����������

The average Philadelphia Eagles fan might be able to recite the first few lines to Meek Mill's "Dreams and Nightmares," a song that became an anthem of sorts for the club over the last decade.

"I used to pray for times like this, to rhyme like this/So I had to grind like that to shine like this"

Those words never fit the Eagles -- and their superstar running back Saquon Barkley -- better than they did Sunday.

Barkley dreamed of a triumphant experience like the one he enjoyed, starting his first NFC Championship Game in trademark fashion by ripping off a 60-yard, tackle-breaking touchdown run on the Eagles' first play from scrimmage. He followed it with another rushing score from 4 yards out later in the first quarter, setting the tone for what would end as a historic day for Philadelphia.

The Eagles ran to a Super Bowl-era postseason record seven rushing touchdowns. A total of 229 net rushing yards. Fifty-five points on the scoreboard, an NFC title in hand and a trip booked to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX after a 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders.

"I ain't gonna lie. I tried to downplay it in my head, but it's amazing, man," Barkley told FOX's Erin Andrews after the victory. "It's amazing. We're here. Super Bowl. But the goal wasn't just getting there. The goal's to win, and we're gonna celebrate, enjoy this, and get right back to work."

Often, Barkley has been the closer during this magical Eagles run. Occasionally, he's been a party-starting opening act, including in the most recent meeting between these two teams.

On Sunday, he was the opener, feature act and show-closing headliner.

He's produced a season more than deserving of top billing on the largest marquee, and it was only right he sparked the Eagles' offense with his first touch, found the end zone twice in the first half, broke off a 22-yard run to set up a Jalen Hurts touchdown in the fourth and capped it with another 4-yard score to push his touchdown total to three and send the Eagles back to the Super Bowl.

Although they've had a front-row seat for Barkley's feats all season, his Eagles teammates couldn't help but gush about him afterward.

• "Speechless. The guy is special, man," offensive tackle Jordan Mailata told ����������Network's Stacey Dales. "What else is there to say? The first play of the game, the guy goes out for 60 to the house. I'm trying not to swear right now."
• "He means everything to this team, to this city," receiver A.J. Brown told Dales. "We've been on his back all year, and we need him to continue doing his thing, keep balling, and we're going to keep going."
• "He's fun. It's like when I used to play Madden, I just tossed to Barry Sanders and a lot of good stuff would happen," offensive tackle Lane Johnson said. "We play hard for him and he's a great teammate."

If Barkley had done it on his own, it would've been enough for another memorable chapter in this storybook season. But the beauty of Sunday's win was in the collective effort the Eagles produced to reach those aforementioned offensive totals and slap double nickels on the scoreboard in the runaway triumph.

Like Barkley, Hurts found the end zone three times on the ground. Twice, he scored on the play commonly known as the Tush Push or Brotherly Shove. But in between those scoring scrums, Barkley was the one leading Hurts through the traffic, throwing a block on Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu -- a frequent nuisance for the Eagles in Sunday's contest -- to spring Hurts outside for a stroll into the end zone.

That play, like so many others in Philadelphia's victory, stood as an example of how collaborative execution can propel a team to new heights. It was evident in Barkley's first touchdown run, which saw Brown and Mailata wipe out four Commanders in a pile-up of blocks along the left edge, creating an alley through which Barkley sprinted before evading a trio of defenders on his way to the end zone.

"We wanted to send a message, and we did that," Barkley said. "We had a great play call. Big lock by A.J., Dallas (Goedert), Jordan. Got one on one and made a guy miss. That's the way you start off a championship game."

It was apparent, too, in each of the Brotherly Shoves, including the fourth-quarter sequence in which the Eagles' hard counts repeatedly drew Luvu and other Commanders offsides so frequently, referee Shawn Hochuli made a rare announcement: "Washington has been advised that at some point the referee can award a score if this type of behavior happens again."

In the end, Hochuli's crew never needed to use such rare officiating power. Philadelphia's jumbo package got the job done with brute force, forcing Hurts into the end zone from an eyelash out.

"We knew that you play a team two or three times, they kind of get a beat on some of your stuff," Barkley said, describing Luvu's anticipation of the Eagles' snap count. "So we gave them a dummy call, and it worked to perfection."

With the Eagles' offense causing legitimate concern after two low-scoring affairs in their first two playoff games, Sunday was guaranteed to be a battle. Philadelphia's army emerged as the winner.

Hurts overcame worries regarding his health, completing 20 of 28 passes for 246 yards and a sharp touchdown pass to Brown while risking contact on each of his three rushing scores. Afterward, Brown accurately described his quarterback as "a warrior."

The Eagles forced four turnovers, including three on defense, reversing the Commanders' previous good fortune in the turnover margin. Even backup running back Will Shipley -- who was called into action because Kenneth Gainwell suffered an injury in the second half -- chipped in a 57-yard run up the middle to set up his two-yard touchdown run late in the fourth.

"We knew that's what it was gonna take. It was gonna take a team effort," Barkley said. "I want to give a shoutout to Will Shipley. He came in and finished it strong. We talk about the running back room, about making plays. Our guy Kenny went down, Will stepped up big for us, but the team came out, man. Everyone came out and made big plays and got the job done and that's how you get to a Super Bowl."

Barkley might be the star, but the Eagles' path to New Orleans was paved by more than just their prized free-agent addition. Look no further than Sunday for proof.