Super Bowl Bound: Philadelphia Grinds Out NFC Title in Physical Win Over Lions
From the opening kickoff, Philadelphia established a violent rhythm on the ground. The Eagles’ offensive line, widely considered the league’s gold standard, opened massive lanes for Saquon Barkley. The star back didn’t just run; he punished defenders, finishing with 115 yards on 19 carries. His 14-yard burst in the fourth quarter served as the final dagger, putting the Eagles up by two scores with less than five minutes remaining.
.@BreeceH knows ball. pic.twitter.com/azLhbv862p
— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2026
Jalen Hurts played the role of a poised field general. He avoided the turnovers that plagued his mid-season stretch, finishing 18-of-25 for 209 yards and a signature rushing touchdown. On the defensive side, the Eagles’ “No Fly Zone” secondary held Jared Goff in check during the second half. After a hot start, the Lions were held to just three points in the final 22 minutes of play.
The turning point arrived late in the third quarter. With Detroit trailing by four, the Eagles’ pass rush forced Goff into a hurried throw that was intercepted by Quinyon Mitchell. Philadelphia turned that takeaway into a methodical 12-play drive that drained the clock and resulted in a field goal, stretching the lead to 27-20.
What They Said
“We knew they’d bring the fight, but we had to be the ones to finish it. This city deserves this. We’ve got one more game to go to reach our ultimate goal.”
— Jalen Hurts, Eagles Quarterback
“They won the line of scrimmage. You can’t win playoff games when you’re losing the battle in the trenches. It’s a bitter way to end a great year.”
— Dan Campbell, Lions Head Coach
The Road to New Orleans: Super Bowl LIX Rematch
The stage is now set for a titanic rematch. The Philadelphia Eagles will travel to New Orleans to face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. This sets up the first Super Bowl rematch between the same two starting quarterbacks within a three-year span.
Philadelphia opens as a 1-point favorite across most major sportsbooks. The focus for the Eagles during the two-week bye will be the health of the defensive front, which saw Josh Sweat leave briefly with a shoulder stinger. The Eagles are scheduled to land in New Orleans next Sunday to begin the media circus of Super Bowl week.
