Eagles crush Commanders 55-23, Chiefs host Bills for spot in Super Bowl LIX

Australian rugby player Jordan Mailata is set to become the first Australian to appear in two Super Bowls. His team, the Philadelphia Eagles, emerged victorious in the NFC Championship game, successfully advancing to the NFL's ultimate showdown.

In the NFC Championship game, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Washington Commanders at home with a dominant score of 55-23. Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley each rushed for three touchdowns, laying the foundation for the Eagles' victory. Barkley rushed for 118 yards, while Hurts passed for 246 yards and completed one touchdown. The Eagles will participate in the 59th Super Bowl, which will be held on February 10th (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) in New Orleans.

The Eagles achieved eight touchdowns in this game, marking their fifth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history and their second in the last three seasons. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels led his team with one passing and one rushing touchdown. Despite the Commanders winning 12 games in the regular season and two away games in the playoffs, they ultimately could not overcome the Eagles. Terry McLaurin caught the only touchdown pass for the Commanders. Notably, the Commanders committed four turnovers in this game, while the Eagles had none.

During the game, Barkley's consecutive touchdowns helped the Eagles establish a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. He first rushed for a 60-yard touchdown on the Eagles' first possession, followed by a 4-yard touchdown with 3 minutes and 43 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The Commanders narrowed the score to 14-12 in the middle of the second quarter. Zane Gonzalez kicked a 46-yard field goal, and McLaurin caught a 36-yard touchdown pass with 7 minutes and 5 seconds remaining. The Eagles extended their lead to 27-12 with two touchdowns in 65 seconds. Hurts rushed for a 1-yard touchdown with 1 minute and 44 seconds remaining before halftime, and then, after a fumble on the Commanders' kickoff return, Hurts found AJ Brown for a 4-yard touchdown.

In the second half, Hurts rushed for a 9-yard touchdown with 8 minutes and 58 seconds remaining in the third quarter, extending the lead to 34-15. Daniels then scored a 10-yard rushing touchdown and a two-point conversion pass to Olamide Zaccheaus, narrowing the score to 34-23. Hurts' third rushing touchdown changed the score to 41-23. Barkley rushed for a 4-yard touchdown with 7 minutes and 58 seconds remaining, completing his third touchdown of the game. Rookie Will Shipley rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 3 minutes and 3 seconds remaining, securing the victory for the Eagles. Ultimately, the Eagles rushed for 229 yards in the game.

Mailata, the son of Samoan immigrants, was born in Bankstown, Sydney. He previously represented the Eagles in the Super Bowl two years ago, but they lost to the Chiefs 35-38. This year, he will once again grace the grandest stage of American football. Last April, Mailata signed a three-year, $66 million contract extension with the Eagles, including a $20 million signing bonus, which will keep him with the team until 2028. The 27-year-old, standing at 2.03 meters and weighing 166 kilograms, is the fourth Australian to participate in the Super Bowl, following Ben Graham, Mitch Wishnowsky, and Arryn Siposs. Notably, Jesse Williams won a Super Bowl title with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014, but due to injury, he did not play in the season.

The Philadelphia Eagles will face either the Buffalo Bills or the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs will host the Bills in the second league championship game on Monday morning.