NFL playoffs: The Eagles reach the Super Bowl after Jalen Hurts sets a record

Jalen Hurts set the NFL career record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in the playoffs as the Philadelphia Eagles advanced to Super Bowl LIX by beating the Washington Commanders 55-23 in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.

With three touchdown runs, Hurts boosted his total to nine in eight postseason games. The former Alabama QB surpassed the record of eight rushing touchdowns established by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young in 22 playoff contests.

Two players have had three rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown in a single NFL playoff game – and Hurts has done it twice after Sunday’s game. The first to do so was Cleveland Browns quarterback Otto Graham in a 56-10 victory over the Detroit Lions in the 1954 NFL Championship Game. Hurts did it in Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12, 2023, when the Eagles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-35.

Hurts’ first two touchdowns came in the back-breaking final two minutes for the first half for Washington. The quarterback scored on a 1-yard sneak as Philadelphia took a 20-12 lead with 1:44 left in the first half.

Tush Pushin’ It 🫡 pic.twitter.com/AyxIJ5b15S

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 26, 2025

The Eagles then got possession on the Commanders 24-yard line when Washington fumbled away the kickoff. Hurts cashed in the turnover with a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver AJ Brown with 39 seconds left in the first half.

OUTWARD EXCELLENCE!@1kalwaysopen_ | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/88TCF1luvm

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 26, 2025

Hurts opened the second-half scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run as Philadelphia went in front 34-15 with 8:58 left in the third quarter.

RUN IT JALEN 🏃‍♂️@jalenhurts | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/rSaAwGXind

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 26, 2025

Hurts scored his final TD on another quarterback sneak with 12:24 remaining. The score came on the sixth trip to the line of scrimmage at the Washington 1-yard line. The Commanders got an offside penalty before Hurts fumbled the snap. Then came three consecutive encroachment penalties against Washington, with the officials warning the Commanders that another such penalty would result in Philadelphia being awarded a touchdown. Hurts then went into the end zone.

Hurts completed 20-of-28 passes for 246 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and ran 10 times for 16 yards and three touchdowns.

Hurts played his ninth straight game without an interception. Philadelphia had no turnovers in the game while Washington lost four – three fumbles and an interception.

Hurts entered the game after sustaining a knee injury in last week’s Divisional Round victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He had been a limited participant in practice on Wednesday.

Philadelphia got 118 yards and three touchdowns on 15 rushing attempts by running back Saquon Barkley, who scored the first two times he touched the football. On the Eagles’ first snap of the game, Barkley ran 60 yards for a touchdown, and he went in from 4 yards out about four minutes later in the first quarter.

Philadelphia’s seven touchdown runs tied a playoff record set by the Chicago Bears in the 1940 NFL Championship Game. The Eagles’ point total on Sunday was the highest in a conference-championship game in the NFL’s AFC/NFC era.

In addition to Hurts, 12 more players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field during the Washington-Philadelphia game:

Jonathan Allen (Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Allen made five tackles and recorded one tackle for loss.

Reed Blankenship (West Limestone) started at safety for the Eagles. Blankenship made seven tackles and recovered one fumble. Blankenship recovered a fumble at the Washington 48-yard line with 5:45 left in the first quarter to set up a Philadelphia touchdown.

Textbook punch out by @zackbizzaun 🥊📺: #WASvsPHI on FOX📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/nGBAFPefEP

— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025

Eagles fullback Khari Blasingame (Buckhorn) did not record any stats. Philadelphia elevated Blasingame from its practice squad and to make him eligible to play.

Eagles defensive back James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Landon Dickerson (Alabama) started at center for the Eagles. Normally Philadelphia’s left guard, Dickerson moved to center with Cam Jurgens ailing with a back injury. However, a knee injury prevented Dickerson from playing in the second half, and Jurgens reassumed the duty.

Eagles offensive lineman Jack Driscoll (Auburn) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) did not record any stats.

Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn) started at cornerback for the Commanders. Igbinoghene made three tackles.

Eagles linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville) made one tackle. Philadelphia elevated Morrow from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.

Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive. After 88 consecutive starts for Washington, Payne could not play because of knee and finger injuries.

Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) did not record any stats.

Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.

Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Alabama) started at running back for the Commanders. Robinson ran for 36 yards on 11 carries.

Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) started at right guard for the Commanders. Normally, Washington’s top backup at offensive tackle, Scott stepped into the lineup after Commanders guard Sam Cosmi sustained a knee injury in Washington’s Divisional Round victory over the Detroit Lions.

DeVonta Smith (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Eagles. Smith had four receptions for 45 yards.

Tyler Steen (Alabama) started at left guard for the Eagles. With Landon Dickerson sliding over to center with Cam Jurgens injured, Steen went into the Philadelphia lineup at left guard.

Eagles tight end C.J. Uzomah (Auburn) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Philadelphia will play the winner of the AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at 5:30 p.m. CST Feb. 9 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.