🦅 Superb! | Sports Daily Newsletter

The Eagles picked the perfect time to show they have much more than just a devastating defense. They kept scoring and scoring Sunday on the way to a 55-23 rout of the Washington Commanders in the NFC championship game.

Next stop, Super Bowl LIX against Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans.

Vic Fangio’s defense did its part, as always, as the Commanders fumbled the ball away three times and Jayden Daniels threw an interception. The offense cashed in again and again, rushing for seven touchdowns, including a 60-yard jaunt by Saquon Barkley to get things started.

A.J. Brown showed he’s more than just a sideline bookworm, too, finishing with six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown.

There were concerns about Jalen Hurts and his sore left knee entering the game, but the quarterback went 20-for-28 for 246 yards, a passing touchdown, the game-sealing run, and two Tush Push scores. Marcus Hayes writes that Hurts showed again that he is a stone-cold winner.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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The Eagles wanted to come out slugging against the Commanders and they wound up landing a haymaker to get things started with Barkley’s 60-yard touchdown run. “We wanted to send a message and we did that,” Barkley said. “We knew that when you play a team two or three times, they kind of get a bead on some of your stuff. We gave them a dummy call and it worked to perfection.”

Now Barkley will have a chance at the Super Bowl to set a record for the most rushing yards in a season when combining the regular season and the playoffs. He needs 30 yards to break Terrell Davis’ 1998 record of 2,476.

Among the stars of the defensive effort, C.J. Gardner-Johnson entered “Kobe mode” for the Eagles on the fifth anniversary of the death of his idol, Kobe Bryant.

Even rookie Will Shipley got a chance to make his mark for the Birds, forcing a fumble and scoring his first career touchdown.

The Chiefs held off the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game as Patrick Mahomes made the winning plays again.

More coverage of the Eagles' playoff victory can be found here.

This is the way the season has been going for the injury-plagued Sixers: One night after he scored 30 points in an upset of the Cavaliers, Paul George left a win against the Bulls with an injured left little finger. George has already missed 14 games this season because of injuries.

“You feel bad for him,” Tyrese Maxey said, “especially because now you think he’s finding his rhythm, kind of finding his niche where he fits in with the offense with Joe [Joel Embiid] and without Joe. And that kind of [stinks]. … Praying for him."

If the Sixers' season goes south, there could be help on the way if they maintain the No. 6 overall pick. Two possibilities for that slot, Rutgers' Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper, played Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

The Flyers are tied for the sixth-worst goal differential in the NHL this season at minus-21. Why is that an important stat? Teams with a negative goal differential rarely make it to the postseason. Time is ticking on the Flyers if they hope to make the playoffs. Jackie Spiegel offers three things that could change the course for the Flyers the rest of the way.

For the third year in a row, the Phillies’ fortunes will rest squarely with their core of Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, and Nick Castellanos. But if they hope to keep pace with the Dodgers long-term, they must bring supporting actors like Bryson Stott and Orion Kerkering into more prominent roles. Scott Lauber explains why.

Penn State moved quickly in filling its vacancy at defensive coordinator and plucked a coach from a Big Ten rival in the process. According to several reports, the Nittany Lions are hiring Jim Knowles, Ohio State’s defensive coordinator. A St. Joseph’s Prep alumnus, Knowles reportedly will become the highest-paid coordinator in college football history.

Jan. 27, 2002: Allen Iverson scored 29 points and Derrick Coleman added 18 as the Sixers beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 93-87, at the First Union Center. Kobe Bryant scored 20 points for the Lakers.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from EJ Smith, Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Jeff Neiburg, Marcus Hayes, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, Jackie Spiegel, Scott Lauber, Devin Jackson, Gabriela Carroll, and Ariel Simpson.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Thanks for reading. This should be a crazy two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl. I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter. — Jim