFL, and the former Georgia Bulldogs All-American played a prominent role in the post-bye week turnaround on defense.

After a lousy practice in the infancy of this season, Jalen Carter stepped into a players-only huddle and addressed the entire team for the first time.

Several teammates still remember his message: Where we are is not where we need to be.

They were strong words from a second-year player, a defensive tackle who’d only just turned 23. But Carter had not only earned a voice on a young team that was counting on its next leaders. He was also absolutely right.

BreadMan finished his second regular season with 42 tackles, 12 for loss, 4.5 sacks, 61 combined QB hits and pressures, five pass deflections, and two forced fumbles.

Carter has registered eight pressures, 5 QB hits, 2.0 sacks, and one forced fumble this postseason. In the NFC Divisional Playoff vs. L.A. Rams, Carter (23 years, 290 days) logged a career-high-tying 2.0 sacks, becoming the youngest Eagle to produce a multi-sack game in the playoffs. In the regular season, Carter finished 4th among NFL interior DL with an 81.5 PFF pass-rush grade, behind Chris Jones (91.0), Cameron Heyward (87.2), and Jeffery Simmons (81.6) (min. 400 pass-rush snaps).

Carter has performed at a high level despite playing 84 percent of the defensive snaps, up from 48 percent as a rookie, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

Jalen Hurts injury updates: Latest news on Eagles QB

Jalen Hurts is dealing with a knee injury, but practiced fully on Thursday. Here are the latest updates on Eagles quarterback ahead of NFC Championship game vs. Commanders

Philadelphia has advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the eighth time under Jeffrey Lurie’s ownership. This marks the second-most conference championship games in the NFL since 2001, behind New England (13).

The Eagles returned to practice on Thursday, and star quarterback Jalen Hurts was a full participant with no designation.

In Philadelphia’s NFC divisional round win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Hurts was sacked and bent back awkwardly. He appeared to injure his knee on the play but remained in the game.

Hurts ranked among the top 8 in the league in yards per attempt (4th, 8.0), passer rating (5th, career-high 103.7), completion percentage (8th, career-high 68.7%) and total TDs (8th, 32) in the regular season.

In addition, Hurts tied for the 5th-most rushing TDs (14) in the league (1st among QBs). He is the first NFL player to rush for 13+ TDs in three straight years since LaDainian Tomlinson (six, 2002-07).

Commanders injury updates: Latest news ahead of NFC Championship game

The Washington Commanders had Bobby Wagner and Daron Payne miss practice ahead of the NFC Championship game vs. the Philadelphia Eagles

The Commanders wrapped up a Thursday practice ahead of Sunday’s NFC title game and had multiple key starters listed as limited or nonparticipants.

Running back Jeremy McNichols (hand) was a full practice participant, while wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (hip) was limited in practice.

Washington tight end Ben Sinnott (shoulder) was limited, while center Tyler Biadasz (ankle) practiced fully.

Defensive tackle Daron Payne (knee/finger) did not practice, along with Bobby Wagner, but linebacker Frankie Luvu was listed as limited with a shoulder injury.

Commanders DC hints at Washington being very physical with Eagles QB Jalen Hurts

Commanders DC Joe Whitt on Jalen Hurts: “If he is going to run the ball…we are going to treat him like a running back. We’re going to hit him that way. That’s their decision if they want to get him hit”

Jalen Hurts didn’t finish the last Eagles matchup against the Commanders, so Joe Whitt’s comments on Thursday carried even more weight ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship game.

Hurts is one of the best running quarterbacks in NFL history. Washington’s defensive coordinator essentially warned Philadelphia’s star quarterback that there would be consequences and physical repercussions if he became a runner.

Hurts ranked among the top 8 in the league in yards per attempt (4th, 8.0), passer rating (5th, career-high 103.7), completion percentage (8th, career-high 68.7%) and total TDs (8th, 32) in the regular season.

In addition, Hurts tied for the 5th-most rushing TDs (14) in the league (1st among QBs). He is the first NFL player to rush for 13+ TDs in three straight years since LaDainian Tomlinson (six, 2002-07).

Whitt’s talk of physical play sounds good on paper, but he must remember that physicality can have both sides. Jalen Carter will lead the charge when bringing the pain to Washington rookie Jayden Daniels.

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Zach Ertz fell back in love with the game thanks to opportunity with Commanders

Former Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz says the Washington Commanders helped him “fall back in love with the game again.”

Zach Ertz is an Eagles legend, but he was sent away in trade, allowing Dallas Goedert to become Philadelphia’s No. 1 tight end.

Fast forward almost four years, and Ertz has played with the Cardinals and Commanders, with the latter allowing the future Hall of Fame tight end to regain his love for the game.

Philadelphia and Washington will meet for a shot to advance to the Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.   Ertz is one of the biggest storylines, and he’s regained his clutch gene playing security blanket to ascending rookie Jayden Daniels.

During a sitdown with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Ertz gave insight into regaining “his love for the game.”

“It was really an opportunity for me to just fall back in love with the game again,” Ertz said, “and really just enjoy the process again and just be around people that know how to use me and allow me to be at my best. It’s just been so much fun. It’s exceeded all my expectations. Obviously playing with a quarterback like Jayden has helped a ton and just his humility and eagerness to grow.”

Daniels threw for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions while leading the team in rushing with 891 yards and another six touchdowns during the regular season.

Terry McLaurin is the big play mechanism for Washington, but Ertz has been the glue of the passing game, logging 66 catches for 654 yards and seven touchdowns, his most since 2018, the last time he played an entire season before this one. During Saturday’s win in Detroit, Ertz caught all five of his targets for 28 yards, including a touchdown before halftime that extended the Commanders’ lead to 10 points before halftime.

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Jalen Hurts injury updates: Latest news on Eagles QB

Jalen Hurts is dealing with a knee injury. Here are the latest updates on Eagles quarterback ahead of NFC Championship game vs. Commanders

Philadelphia has advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the eighth time under Jeffrey Lurie’s ownership. This marks the second-most conference championship games in the NFL since 2001, behind New England (13).

The Eagles returned to practice on Wednesday, and star quarterback Jalen Hurts will actively participate in the walkthrough close to the media.

In Philadelphia’s NFC divisional round win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Hurts was sacked and bent back awkwardly. He appeared to injure his knee on the play but remained in the game.

Hurts ranked among the top 8 in the league in yards per attempt (4th, 8.0), passer rating (5th, career-high 103.7), completion percentage (8th, career-high 68.7%) and total TDs (8th, 32) in the regular season.

In addition, Hurts tied for the 5th-most rushing TDs (14) in the league (1st among QBs). He is the first NFL player to rush for 13+ TDs in three straight years since LaDainian Tomlinson (six, 2002-07).

Eagles DC Vic Fangio on whether Jayden Daniels is the best rookie QB ever

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio talks Commanders’ Jayden Daniels being the best rookie QB ever

The Eagles will face Jayden Daniels for a third time on Sunday. The winner of this game will advance to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Vic Fangio will be tasked with slowing Daniels down, and during his Tuesday press conference, Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator praised the Heisman Trophy winner.

“Probably. Yeah,” Fangio said Tuesday when asked if Daniels was the best rookie quarterback he’s seen.

“He’s a young quarterback by birth certificate, not by tape,” Fangio said.

“The guy is playing extremely well. You can tell how much they think he’s playing so good, because of their offense and things they trust him to do, and he has come through for them in a big way. He’s tough to handle.”

In two games against Philadelphia this season, Daniels has a passer rating of 93.0 with 449 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Most notably, Daniels threw five touchdowns and two interceptions in the 36-33 Week 16 Washington victory, with the game-winning touchdown coming with six seconds left.

Daniels threw no touchdowns and no interceptions in a 26-18 loss to the Eagles in Week 11.

Eagles DC Vic Fangio compares CB Darius Slay to fine Italian red wine

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio compares cornerback Darius Slay to fine Italian Red Wine

Darius Slay has talked about his career coming to a close at some point, and as the Eagles sit one game away from a Super Bowl return, the veteran cornerback has been the best player in the secondary.

Slay played a critical role in the divisional round win over the Rams, coming up with several timely pass breakups. Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has been impressed with Slay and, during his Tuesday press conference, compared his veteran cornerback to a bottle of “fine red, Dago wine.”

Slay has played in 177 career regular-season games and 167 starts. His 160 career pass deflections are tops among active NFL players, and he also has 28 career interceptions and five career defensive touchdowns.

Slay, who ranked 1st on Philadelphia’s defense this season with 13 passes defended, leads all remaining players in the postseason with four passes defended and one interception.