This roll into the NFC Championship Game by Washington’s managers is fueled by the best rookie quarterback we’ve ever seen, Jaden Daniels. in the celebratory visitors locker room at Ford Field on Saturday night.
There was Zach Ertz, a 34-year-old tight end who many thought was nearing the end of last season. He missed the Arizona Cardinals’ final 10 games with a quad strain and posted a career-low 27 catches. A year earlier, his season ended with torn knee ligaments.
Now, Ertz is back in Philadelphia. There, his record as the most substantial tight end in Eagles history still stands.
Austin Ekeler is also part of this mix. He is only 29 years old, but has played eight grueling seasons as an NFL running back. Translated, that is, Ekeler is like 47 in “Running Back Year.” He scored an NFL-High 38 touchdowns in 2021 and 2022. He averaged 1,598 yards from scrimmage with the Los Angeles Chargers, but got in the mix (holdout, trade request) when he couldn’t get a long-term extension.
Ekeler, who had 88 rushing receiver yards in the divisional playoff win at Detroit, is poised to play in the conference title game for the first time.
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Then there’s Bobby Wagner. His presence is impressive in another way.
During his second NFL season with the Seattle Seahawks, Wagner earned a Super Bowl ring as a member of a vaunted defense led by the “Legion of Boom” secondary. The following year, they returned to the Super Bowl and were set up to win… until Russell Wilson’s last goal line pick.
For the next 10 years, Wagner, 34, didn’t sniff a Super Bowl. Until now.
Wagner went to the playoffs five times during his final seven seasons with the Seahawks, never making it past the divisional round. That’s one reason the grizzled vet is savoring this new deal in his 14th NFL season.
“It means a lot,” Wagner told USA Today Sports. “When I first got into the league, we got to the Super Bowl in our third year and again in our second year, but we hadn’t gotten back to the NFC Championship Game. So now you have these I appreciate that the moments are a little different and I know how difficult they are.”
Wagner is definitely a big key to Washington’s formula, making them the third No. 6 seed to make an upset and advance to the Super Bowl. The middle linebacker led the Commanders in tackles with 132 during the regular season, but this unit was a far cry from the Seahawks’ dominance of the old Seahawks’ Super Bowl defense, which coincidentally was orchestrated by Washington coach Dunkin. I am.
The Commander tied for the NFL’s fourth run defense during the regular season. And now comes the challenge of handling the Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who ran for 205 yards and two touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams last weekend. During his 2,000-yard season, Barkley gained 146 and 150 yards against the Commanders.
“You try to lock him up,” Wagner told reporters at the command’s headquarters this week. Note that Barkley’s ability to break long distance runs comes into play whenever the defender gets out of the gap. “This is going to be a game of discipline.”
I asked Wagner. Wagner, whose Hall of Fame career included 11 All-Pro selections, was asked to compare the Commanders to the old Seahawks teams. Like Washington, Wilson had a young quarterback. He was in the same Seattle draft class as Wagner in 2012. and Richard Sherman (2011, 5th round), Earl Thomas (2010, youth served fully; first round) and Kam Chancellor (2010, 5th round).
“If I compare myself to those teams, the biggest thing is how close we are,” Wagner said.
Ekeler doesn’t dispute that. He noted that in addition to new GM Adam Peters, Quinn, and a new coaching staff, there were 60 new players on the 90-man roster when the team began offseason workouts last spring. did. They were intentional about spending time together away from the field to develop a bond.
“I think it’s a staple of our brotherhood and our talent,” Ekeler told USA Today Sports. “A lot of people who were used to this area came together. You can’t really measure how we connected.
“And then you have a crazy year as a rookie and throw in five guys,” he added, referring to Daniels.
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