Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders NFC Championship Game Preview

It's finally here: one of the most highly-anticipated matches this 2024 NFL season, pitting the Philadelphia Eagles against the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game. The highly awaited match will take place this Sunday, January 26, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. This will be a strong match laced with electric action, as the two division rivals go head-to-head for an opportunity to go to the Super Bowl. Coming into this game and with such dominance outright throughout the season, the odds would have to favor the Eagles. Still, the fantastic playoff run that the Commanders are on makes them prepared to break all those odds and dent NFL history.

A Season of Rivalry and Redemption

These two teams met twice in the regular season, and both games were struggles. While the Eagles took the first meeting, Washington came back with a gutty performance in the rematch. These are two NFC East rivals that, over time, have simply gotten more competitive with each other, so the way these two reached the matchup raised the game to another level of drama.

Coming into the postseason high off a great 14-3 regular season good enough for top seed placement in the NFC, they were an Eagle team who would usually always wear out opponents. That includes an attack spearheaded by QB Jalen Hurts and a resurgent running back Saquon Barkley on the opposite side, complemented on defense as one of the league's finest, which proved near impenetrable all year. On the other side, the Commanders came into the postseason at 10-7 and had to fight their way to the top via grit and balance on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has grown them into a team nobody can overlook these playoffs.

NFC Championship Key Matchups

The NFC Championship Game is full of exciting storylines and matchups that could decide this game. Of course, one of the more intriguing battles will take place in the trenches, with a star-studded Philadelphia offensive line headlined by Lane Johnson and Jason Kelce going up against the ferocious Washington defensive front. The Commanders boast one of the more formidable pass-rushing units in the league, headlined by Montez Sweat and Jonathan Allen. And that could indicate something about each offense, both wanting to take control of the line of scrimmage on Sunday.

The other big-time matchup is on the back end. The top corner of the Eagles - Darius Slay - he figures to travel with Washington's top wide receiver in Terry McLaurin. Slay has been a shutdown defender this year, but McLaurin's a guy that creates separation, makes contested catches; a different type of challenge for him. While Washington's secondary will have to find a way to neutralize the dynamic receiving duo in DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown. Both these teams are playmaker-heavy on both sides of the ball, and every snap will have a meaning to it.

Philadelphia Game Plan

It's all about complementary football as it pertains to the Eagles' fortunes in this contest. The Eagles have an incredible Jalen Hurts this year: cool in the pocket and able to extend plays with his legs. With pressure being used a ton by Washington, Hurts will have to be quick into his progressions and use his legs to get out of sacks. The other major key player: Saquon Barkley, coming off a regular season in which he ran for over 1,500 yards. That in itself could provide some opportunities for play-action passes down the field.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Eagles have been very strong against the run and at forcing turnovers. Knowing how big Jayden Daniels is to Washington, that puts the onus on the Philadelphia pass rush, bolstered with Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat, to knock him off his rhythm. Meanwhile, the Eagles secondary-top-ranked in passing yards per game allowed-has to be disciplined with Washington's big-play threats as well. The fact is, if Philadelphia can control the time of possession and put Washington in a series of bad situations, it will set itself up for success.

Washington's Road to Victory

But probably the most salient factor that will afford the Commanders a chance at the upset is their ability to play mistake-free football. Jayden Daniels has been the revelation throughout the season, leading Washington in huge moments because of his dual-threat ability. But it's the biggest test yet going up against the top-ranked defense of the Eagles. The Commanders will balance the load on offense with a heavy dose of running back Brian Robinson Jr. Keeping the run game going-in addition to keeping the Philadelphia defense honest-will open up opportunities for some play-action passes.

Defensively, Washington needs to key in on not allowing explosive plays. The Eagles' offense really is predicated on big plays, especially through the air, and the secondary of the Commanders will have to be disciplined. Safeties Kamren Curl and Darrick Forrest will prove huge in not allowing anything over their heads deep and keeping receivers in front of them. They do need a consistent pass rush against Washington, but not overly aggressive against Jalen Hurts-he is a guy that can extend plays with his feet that turn into devastating scrambles or broken-play touchdowns.

Weather and Home-Field Advantage

This too could be impacted depending on weather conditions as Philadelphia in January is cold and somewhat windy. Both teams have grown accustomed to playing in inclement weather, but it might play a part in the kicking game and some of the passes thrown. The ultimate advantage is playing at Lincoln Financial Field. The energy of the home crowd mixed with comfort and experience in the conditions of the stadium itself may prove an edge at critical junctures.

Players to Watch There's some star power on both rosters, and a few jump out big. The Philadelphia offense will more than likely run the brunt of its attack through Jalen Hurts, depending on how well the defensive front presses-a real separator, courtesy of Haason Reddick. DeVonta Smith has been arguably one of the best route runners across the league.

It will take one of Jayden Daniels' better performances on the season for the Commanders to keep up in this one. Huge roles will also be in store for wide receiver Terry McLaurin and running back Brian Robinson Jr. in the Washington attack. On defense, Montez Sweat and Jonathan Allen will need to wreak havoc in the backfield to take Philadelphia out of rhythm.

Predictions and Final Thoughts

All the makings of a classic between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, with each side featuring some great coaching, great talent, and resilience, the fight might just go down to a toss-up. As one of the hotter playoff teams in the league, depth, experience, and home-field advantage will tip the nod toward the Eagles.

The Philadelphia team will most likely attempt to keep the attack balanced in order to maintain the game's tempo and exploit a few of the weaknesses of Washington's defense. Adding Hurts' ability to make plays under pressure to the explosive running of Saquon Barkley may prove too much for the Commanders to handle. But if Washington can somehow force some turnovers and capitalize on some opportunities, it has a chance to keep the game close and maybe pull off an upset.

In the end, the overall dominance by the Eagles on both sides of the ball will take them through to win such a fitting finale to this epic fight. Philadelphia wins, 28-20. The Commanders may as well and truly lose this game, but going down fighting, they have cause to hold their heads high in the knowledge that such a performance deep inside against the league's best in trying to reach Super Bowl glory gives them much higher standing. Not to fight into the Super Bowl in the NFC Championship Game, but a testimony to resilience and skill, shoulder to shoulder in the match between the two best teams. Whichever way the verdict may go, the fans will feel the intensity of football prowess that will be remembered long after.