Daily Slop – 27 Jan 25 – Dan Quinn on turnovers: “They caused them; we didn’t just leave the ball on the ground.”

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Commanders.com

Instant analysis | Commanders fall to Eagles in NFC Championship

The Commanders, who had outperformed expectations since September, finally saw their season end in the NFC Championship with a 55-23 loss. As impressive as the Eagles were with their 459 yards, 122 of which came from running back Saquon Barkley, the Commanders didn’t help their cause with four turnovers. Three of those giveaways occurred on their side of [midfield].

It was familiar territory for the Commanders, who turned over the ball five times in their dramatic 36-33 win over the Eagles in Week 16. In that game, Washington overcame that with an impressive five-touchdown performance from Jayden Daniels, who tossed a touchdown to Jamison Crowder with six seconds left.

However, the difference in the third matchup between the two teams was that Philadelphia managed to capitalize on Washington’s mistakes. Twenty-one of the Eagles’ points came on drives immediately following turnovers.

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Washington Post (paywall)

A Commanders season filled with magic finally went poof

So many things that had gone right this season suddenly went wrong against the Eagles in the NFC championship game.

It probably should have happened long before it did: A young team got a little overjacked, and overwhelmed, and finally met some circumstances it couldn’t dazzle and dream its way through. When the aches wear off and the Washington Commanders are ready to look at this season rationally, they will see that it wasn’t just a beautiful mirage, despite the whomping they took. They’re on a typical path for a team building toward something big. In this case, the veteran Philadelphia Eagles were just further along, more ready for the bigness of the NFC championship game.

The Commanders on Sunday gave up three fumbles, all of which helped pad the 55-23 score. And give the Eagles credit: “They caused them,” Commanders Coach Dan Quinn said. “… We didn’t just leave the ball on the ground.”

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The Athletic (paywall)

Commanders have more work to do, but the foundation for future success is in place

The Miami Dolphins’ Hall of Fame quarterback was as good a passer as pro football has ever produced. During his second NFL season, in 1984, the then-23-year-old became the first quarterback in league history to throw for more than 5,000 yards (5,084) in a season. He threw 48 touchdowns and completed 362 passes. Each of these stats led the league. He was named MVP and Offensive Player of the Year and took the Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX, where Miami played against Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers.

Marino and Miami, though, were dominated by San Francisco 38-16, spoiling the historic season. But, Marino was 23 years old, you know?

“After the game, I was disappointed, down about the game,” Marino told the Miami Herald in 2015. “But I was like, ‘You know what, I’m going to be back and we’re going to win one of these. I’m going to be back more than once. Maybe twice, you never know.’ And it never happened.”

Marino never got back to the title game. He only reached two more AFC championships, losing both. And his final playoff game, at age 38 during the 1999 season, turned into a 62-7 pantsing at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

And that’s the burr under the saddle as we contemplate Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders and what seems like a limitless future — both for the 24-year-old quarterback and his team.

Nothing is promised, including another trip to the NFC Championship Game.

This in no way is a diminution of Washington’s 2024 season. It was remarkable, breathtaking and exhilarating, re-animating a team and fan base that had been beaten down over 30 years. The franchise was one of the worst in North America, run by a thin-skinned bully who emulated Jerry Jones without any of the oilman’s ability to sell or charm, and who allowed, if not encouraged, horrendous behavior by his employees in his place of business.

It just is a notion that the work has just begun.

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Commanders Wire

Studs and duds from Commanders’ NFC championship game loss

Stud: TE Zach Ertz

Zach Ertz had a big game against his former team. The tight end caught 11 passes for 104 yards, leading the Commanders in both categories.

The veteran was largely a non-factor in the playoffs, but he came through against his old team. It’s just a shame that the rest of the offense didn’t have a great day like Ertz did.

Even in a loss, it had to feel good for Ertz to have his best game of the season against the Eagles. The TE showed he still has plenty left in the tank.

Stud: Frankie Luvu

Frankie Luvu had a great game for the Commanders on Sunday. The veteran linebacker racked up four tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss.

Luvu and Dorance Armstrong Jr. were the only Commanders to collect a sack on Sunday. Luvu has been solid all year, so it was nice to see the veteran continue that production through the end.

If the team had a couple more Frankie Luvu’s on Sunday, the defense may have been able to pick up a few more stops. There just aren’t too many other positives from this defensive performance.

Dud: Running backs

For the last month or so, the Commanders’ running back room has largely underperformed. That was the case again on Sunday against the Eagles.

Jayden Daniels led the team in rushing yards with just 48. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler combined to rush 19 times for just 51 yards. Jeremy McNichols didn’t receive any carries, but he lost a fumble on a kick return.

You just can’t have a one-dimensional offense against a great defense like Philadelphia. Too much pressure was placed upon Daniels to make something happen.

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The Athletic (paywall)

Little-known NFL rule nearly awards Eagles free touchdown in NFC Championship Game

Washington then drew three consecutive encroachment penalties on second-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Two such penalties were given to Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu, who got caught multiple times attempting to leap over the line of scrimmage to stop a quarterback sneak. Luvu was issued a warning that his next encroachment penalty would result in unsportsmanlike conduct. On the next play, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen was the one who drew an encroachment penalty trying to time the snap.

While the Eagles punched it in on their fifth straight attempt (and fourth straight from second-and-goal at the 1), official Shawn Hochuli announced that the referees had the power to simply award Philadelphia the touchdown.

“Washington has been advised that at some point, the referee can award a score if this type of behavior happens again,” Hochuli announced on-mic to the stadium. “For now, it’s a replay of second down.”

Hochuli is citing Rule 12, Section 3, Article 2 of the NFL Rulebook, dubbed “Fouls to Prevent a Score.” The rule, which has yet to be implemented in the modern NFL, states that “The defense shall not commit successive or repeated fouls to prevent a score.” The penalty states that if the violation occurs following a warning, the score involved is awarded to the offensive team. In this case, the Eagles would have been given a free touchdown.

The rule’s enforcement was not needed, as the Eagles were able to score on their fourth consecutive second-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

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ESPN

Frankie Luvu’s goal-line ‘timing’ led to Commanders’ flags

“Simply put, a team can’t commit multiple fouls in an effort to prevent the score,” Hochuli told a pool reporter after the game. “If it’s meant to prevent a score, we can essentially award the score.”

Both times Luvu dove over the pile and landed on the Eagles’ linemen as well as quarterback Jalen Hurts. But, for Luvu, all that mattered was his team trailed 34-23 with 12 minutes, 58 seconds left in the game and needed a stop.

The Eagles were aligned in their tight formation with tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Saquon Barkley lined up directly behind Hurts.

“I was just timing the jump over,” Luvu said. “They’ve been doing a lot in short yardage and I was going to take my shot. That’s the mindset I came in with. Take my shot; if I make it, I make it, if not, I bounce back.”

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Podcasts & videos

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Washington Commanders Fall to Philadelphia Eagles in NFC Championship Game But Future is Bright

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NFC Championship Postgame Pod: Commanders’ magical season ends in Philly

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NFC East links

Front Office Sports

Saquon Barkley Hits $1.25 Million in Contract Bonuses With NFC Title

The win netted him a $250,000 bonus, that will be added to his 2025 base salary. The 27-year-old’s incredible season has seen him hit nearly every major contract incentive he had on the three-year $37 million contract he signed with the team this past offseason after leaving the Giants.

In the regular season, Barkley became the ninth player to rush for more than 2,000 yards, which came with financial incentives. By passing 2,000 yards rushing, Barkley netted a $250,000 contract bonus. He had previously earned a $250,000 bonus for hitting 1,500 yards rushing and receiving—combining for $500,000, which will be added to his 2025 base salary. He added another $500,000 by being voted first-team All-Pro on Jan. 10—raising his 2025 base salary by $1.25 million after Sunday’s win, which nearly doubles the $1.375 million base salary he started the season at.

Barkley is set to earn $13.5 million for the 2024 season, including base salary ($1.375 million) and signing bonus ($12.1 million). His contract is on an escalator, meaning his 2025 base salary will currently start at $2.92 million after accounting for the $1.25 million added in bonuses.

He has one more bonus left to hit, too. Barkley will add another $250,000 bonus if the Eagles win the Super Bowl. Should they win, Barkley will have added $1.5 million on bonuses and his 2025 base salary will start at $3.17 million.

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Bleeding Green Nation

Eagles made history (and a lot of it) in the NFC Championship Game

• Jalen Hurts had three rushing touchdowns against the Commanders, totaling 10 throughout the playoffs, most for a QB in NFL history — passing Steve Young.
• The Eagles put up 55 points, which is the most points scored in a Conference Championship game in NFL history — passing Cam Newton and the Panthers 49 points in 2015.
• Nick Sirianni is the only head coach in NFL history to reach two Super Bowls without missing the playoffs in his first four seasons.
• Nolan Smith set a new Eagles franchise record for most sacks in a single postseason with four through three games.

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Photos

Commanders.com

Commanders vs. Eagles, NFC Championship

The Washington Commanders have begun warming up at Lincoln Financial Field for the NFC Championship matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. (Photos by Emilee Fails and Kourtney Carroll/Washington Commanders)