How did New York Giants fans feel Sunday?
It could not have been good, right from the start of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 55-23 victory over the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field, earning a trip to Super Bowl LIX.
They probably started getting queezy after allowing the star running back to leave via free agency, Barkley ran 60 yards for a score on his first carry. On his second, he had two TDs. The MVP candidate also scored in the fourth quarter.
Barkley finished with 118 yards on 15 carries and three scores, proving a run-first offense can still thrive in the modern NFL. The Eagles collected seven rushing TDs Sunday.
Not to be outdone, embattled quarterback Jalen Hurts also scored three times, leading the Eagles to their second Super Bowl in three seasons.
X (Twitter) users responded to Barkley showing his human side of being a father, before showing off his superhuman running back skills in the opening quarter …
🤝 🫶 @saquon’s pregame handshakes with his daughter is our favorite pic.twitter.com/woCl8UzkG8
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 26, 2025
Philly fans were pumped early …
WAVE THOSE TOWELS, PHILLY 😍@acmemarkets | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/4DxQOlVtwl
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 26, 2025
The Commanders opened the conference final with an 18-play drive, resulting in a Zane Gonzalez 34-yard field goal. Commanders coach Dan Quinn opted not to go for a fourth-down play from the Eagles’ 16. The Commanders ranked first in fourth-down conversions …
The #Commanders open the NFC Championship with an 18-play drive, their longest of the season 😳
It ends with a field goal. pic.twitter.com/Ov5MK0YIQV
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 26, 2025
As chants of “MVP … MVP … MVP” rained down from the stands, Barkley celebrated his 60-yard scoring run on his first touch. Against the NFC East-rival Commanders, Barkley has collected TD runs of 68, 60, 39, and 23 this season …
🦅 PHILLY IS LOUD 🦅 pic.twitter.com/wM4iYGiEVo
— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
Eagles’ Zack Baun created an early turning point, forcing a first-quarter fumble. It’s what Baun does, forcing six fumbles this season. After starting the season with just four turnovers in their first outings, the Eagles’ takeaway streak reached 13 of 14 games …
FUMBLE‼️
The @Eagles recover 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jMWuaab1nh
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 26, 2025
On two touches, Barkley scored two TDs …
Touchdown #2 for Saquon 👏
📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/6KzjxYRZ9T— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
Quinn is a gambler. A successful fake punt resulted in the Commanders notching their second Gonzalez field goal, pulling to within 14-6 …
DAN QUINN FAKE PUNT!! What a freakin play call….
pic.twitter.com/ssQb5kUqfl— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) January 26, 2025
The Commanders pulled to within two (14-12) on Terry McLaurin’s 36-yard touchdown catch and run. The wide receiver had 10 TDs in his past nine starts …
Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin showing why they are one of the best QB-WR duos in the NFL today 🤯 pic.twitter.com/BJRJnAotYb
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 26, 2025
Hurts scored his first TD on a 1-yard “Tush Push,” capping a 12-play, 72-yard drive. The scoring late in the first quarter was just getting started …
Jalen Hurts sneaks it in!
📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/YiBeKuKXkr— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
After Commanders kick returner Jeremy McNichols fumbled on the preceding kickoff, wide receiver A.J. Brown showcased his “Inner Excellence” on a 4-yard TD catch with 57 seconds left until halftime. It was still too much time …
JALEN HURTS TO A.J. BROWN TOUCHDOWN
pic.twitter.com/FBOKC7ADQO— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) January 26, 2025
Twenty seconds later, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels engineered a quick drive, allowing Gonzalez to notch his third first-half field goal. He didn’t carry the pre-game heckling into the game …
Philadelphia fans not being very nice to Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez pic.twitter.com/JOEVy35wSE
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 26, 2025
After opening the second half with a 9-yard TD run and then Daniels answering with a 10-yard scoring run, Hurts had help on his third TD rush and second “Tush Push.” The score came after three encroachment penalties and another forced fumble. The Eagles were starting to pull away, leading 41-23 …
BIG BANG BAUN BURKS 😤@zackbizzaun | @BangTimeBurks pic.twitter.com/MqTKfrTkE9
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 26, 2025
Things got worse for the Commanders as Barkley matched Hurts with his third TD, this one on a 4-yard run with 7:58 remaining for a Super Bowl invitation …
6 RUSHING TDs.
3 for @JalenHurts. 3 for @saquon.#NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/XRRsatTAV7
— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
Rookie Will Shipley even got in on the act. The Eagles tied most all-time in playoff history, matching the 1940 Chicago Bears in the NFL championship game versus the Washington Redskins …
1st career TD in an NFC Championship Game.
You'll always remember this one, @willshipley2021! 💚 pic.twitter.com/A7OkcHUhSc— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 26, 2025
Final score: Eagles 55, Commanders 23 …
FINAL: Eagles fly to Super Bowl LIX! #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/zeQalROPBq
— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025
So, how did the Giants’ fans think about watching Barkley evolve into one of the best free-agent signings ever? Dez Bryant had an idea …
The Giants have got to be sick; I don't care what anyone says. 😂
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) January 26, 2025
