A lethal offensive performance and a defense and special teams that had a combined four takeaways led the way for the Eagles on Sunday in a 55-23 win over Washington in the NFC Championship Game, sending Philadelphia to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on February 9 against the winner of Sunday night's AFC Championship Game between Buffalo and Kansas City.

The Eagles, in their third meeting with Washington in the 2024 season, put together a great performance that demonstrated everything about a team that started the season 2-2 and has since reeled off 15 wins in 16 games.

On Championship Sunday, the Eagles played a complete game in dismantling Washington. Here are some observations from the team's second NFC Championship in three seasons and third in eight seasons …

1. Eagles offense starts the right way

After Washington used 18 plays and more than 7 minutes off the clock on the first possession to jump out to a 3-0 lead, the Eagles struck quickly.

Will Shipley returned the ensuing kickoff 35 yards to the 40-yard line and then, boom, it was Saquon Barkley time. He took a pitch from quarterback Jalen Hurts on the left side as left tackle Jordan Mailata and left guard Tyler Steen (more on that below) crushed the line of scrimmage, tight end Grant Calcaterra had a key block outside, and then it was all Barkley in the open field. He spun free of two defenders, safeties Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin at the Washington 45-yard line, then cut toward the middle of the field into the open and he ... was ... gone. A 60-yard touchdown run to get it rolling for the offense.

"It was a good tone setter. We knew they we're going to sell out to stop the run, we kind of knew that. And then, he breaks two or three tackles to start, we get a great block from A.J. (Brown) to get around the edge. And then, great block by Dallas (Goedert) to set it off," Head Coach Nick Sirianni said. "Special performance, special player, special job by the entire group."

Then, after the defense recovered a Washington fumble at the Commanders' 48-yard line, Hurts and Barkley went to work again. Hurts completed a 10-yard pass to tight end Dallas Goedert, then connected with wide receiver DeVonta Smith for 20 yards to the 18-yard line – great tippy-toe catch from Smith on the sideline, went to wide receiver A.J. Brown on the right side for an 11-yard gain to the 4-yard line and then Barkley took a handoff, saw the middle was blocked, bounced right and raced to the corner of the end zone for his second score and, after Jake Elliott's PAT, put the Eagles ahead, 14-3.

Philadelphia scored 27 points in the first half, rang up 15 first downs, and 233 total net yards of offense. Hurts made big plays when he saw Washington covering Smith and Brown in man-to-man looks and he kept the offense on schedule. Good variety, good execution from an offense that dictated to Washington in those opening two quarters.

"Well, I've told you guys, this is not a matter that we can't. It's just a matter of if we do. It all comes down to how we execute. Comes down to our approach, and everyone being on the same page and playing with good rhythm, and ultimately finding a way to win. I think the beautiful thing about this sport, about this team, and for me, from my vantage point, [is] how we've been able to evolve over the years since I've been here, finding ways to win in multiple ways," Hurts said. "It's a great help when you have a defense like that turning the ball over, playing hard, playing ferocious, and flying to the ball. We just need to find it in us to muscle out one more."

2. Changes along the offensive line? No problem

For most teams, having a starting center, a Pro Bowl player at that, in limbo right up until game time would be a real challenge.

But not so much for the Eagles.

Cam Jurgens, bothered by a back injury all week and limited in practice, was listed as questionable to play against Washington. The Eagles practiced all week with Landon Dickerson moving from left guard to center, with Tyler Steen taking over at left guard. Dickerson, a standout center in college at Alabama, was on point for the entire first half at center, and as great as he is at guard – Dickerson is a three-time Pro Bowl Games electee – he showed what an incredible football player he is by playing so well at center until he suffered a knee injury and left after the first half.

Jurgens, who was active and on the sidelines in the first half, stepped in and played center in the second half and played extremely well as the Eagles' offense continued to function at a high level.

"That was huge. Cam's a warrior for that. Because I know Cam, he was definitely battling through that injury for a while. Having to step in when someone has an injury, he was already nowhere 100 percent, so, that's huge. Just having that toughness to go out there and finish the game," Steen said.

3. Crush rush works to slow Jayden Daniels

Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio gave quarterback Jayden Daniels a lot of different looks in coverage and he mixed in a blitz here and there, but for the most part, the Eagles played Daniels with a crush rush – they stayed disciplined in their lanes and worked to win one-on-one battles. When you're playing a quarterback like Daniels and an offense like Washington has, you're going to give up some yards and some plays and some points. The Eagles sacked Daniels three times – Oren Burks, a really important one in the third quarter from Jordan Davis, and one late on fourth down by Nolan Smith. They limited Daniels and his running game – he had a long gain of 19 yards – but was bottled up for most of the game – and kept everything in front of them.

"You have to keep your foot on the gas, especially in the playoffs, because that's when they come back," Baun said. "We knew we couldn't let them stick around."

4. Winning the turnover margin again ...

The Eagles had four takeaways – three on defense and one on a kickoff return late in the first half – and they were ginormous. Philadelphia scored 28 points off of the takeaways – a necessity because Washington just would not go away. Meanwhile, the Eagles did not give the football away. So, that +4 in turnovers means the Eagles head to Super Bowl LIX with a +10 in the postseason after finishing the regular season at +11. Remember, Philadelphia was at -6 at the bye – a 2-2 record that changed largely because of the improvement in turnovers. The Eagles have won 15 of their last 16 games with one game remaining.

Turnover No. 1: Linebacker Zack Baun and cornerback Cooper DeJean combined to knock the ball loose from wide receiver Dyami Brown after a catch on a shallow cross. Safety Reed Blankenship recovered at the Washington 48 and 6 plays later, the Eagles put the ball in the end zone, added the PAT, and led 14-3.

Turnover No. 2: Will Shipley forced a fumble on a kickoff late in the first half and Kenneth Gainwell recovered at the Washington 24-yard line. A.J. Brown scored on a touchdown pass from Jalen Hurts seven plays later.

Turnover No. 3: Linebacker Oren Burks punched the football away from running back Austin Ekeler and the Eagles recovered at their 49-yard line and put the ball in the end zone five plays later.

Turnover No. 4: Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell had an interception in the end zone late in the fourth quarter and the Eagles, with Will Shipley doing the damage, had chunk gains in the running game to score another touchdown and lead 55-23.

5. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was fire

Good decisions. Excellent tempo. Decisiveness. Jalen Hurts played an outstanding game against a Washington defense that went after him with a variety of blitzes and pressures. Hurts was cool as could be. Many wondered about his health coming into the game – Hurts had a knee injury from the Divisional Round win over Los Angeles – but he showed his usual elusiveness, quickness, and, when the Eagles went to the Brotherly Shove, leverage and push.

Hurts (20-of-28 for 246 yards with a touchdown for a 110.1 QB rating, plus 16 yards and three TDs on the ground) made sure everyone was involved – Brown had six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, Goedert was used in the passing game with seven catches for 85 yards and he had two carries for 13 yards. Smith caught four passes for 45 yards. The offense hummed and Hurts was the one who made everything go with the way he played with composure. When Washington blitzed, Hurts often was able to roll right and get rid of the football. When Washington reached Hurts, he wisely held the football. Zero turnovers once again, the third game for the Eagles in the postseason without a giveaway.

"I think we need to change our approach to all of this. I don't play the game for stats. I don't play the game for numbers, any statistical approval from anyone else. And I understand that everyone has a preconceived notion on how they want it to look, or how they expect it to look. I told you guys that winning, success, is defined by that particular individual, and it's all relative to the person. And what I define it as is winning. So the number one goal is always to come out here and win," Hurts said.

6. And then this …

• The 55 points were the most scored by a team in NFC Championship Game history.

• Credit to the coaching staff for putting everything together – Kellen Moore was creative with his offense, Fangio ran a great defense, and Michael Clay's special teams had the big takeaway on the late first-half kickoff, some good gains in the return game, and solid coverage on kickoffs.

• Edge rusher Nolan Smith recorded his fourth sack in three postseason games to set an Eagles playoff record.

• The Eagles ran for seven touchdowns in the game, a Conference Championship Game record – three from both Barkley and Hurts. Dominance at the line of scrimmage. The Eagles had 36 carries for 229 yards on the ground – Shipley had himself a ballgame, didn't he? – and just wore down the Commanders.

• Speaking of Shipley, he had the forced fumble, he had a 35-yard kickoff return, and late in the game he broke a 57-yard run and later scored a touchdown. Shipley ran for 77 yards on four carries.