They are back!

The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Commanders 55-23 in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, earning a spot in the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons.

The Eagles scored the most points ever in an NFC or AFC championship game.

The Eagles outscored Washington 28-8 in the second half, including 21-0 in the fourth quarter.

That’s what stands out the most, in my opinion.

Vic Fangio has now coached 26 games against rookie quarterbacks over the past 14 seasons. Fangio has an 18-8 record in those games and had averaged 18.5 points per game entering Sunday.

The defense shined again. Sure, it was a little dicey in the first half with failed stops on third and fourth downs. But this Washington offense was hot. The Commanders just scored 45 points on the Detroit Lions. Washington was never going away, so the Eagles defense was outstanding at taking away the Commanders’ opportunities.

That was evident by forcing four turnovers, all of which led to points.

The Eagles led 27–15 at halftime. They got the ball to start the third quarter and went three-and-out. At the time, it was stressful. After all, the Commanders had won seven straight and just knocked off the Lions, who many thought would reach the Super Bowl.

But the defense stepped up.

They forced a punt early in the third quarter, in large part to Jordan Davis’ sack, which set up a third-and-12.

The Eagles then put together a six-play, 48-yard drive, capped by Jalen Hurts’ nine-yard TD run to extend the lead to 34-15. He also completed a 26-yard pass to Dallas Goedert on that drive.

Washington did score a TD on the ensuing drive to cut its deficit to 34-23.

But it was all defense after that.

Oren Burks, who has stepped in very nicely for Nakobe Dean, forced and recovered a fumble that set up the Eagles near midfield.

The turnover led to another Hurts’ touchdown (even after the Commanders kept going offside at the goal line) to extend the 41-23.

The defense forced a turnover on downs, which led to Saquon Barkley’s third TD.

Quinyon Mitchell intercepted Jayden Daniels, leading to a Will Shipley’s TD.

I wasn’t expecting 55 points.

But it happened.

The defense helped make that a reality.

The offense capitalized on the opportunities the defense gave them, which was great, but the Fangio and his unit deserves credit.

Daniels has not thrown an interception this postseason. He was sacked three times. His fourth-quarter dominance this season was completely destroyed. He was a rookie QB coming into a hostile environment and he failed.

Daniels will be a problem for the Eagles for years to come. He took a team that went 4-13 last season to the NFC Championship Game. Give Daniels all the credit in the world. The Eagles are just the better team, which was evident in the Eagles’ dominant victory.

Zach Baun and Cooper DeJean helped force a fumble in the first quarter after Dyami Brown made a catch, and Reed Blankenship recovered it. That turnover led to Barkley’s second score, giving the Eagles a 14-3 lead.

The special teams even made big plays. Shipley forced a fumble, which Kenny Gainwell picked up. That led to Hurts’ TD pass to A.J. Brown to a 27-12 lead.

The defense forced turnovers, the offense capitalized.

Nothing better than that.

The offense and defense looked hot Sunday, and they will have two weeks to prepare for the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The Eagles are in a great spot to get revenge from two years ago, and I am ready to face the Chiefs again. The Eagles are a different team than two years ago.

First off, they have Barkley.

He rushed for 118 yards with three TDs on Sunday. Barkley has 442 yards with five TDs this postseason. All of with his 2,005 yards in the regular season, he just can’t be stopped. He’s on a mission right now, and I doubt he will be stopped. I mean, on the Eagles’ first offensive possession, he rushed for 60-yard touchdown. It’s no problem for Barkley. It’s pure dominance!

Also, Nick Sirianni is a better coach than he gets credit for. He is now the only coach in franchise history to bring two teams to the Super Bowl. He is the third NFL head coach to advance to multiple Super Bowls in their first four years.

He instills so much confidence in his players, and it shows. The team is willing to go to war for him. The team believes in him. I don’t think he gets enough credit.

Yes, Kellen Moore and Fangio were great hires. They have done so much with this team. Both have a lot to do with the Eagles’ success.

But Sirianni is still the head coach, and he’s getting the job done. Even if he doesn’t call plays, he’s still an integral part of the staff.

Jalen Hurts was amazing Sunday. With a knee injury, I assumed he would throw more, and he did so with excellence.

Hurts went 20 for 28 with 246 yards and a TD. His passer rating was 110.1. He moved around well, despite the knee brace. Again… he didn’t have any turnovers. He has now thrown 206 postseason passes without an interception.

I don’t understand why people still doubt him. He keeps proving he can get the job done time and time again. Whatever the team needs, he does. He’s a proven winner.

Here’s an interesting stat I saw after the game: Hurts, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes are the only QBs to make two Super Bowls before their 27th birthday.

People have to stop doubting him! Hurts is a franchise quarterback, and anyone who can’t see that, well, that’s on you.

Dallas Goedert seems unstoppable right now. He has 188 yards this postseason, including 85 on Sunday. He made big-time catches, like his 26-yard reception from Hurts, setting up a TD. He has a ton of momentum heading into the Super Bowl.

Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson are both banged up. Jurgens didn’t start Sunday with a back injury, but ended up playing when Dickerson got hurt. He came back, thankfully, and both did admirably splitting time at center. Kenny Gainwell left with a concussion, but Shipley stepped up when the subs entered the game.

Eagles have a lot of depth, and that’s awesome.

But the Eagles have time to recover now. That’s huge for Hurts and his knee, Jurgens and his back and gives Gainwell time to clear protocol. It allows Barkley to get some much needed rest.

The Eagles need to be a full health to beat Chiefs, who are the tougher opponent the Eagles will face this season.

To be the best, you got to beat the best.

The Eagles once lost to Tom Brady in the Super Bowl, then beat him on that same stage.

The Eagles lost to Mahomes two years ago in the big game, and they get a chance to slay another GOAT in two weeks in New Orleans.

Whatever happens, happens.

I just know I wish it was Feb. 9 right now. These two weeks will be torture for fans.

Let’s hope it’s worth the wait!

GO BIRDS!!