By Siam 
Let’s be honest, the final score—Eagles 55, Commanders 23—tells a story, but it’s a crude one. It’s like summarizing a novel by its last page. You get the ending, but you miss all the drama, the heroics, the critical mistakes, and the individual battles that decided the fate of everything.
The real story, the one that gets lost in the blinding glare of that 55-point explosion, is written in the individual performances. The Washington Commanders vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats from that January 26, 2025, NFC Championship game are a forensic report on what went right for one team and catastrophically wrong for the other.
We’re not just going to list numbers. Anyone can do that. We’re going to dissect them, find the hidden connections, and ask the “why” behind the “what.” Why did Saquon Barkley look like a man possessed? How did a veteran tight end become the Commanders’ lone bright spot? Strap in. We’re going beyond the box score.
If you blinked, you might have missed the beginning of the avalanche. The Eagles came out with a level of offensive ferocity that’s rare even for a playoff game. Their game plan was no secret: establish the run, dominate the line of scrimmage, and let their playmakers do the rest. And my goodness, did it work.
The Commanders, to their credit, didn’t roll over. After the initial shock, they steadied themselves. Led by the dynamic, if sometimes reckless, Jayden Daniels, they mounted a comeback that made Eagles fans momentarily nervous. But in the end, you can’t spot a team like Philadelphia a multi-score lead and expect to play catch-up without making a few desperate, turnover-inducing mistakes. And that, more than anything, is the narrative the stats confirm.
Trying to find a weak spot in this Eagles offensive performance is like trying to find a needle in a haystack that’s also on fire. They were that good. Let’s break down the key contributors.
Jalen Hurts (QB): 246 Passing Yards, 1 TD
On the surface, 246 yards and a single touchdown might seem like a quiet day for a quarterback of Hurts’ caliber. But that’s the beauty of this Eagles system. Hurts was a maestro of efficiency, not volume. He didn’t need to throw for 400 yards because the ground game was a wrecking ball. His job was to manage the game, avoid turnovers, and take his shots when they were there. This stat line is the definition of a “winning” game manager, and it’s exactly what the situation demanded.
Saquon Barkley (RB): 118 Rushing Yards, 3 TDs
Here’s your MVP. Plain and simple. Barkley wasn’t just running; he was sending a message. His 118 yards were a testament to brutal, physical running and the gaping holes opened by the Eagles’ offensive line. But the three touchdowns? That’s elite finishing ability. Every time the Commanders showed a flicker of hope, Barkley seemed to find the end zone to snuff it out. This is the kind of performance championships are built on.
A.J. Brown (WR): 96 Receiving Yards, 1 TD
While Barkley was pounding the rock, A.J. Brown was the ever-present deep threat that stretched the Commanders’ defense to its breaking point. His 96 yards were a constant reminder that stacking the box against this team is a dangerous game. His touchdown catch was a classic A.J. Brown play—using his body and strength to win a 50/50 ball, effectively a dagger in the heart of the Commanders’ comeback hopes.
Zach Baun (LB): 12 Tackles (8 Solo), 1 Sack
If you want to know why the Commanders’ offense sputtered after its initial surge, look no further than Zach Baun. A team-leading 12 tackles, including a sack, means he was everywhere. He was in on seemingly every run stop and applied consistent pressure. This is a linebacker who played the game of his life on the biggest stage, and the stat sheet proves it.
For the Commanders, the stats paint a picture of a team that was simply outgunned, but not without its fighters. There were individual performances worth praising, even in a blowout loss.
Jayden Daniels (QB): 255 Passing Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; 48 Rushing Yards, 1 TD
This is a fascinating, if flawed, statistical line. Daniels accounted for over 300 total yards and two touchdowns. His dual-threat ability was on full display, and his rushing touchdown was a moment of pure excitement. However, the interception and, though not listed in every stat column, the three other team turnovers tell the other side of the story. For a young quarterback, this was a brutal lesson in the cost of mistakes against a superior opponent. The potential is undeniable, but the polish wasn’t quite there.
Zach Ertz (TE): 104 Receiving Yards
Who saw this coming? In the biggest game of the year, veteran tight end Zach Ertz turned back the clock. Leading the team with 104 receiving yards is a testament to his route-running savvy and Daniels’ trust in him as a security blanket. It was a brilliant, if bittersweet, performance from the old pro.
Bobby Wagner (LB): 9 Tackles (5 Solo)
Even at this stage of his career, Bobby Wagner is a tackling machine. His nine tackles were a team-high, and he was often the last line of defense trying to bring down the runaway train that was Saquon Barkley. You have to respect the effort, even if it was a losing battle.
Let’s put these key performances side-by-side. This is where the “why” becomes crystal clear.
| Stat Category | Philadelphia Eagles | Washington Commanders | The Real Story |
| Ground Game MVP | Saquon Barkley: 118 YDS, 3 TD | Jayden Daniels: 48 YDS, 1 TD | The Eagles had a dedicated, dominant RB. The Commanders’ leading rusher was their QB out of necessity. |
| Aerial Attack | Jalen Hurts: 246 YDS, 1 TD | Jayden Daniels: 255 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT | Nearly identical yardage, but Hurts’ clean sheet vs. Daniels’ turnover was the difference. |
| Defensive Star | Zach Baun: 12 TKL, 1 SK | Bobby Wagner: 9 TKL | Baun’s disruptive, game-changing play (sack) outweighed Wagner’s reliable cleanup duty. |
| Secret Weapon | A.J. Brown: 96 YDS, 1 TD | Zach Ertz: 104 YDS | Both were effective, but Brown’s production was part of a balanced attack; Ertz’s was a surprise outlier. |
You can talk about Barkley’s runs or Brown’s catches all day, but the stat that truly decided this game sits in a column often overlooked: turnovers.
The Eagles forced four of them. Four. In a championship game, that’s a death sentence. Every fumble, every interception, is not just a lost opportunity for you; it’s a short field and a shot of adrenaline for the opponent. The Commanders’ defense, already reeling, was constantly put back on the field in compromised positions. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense protected the ball like it was the crown jewels. This disparity in ball security is the single most important stat of the entire game, and it’s the primary reason the score got so out of hand.
1. Who had the most rushing yards in the Eagles vs. Commanders NFC Championship?
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was the undisputed rushing leader, gashing the Commanders’ defense for 118 yards and three back-breaking touchdowns.
2. How did Jalen Hurts perform statistically?
Hurts was the model of efficiency, throwing for 246 yards and one touchdown without any turnovers. His game management was perfect, allowing the dominant run game to control the tempo.
3. Was Jayden Daniels a bright spot for the Commanders in the loss?
Absolutely. Despite the loss, Daniels showcased his dynamic talent, accounting for over 300 total yards (255 passing, 48 rushing) and two touchdowns. His main setback was a critical interception that halted momentum.
4. Which defensive player stood out the most?
Eagles linebacker Zach Baun was a force, recording a game-high 12 tackles and adding a sack. His all-around disruptive performance was key to stifling the Commanders’ offense.
5. How many turnovers did the Commanders have?
The Commanders coughed up the ball four times, a fatal flaw against a powerful Eagles team that capitalized on nearly every mistake.
6. Who led the Commanders in receiving?
Veteran tight end Zach Ertz was a surprising bright spot, leading all Washington receivers with 104 yards on the day.
7. What was the final score of the game?
The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders decisively, 55-23, to advance to the Super Bowl.
So, what do we take away from this deep dive into the Washington Commanders vs Philadelphia Eagles match player stats?
For the Eagles, the stats validate a championship formula. They are a balanced, ruthless, and intelligent team that can beat you in multiple ways. They have a superstar runner, a efficient quarterback, and a defense that feasts on mistakes. This wasn’t a fluke; it was a blueprint.
For the Commanders, the stats are a painful but promising lesson. They have a franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels, a player with the raw tools to compete with anyone. The performance of Ertz shows there are pieces to build around. But the game also exposed a gulf in overall team discipline and defensive execution that must be closed.
The Eagles earned their trip to the Super Bowl that day. The Commanders, despite the lopsided loss, might have found a foundation to build their own future championship run upon. The stats tell us what happened. It’s up to the teams to decide what happens next.
What one stat from this game do you think was the most telling? Was it Barkley’s three touchdowns, or the four Commanders turnovers? Let me know your take.