Fly Eagles Fly: Philadelphia Dominates Lions to Secure Super Bowl LIX Berth
Detroit arrived with the momentum of a Cinderella story, but the Eagles’ offensive line slammed the door early. Philadelphia established the run from the opening drive, allowing Saquon Barkley to gashed the Lions’ secondary for 115 yards. Barkley’s 14-yard touchdown run in the third quarter pushed the lead to two possessions, a gap the Lions simply couldn’t bridge against a hostile Philly crowd.
Jordan Love made it look easy in his 41-point playoff debut 🤧 pic.twitter.com/KDvxleREyI
— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2026
Jalen Hurts played a nearly flawless game of situational football. He finished 18-of-26 for 208 yards through the air and added a signature “Tush Push” touchdown to stabilize the offense. On the other side of the ball, the Eagles’ pass rush lived in Detroit’s backfield. Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat combined for 3.5 sacks, forcing Jared Goff into hurried throws and a critical fourth-quarter interception that sealed Detroit’s fate.
What They Said
“We knew they were going to play tough, but we pride ourselves on being the more physical team. We had a goal since training camp, and we’re one step away from finishing the job.”
— Jalen Hurts, Eagles Quarterback
“This team never quit. I’m proud of what we built this year, but tonight, Philly was the better team in the trenches. That’s where the game was won.”
— Dan Campbell, Lions Head Coach
Playoff Implications: The Road to New Orleans
The Eagles now prepare for the ultimate “revenge” game. They will face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, a rematch of the thriller from two years ago. Philadelphia opens the week as a 1-point favorite according to several major sportsbooks, largely due to the health and depth of their defensive rotation.
The Eagles’ medical staff will be monitoring wideout A.J. Brown, who left the game briefly in the fourth quarter with what appeared to be a minor calf cramp. Aside from that, Philadelphia enters the two-week Super Bowl hiatus as the healthiest team in the postseason. The Birds are scheduled to arrive in New Orleans next Sunday for the start of Super Bowl Media Week.
