Top photos from Eagles 55-23 win over Commanders in NFC Championship game

Top photos from Eagles 55-23 win over Commanders in NFC Championship game

The Eagles dominated every facet of the game and won the turnover battle while dominating the Commanders to advance to Super Bowl 59. Philadelphia rushed for seven touchdowns, including three scores each for Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley, blowing out their NFC East rival 55-23 at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.

As preparations begin for the trip to New Orleans, we’re reviewing the top photos from the historic victory.

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Highlights from first half as Eagles hold a 27-15 lead over Commanders in NFC Championship game

Sights and sounds from first half as Eagles hold a 27-15 lead Commanders in NFC Championship game

The Washington Commanders have a young, ascending roster, and that youth showed in the first half. Costly penalties and crucial turnovers spurred the Eagles early on, giving them a 27-15 lead in the NFC Championship game.

Saquon Barkley’s two first-half touchdowns energized the Birds, and Jalen Hurts connected with A.J. Brown on a four-yard touchdown with 57 seconds left in the first half. We’re looking at the first-half highlights with the second half set to begin.

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Sights and sounds from first half as Eagles hold a 21-14 lead over the Commanders

Sights and sounds from first half as Eagles hold a 21-14 lead over the Commanders

A solid backup quarterback is the most important thing to an NFL team, and Kenny Pickett finally had his moment after Jalen Hurts was forced to exit with a concussion. The former Steelers first-round pick had one ugly interception but made some big throws as Philadelphia went into the half with a 2-14 lead.

An Eagles win would give Nick Sirianni, the head coach, his second NFC East title in four years.

Here are sights and sounds from the first half.

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WATCH: Commanders’ trash-talking RB fumbles for a second time in game vs. Eagles

WATCH: A second fumble by Washington Commanders’ trash-talking RB Brian Robinson gives the Philadelphia Eagles excellent field position

Before Sunday’s huge NFC East contest, Commanders running back Brian Robinson caused controversy by saying Washington “believes they’re a better team” than Philadelphia.

Early in the first quarter, the Eagles were up 7-0, and if they had gone up 14-0, Robinson would have significantly contributed to the deficit. With the Commanders trying to answer a Saquon Barkley touchdown run, Robinson was stripped by Jalen Carter and fumbled in Washington territory.

Then, early in the second quarter, Robinson fumbled again, giving the Eagles great field position.

After Jalen Hurts exited to get checked for a concussion, backup quarterback Kenny Pickett found A.J. Brown in the endzone for a touchdown. Philadelphia is up 21-7 on Washington.

WATCH: A fumble by Commanders’ trash-talking RB gives Eagles excellent field position

WATCH: A fumble by Washington Commanders’ trash-talking RB Brian Robinson gives the Philadelphia Eagles excellent field position

Before Sunday’s huge NFC East contest, Commanders running back Brian Robinson caused controversy when he said Washington “believes they’re a better team” than Philadelphia.

Early in the first quarter, the Eagles were up 7-0, and if they went up 14-0, Robinson would have played a significant role in the deficit. With the Commanders trying to answer a Saquon Barkley touchdown run, Robinson was stripped by Jalen Carter and fumbled in Washington territory.

After Jalen Hurts exited to get checked for a concussion, backup quarterback Kenny Pickett found A.J. Brown in the endzone for a touchdown. Philadelphia is up 14-0 on Washington.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson on facing Eagles: ‘We feel like we are the better team’

Washington running back Brian Robinson says the Commanders feel like they are better team than the Philadelphia Eagles

The Commanders will host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, in a game that could give Nick Sirianni’s team a division title with the win.

Washington is looking to break a three-game losing streak at home to Philadelphia. On Wednesday, a starting running back provided some bulletin board materials. Brian Robinson played a key role in the first matchup and, during a radio appearance, said that the Commanders feel like they are the better team.

In Week 11, Saquon Barkley set the tone and threw the knockout punches, rushing 26 times for 146 yards (5.6 avg) and two explosive touchdown runs. Barkley scored 23 yards and 39 yards on plays to put Philadelphia up 26-10 before a late touchdown to Zach Ertz.

Midway through the third quarter, running back Austin Ekeler had six catches for 81 yards, while Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown, and Noah Brown had combined for one catch for 4 yards as a wide receiver group. Overall, Quinyon Mitchell, Darius Slay, and Cooper DeJaean held McLaurin to one catch for ten yards.

Much has changed for the Commanders over the past week

Much has changed for the Commanders over the past week.

Losers of three consecutive games, the Commanders one week ago, looked to be perfect candidates for another upset loss.

Having suffered a disappointing loss to the Cowboys (34-26) in a home Week 12 contest, the Commanders not only lost, they looked a step slow and the inferior team.

More than a few sports show hosts voiced that the Commanders were prime candidates for another loss, and one reason was the Titans’ defense. Entering the Week 13 game, the Titans defense was first in passing yards allowed  (169.6), second in total yards allowed (276.4), second in defensive third down percentage (31.6), and third in yards allowed per play (4.8).

Even in its own town, Washington’s The Team 980 host Lynell Willingham proclaimed the Commanders would fall to the Titans.

Not to kick Willingham when he is down; don’t we all make predictions that don’t come true? Don’t we all get it wrong more times than we would like to admit?

That was all great to build up the game; however, what actually transpired in the game?

  • The Commanders possessed the ball 40:13, more than double that of the Titans, who had it only 19:47.
  • Washington ran the ball 45 times, while the Titans ran it 11 times. The Commanders outrushed the Titans 267-35.
  • Against the vaunted Titans defense, Brian Robinson finished with 103 yards on 16 carries. In addition, Chris Rodriguez ran 13 times for 94 yards.
  • The Commanders accumulated 29 first downs, holding the Titans to a mere 12, had the advantage in total plays 77-50, and out-gained the Titans 463-245.

Had Jayden Daniels hit the rookie wall?

On Sunday, against the Titans, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury coached Daniels to get the ball out of his hands, move the chains, and avoid being hit while passing. Consequently, Daniels completed 25 of 30 passing attempts (83 percent) for 206 yards (6.9 yards per attempt).

Daniels was the most significant player in turning around the Commanders from a dreadful 4-13 team in 2023. He’s not the only significant personnel change but the most significant change.

The offensive line is vastly improved, and yes, coaching matters, as evidenced by Kingsbury’s adjustments in how he has prepared Daniels throughout the season.

Finally, it really is a week-to-week league. Therefore, the Commanders should have been resting during this bye week and will need to be ready to return next week to work for the season’s last four games.

Are the Commanders worn out and tired?

Are the Commanders’ recent struggles due to them badly needing a bye week?

The Commanders won’t get their bye until December 8.

Two weeks ago, the Commanders were 7-2, 2-0 in the NFC East divisional games. Today, they are 7-4, having led both of the last two games in the second half but lost both games in regulation.

Jayden Daniels looks tired and lacks the same energy. The offense actually only generated ten points until that final possession, when surely every Commanders fan noticed the Eagles were playing with less intensity, simply seeking to keep everything in front of them, chew up more clock, and end the game quicker.

Daniels played so well earlier in the season that we forgot he was a rookie. Thus, he is going through an NFL season for the first time. Thursday, he missed some open throws that he did not miss early in the season. Yet, in the last two games, we have seen him appear much more human.

Suddenly, Kliff Kingsbury’s offense has significantly slowed, scoring less. But then again, the Eagles are very talented defensively. How much of what is happening to the Commanders’ offense might be because there are now 11 games on film that are being watched closely by NFL opposing coaching staffs?

Thursday, the offense did not come easily. It struggled for the entire game. Did you notice that when Washington trailed 12-10, the Eagles’ defense suddenly made the Commanders’ offense look very weak?

  • 2nd-and-1 at the Eagles 25. Brian Robinson carry gets zero yards.
  • 3rd-and-1 at the Eagles 25. Brian Robinson loses one yard.
  • 4th-and-2, the entire play was a mess with the snap, missed blocks, and Daniels, having no place to go, was hit hard.

What now?

Some of this is the last two teams are better than most opponents this season.

Some of this is that Daniels is injured, beat up, and needs rest.

So, keep perspective: Did you forget Washington has not had a winning regular season since Kirk Cousins was starting in the 2015 and 2016 seasons?

 

Steelers vs Commanders injury update: Washington minus key offensive star

Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. is OUT against the Steelers.

The biggest task facing the Pittsburgh Steelers defense this Sunday against the Washington Commanders is slowing down that crazy rushing attack. But the Steelers got a bit of good news when the Commanders game-status report came out on Friday.

Washington will be without starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. Robinson will miss Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, leaving veteran Austin Ekeler as the starter with Jeremy McNichols as his backup.

In their last game, the Steelers run defense got gashed by New York Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy. They cannot afford to let Ekeler have that sort of game when the team already has to figure out a way to slow down Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The Steelers come into this week’s game at 6-2 and coming off of the bye week. The Commanders are one of the hottest teams in the NFL at 7-2 and in control of the NFC East.

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Quick facts from Commanders’ 30-23 loss to the Ravens

Several facts and stats from Commanders’ loss to Ravens.

The Commanders’ inability to stop the Ravens’ offense was the most significant factor in Washington’s 30-23 loss at Baltimore on Sunday.

Perhaps the second most essential component of the day was the absence of running back Brian Robinson Jr. As a result, the Commanders struggled running inside and didn’t have the success running to utilize more effective play-action passing of Jayden Daniels.

Here are some of the quick facts from the sixth game of the Commanders’ season:

  • The loss snapped the Commanders’ four-game winning streak.
  • The Commanders lost Jonathan Allen (pectoral injury) and Dorrance Armstrong (shoulder) and were already without starting running back Brian Robinson (knee).
  • The Ravens outgained the Commanders 484-305.
  • K Austin Seibert connected on a 55-yard field goal, a new career-long. Seibert had previously made a 53-yard field goal in 2019.
  • The Commanders’ defense could not keep the Ravens off the field. Baltimore had the ball for 36:08, compared to only 23:52 for Washington.
  • The Ravens defense refused to allow Jayden Daniels to become a dual-threat quarterback. He gained a season-low 22 yards on six carries, with a long of only 9 yards.
  • DE Dante Fowler contributed three tackles for a loss, including two quarterback sacks.
  • WR Terry McLaurin caught two touchdown passes for the third game of his career and for the first time since Week 4 of the 2021 season.
  • Terry McLaurin only caught four touchdown passes all of 2023. He now has four for the season.
  • The Commanders had three receivers today totaling over 50 yards in receptions: Zach Ertz (68 yards), Noah Brown (58 yards), and McLaurin (53 yards).
  • The Commanders came into the game averaging 175 rushing yards. Today, without Brian Robinson Jr., they managed only 52 yards on 18 attempts.
  • Lamar Jackson was the story of the game, completing 20 of 26 for 323 passing yards.
  • Commanders’ corner Mike Sainristil ended the first Ravens possession with his first NFL interception. It was also the first Commanders’ interception of the 2024 season, not coming until the sixth game.
  • The Commanders keying on the Ravens’ running game were still unable to keep them under control. Derrick Henry gained 132 yards on 24 carries and Lamar Jackson contributed another 40 yards.