Eagles-Commanders takeaways: Jalen Hurts turns in encouraging performance ahead of Super Bowl rematch vs. Patrick Mahomes

The Eagles are once again Super Bowl-bound.

After cruising to a 55-23 victory over the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, the Eagles punched their ticket to the NFL’s title game for a second time in three seasons. The scoring output was the most from any team in a conference championship and allowed for plenty of celebration during and after the final whistle.

Here’s what we learned:

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For a second time in three years, the smoke from a celebratory cigar wafted around Jalen Hurts’ locker stall to mark a blowout win in the NFC title game.

And for a second time in three years, there’s reason to believe the Eagles quarterback could reach a higher level in the season’s final game.

Both Hurts and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni have long insisted that the way things look for this Eagles offense comes secondary to the final score, but Sunday showcased how dangerous the group can be when it gets A-level performances from both the running and passing games simultaneously. Going 20-for-28 for 246 yards and four total touchdowns, Hurts was as sharp and efficient as he’s been all season, consistently answering the call for the offense in pivotal situations.

Washington utilized a familiar plan against the Eagles, crowding the line of scrimmage to test Hurts’ ability to set protections without being certain where the rush may come from. Still, the Eagles were able to gash the Commanders in response. According to Next Gen Stats, Hurts went 18-for-20 for 216 yards when passing from the pocket and averaged 3.02 seconds to throw, a tenth of a second quicker than his regular-season average.

After the game, Hurts said Sirianni let him “out of the straitjacket,” perhaps suggesting he had license to be more aggressive than he has been in previous games. Hurts declined the chance to clarify what he meant, but it’s worth noting the quarterback has often talked about his role in this season’s offense being different while alluding to Saquon Barkley’s presence and production. Hurts has also cut down significantly on his turnovers since the team’s early bye week, which sparked a shift toward utilizing Barkley, who had 118 yards and three touchdowns Sunday, more heavily.

Either way, Sirianni and Hurts would be better off leaving the straitjacket out of their suitcases for the trip to New Orleans. The version of Hurts that last took the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2022 was good enough to go throw-for-throw with Patrick Mahomes once, and the version we saw on Sunday is good enough to do it again.

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The collection of players who joined the team since the 2022 season stood out among the Eagles celebrating in the moments after the final whistle Sunday,

Barkley darted from one end of the field to the other looking for his family. Zack Baun stood among a barrage of confetti holding his son, Elian, who sported some miniature noise-proof headphones. Meanwhile, Quinyon Mitchell, Jalen Carter, Mekhi Becton, and Cooper DeJean buzzed around near midfield, each wearing the commemorative NFC championship T-shirts for the first time.

Those new faces, mixed in with the central figures from the ‘22 team now making their second trip to the NFL’s biggest stage in three years, mark the necessary evolution the Eagles required to return to such heights. An overachieving, cost-effective defense built by Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and led by one of the league’s best coordinators in Vic Fangio stands in stark contrast to last year’s group. An offense centered around Roseman’s offseason addition of Barkley doesn’t hurt, either.

It’s hard to say where the Eagles would be without the contributions of Barkley, Baun, Mitchell, or the other additions from last summer, but it’s safe to assume they wouldn’t be bound for New Orleans.

At first glance, there are a few reasons to believe the Eagles can avenge their Super Bowl LVII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Eagles defense has fared well against even elite quarterbacks under Fangio this season, with Jayden Daniels being the latest example on a list that includes Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Matthew Stafford.

Mahomes is in a class of his own, especially this deep into the postseason, but the foundation is there for the Eagles defense to make things difficult for him. Just as it did against Daniels, it will start with an effective four-man rush and effective coverage behind it, especially considering that the Chiefs ranked 29th in rushing yards per attempt during the regular season (4.0 yards per carry). The chess match between Fangio and Andy Reid, two of the most experienced and respected play-callers on their respective sides of the ball, will be a fascinating one.

» READ MORE: The Eagles are headed to the Super Bowl to face the Chiefs. Here’s everything you need to know.

On the other side of the ball, the Eagles’ running game should be able to set the terms against a Kansas City rushing defense that has had some shaky outings recently. The Chiefs have allowed at least 147 rushing yards in each of their last four games, including 202 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17.

If the Eagles get their explosive running game going against Kansas City, the passing game should follow against Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s man coverage-heavy system. Mahomes can make everything else irrelevant, but the Eagles have given themselves the best chance possible with Fangio running the defense.

Oren Burks, up: Burks had the unenviable task of filling in for Nakobe Dean midway through the postseason, but he has exceeded most expectations in the last two games. The veteran linebacker had nine tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble against the Commanders, showing he’s able to not only hold up in place of Dean but make an impact, as well.

Will Shipley, up: Shipley’s memorable performance began with a forced fumble on kickoff coverage and ended with a series of fourth-quarter runs that included a 57-yarder to set up his own 2-yard touchdown a few plays later. Shipley’s forced fumble helped the Eagles rattle off 14 unanswered points just before halftime and went a long way toward tilting the game. However improbable, the rookie running back’s biggest play of the season may have been a tackle.

Quinyon Mitchell, up: In his third meeting with Commanders star wideout Terry McLaurin, Mitchell turned in another rock-solid performance. According to Next Gen Stats, Mitchell was matched up with McLaurin on 36 of his 48 routes run and spent half of those snaps in press coverage. He allowed just one catch for 7 yards on four targets against McLaurin and got a fourth-quarter interception, his second pick of the playoffs, on a pass intended for the wideout, as well.