PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Jalen Hurts lit up the Washington Commanders. Then, he lit up a big, fat victory cigar in the far corner of the Philadelphia Eagles locker room at Lincoln Financial Field to toast his second trip to the Super Bowl in three years.
Hurts starred in the Eagles’ dominant 55-23 NFC championship win — as big a factor as anyone in the lopsided result. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 246 yards and accounted for four touchdowns — one through the air and three on the ground — to tie a postseason career high.
The other time he reached the mark? Feb. 12, 2023, in the Eagles’ 38-35 loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl 57.
The Chiefs, of course, are the Eagles’ opponent in this year’s title bout, too.
Concerns about Kansas City, however, could wait, at least for one night. Sunday was about soaking in the vibes of an achievement that seemed anything but certain four months ago, when the Eagles’ rocky 2-2 start provided few assurances that 2023’s late-season struggles were a thing of the past.
“There’s been a sense of togetherness for us to all come together and try to achieve the ultimate team goal,” said Hurts. “We’ve done a great job of that to this point of being able to put ourselves in this position.”
Hurts’ cigar puffs were a rare outward acknowledgment of success and one of several behind-the-scenes highlights from the Eagles’ postgame celebration.
There was the slouched-shoulder, whistle-blowing dance party with Gillie Da Kid in the middle of the locker room, where A.J. Brown, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Darius Slay couldn’t resist leading the fray.
It was also hard to miss the dynamic rookie cornerback duo of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean posing for pictures with the George Halas Trophy. The youngsters’ swift ascent was a massive catalyst for the Eagles’ defensive turnaround this year. It was as if the silver shine of the team’s fresh hardware finally helped them realize the magnitude of their contributions.
Underscoring the Eagles’ elation in the bowels of the Linc was the players’ sheer exhaustion, particularly among members of the team’s beleaguered offensive line. Against Washington, the group was forced to adapt to injuries and personnel changes on the fly, yet still managed to pave the way for a second straight 200-plus yard rushing performance in the playoffs.
And then there was owner Jeffrey Lurie making the rounds. Yes, he was proud and happy, but also fixated on the ultimate prize. To anyone within earshot, the 73-year-old repeated the refrain, “One more.”
🎧 ▶️ unCovering the Birds
In the latest episode of the “unCovering the Birds” podcast, The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane acts as a fly on the wall, sharing sights and sounds from the locker room after the Eagles punched their ticket to Super Bowl LIX.
He also examines the status of Nick Sirianni’s contract, as the head coach faces the possibility of entering the 2025 offseason with just one year left on his deal.
But for the next week and change, the Eagles’ focus is on the field. There’s one game left. No telling what type of party they’ll throw if they prevail.
unCovering the Birds is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season. Follow on the free Audacy app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you listen to podcasts.