NFC Championship Preview 2024-2025: #2 Eagles vs. #6 Commanders

NFC Championship Preview: #2 Philadelphia Eagles vs. #6 Washington Commanders

You win and you’re in. In the Super Bowl that is. The Washington Commanders did was seemed virtually impossible at the time and defeat the NFC favorite to make the Super Bowl, the Detroit Lions. In fact, the Lions almost looked unmatched, Jared Goff became Jared Goof and the Commanders took advantage. The Philadelphia Eagles took care of business. As the #2 in the NFC, they did not stumble and fall like the Lions but did what they were expected to do. The Commanders will try to shock the world by beating the top 2 seeds in the NFC back-to-back weeks. The Eagles are looking to return to the Super Bowl as their last appearance they lost to the black magic Chiefs. It’s interesting to note that these teams did split the division series against each other. Enough yappin’, let’s see how both teams can win in this NFC Championship preview.

Real quick, some particulars about the game down below:

• When: Sunday, January 26th
• Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Time: 3:00 ET
• TV: FOX
• Live Stream: NFL+, Fox Sports, Fubo, Youtube TV
• Spread: Eagles -6.0
• Over/Under: 47.5

Why The Eagles Will Win In This NFC Championship Preview:

Saquon Barkley Is Inevitable

Who is stopping Saquon Barkley? You can have this question asked every week and you’ll continue to not have an answer. Saquon Barkley is a great RB who can get a few yards on every down. Some complain that his rushing yards are inflated because of his long runs…I think that just shows his big play ability. If you do not do your job against Saquon Barkley every single play, he’s going to the crib. If anything, it just shows that Barkley will kill you if you don’t handle it. Most teams haven’t handled it.

Rookie QBs Are Still Rookie QBs, Disrupt Jayden Daniels:

The Commanders haven’t played a defense like the Eagles yet in this postseason. The Bucs play in the pansy NFC South, and Aaron Glenn, to me, is not a good DC. You can’t let someone have 45 points in a playoff game and be considered a good defense, it doesn’t work. Vic Fangio is a way better DC than Aaron Glenn, with more talent. Fangio will have this defense focusing on making Jayden Daniels uncomfortable the entire game. The Commanders don’t have a ton of offense talent despite their offensive success. While Kliff Kingsbury is a great playcaller, sometimes it won’t come down to X’s and O’s but Jimmy’s and Joe’s. The Eagles got the Jimmy’s and Joe’s, trust.

Don’t Let Jalen Hurts Turn The Ball Over

Jalen Hurts has done well to take care of the ball this season. He only has 5 INTs this season and only 4 fumbles. While he only has 18 passing TDs for the year, he has 14 rushing TDs and the Eagles are winning games. Jalen Hurts doesn’t have to do anything special. Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts rushing ability will keep this offense alive. The defense will shut the Commanders offense down. Jalen Hurts just has to not turn the ball over like he hasn’t all season and the Eagles will prevail. The Commanders forced the Lions to have 4 INTs and that helped them tremendously win the game. Take care of the ball and they win, simple.

Dan Snyder is a total clown

Why The Commanders Will Win In This NFC Championship Preview:

Let Jayden Daniels Cook x2

I wrote the NFC Divisional preview for the Commanders and Lions game and one of my ways that the Commanders were going to win that game is they let Jayden Daniels play his game. Why would I change that now? The Commanders are in the NFC Championship, no one expected them to be there and they have already exceeded expectations. While I understand the desire to play in the Super Bowl, Jayden Daniels doesn’t have to let the game be too big for him. He can play with controlled chaos and just do what he does. When the ball is in his hands, good things happen. It’s how this lackluster talent on the Commanders’ offense is able to do well. It’s because of Jayden Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury. By the way, do you know off the top of your head who the WR2 on the Commanders is? Exactly, not exactly Earth-shattering talent.

Make Jalen Hurts Beat You

Force Jalen Hurts to make you beat you. I’m not saying this to be ugly to Jalen Hurts but the alternative are Saquon Barkley and trying to score on a really good Eagles defense. I talked about how Jalen Hurts has done well to take care of the ball, well that can’t happen when you don’t have the talent. You need turnovers. You need to make Jalen Hurts fumble the ball or throw INTs. That’s how the Commanders won last week, Goof threw 3 INTs. Be physical with Hurts and force him to be uncomfortable.

Long Drives On Offense

With the Eagles rushing attack, they want and will kill time on the clock on offense. Eventually, the defense gets tired and that is when Barkley rips off a big run (or a few). While Jayden Daniels being explosive make the Commanders score points, it can be a double-edged sword in this game because the Commanders defense will eventually tired. Don’t get me wrong, score the points but not every play has to be a big play, they will have to move the ball to help their defense get rested.

Verdict: Eagles defeat Commanders 27-24

I think the Eagles just have too much talent to not win this game in this NFC Championship preview. HOWEVER, I did say that the Commanders had no shot to win last week against the Lions and I am 1-3 so far these playoffs when I do the previews (Chickster curse?). So I won’t stand here and say the Commanders don’t have a chance to win, but I think the Commanders are down 10 near the end of the 4th, make a valiant effort to score a TD, and don’t get the onside kick to lose by 3. A little backdoor cover. Winner goes to the Super Bowl, who wants it more?

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