There isn’t a single person out there that could have predicted the Commanders playing in the NFC Championship game before this season began. If you claim you predicted this, I simply don’t believe you. The Commanders had the fourth-worst Super Bowl odds in the preseason and are now just a win away from playing for a Lombardi Trophy. The Eagles stand in their way. One of the top teams in the NFC all season, Philly is hoping to make it back to their third Super Bowl in the last eight seasons. This should be one heck of a matchup. Here is our 2025 NFC Championship preview.
What Happened This Year
Being division rivals, these two have faced each other two times already this season and split the series. Back in Week 11, the Eagles got the best of Washington, winning 26-18. Saquon Barkley rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns in that game. The Commanders fell apart in the fourth quarter and allowed three Eagles touchdowns which proved to be the difference.
They played again in Week 16 and the Commanders walked out of that game with a 36-33 win. Jalen Hurts only threw four passes in that game before Kenny Pickett came in as his replacement. It might have been Jayden Daniels best game of the year, throwing for over 250 yards with five touchdowns. Barkley still had a big game with 150 yards and two touchdowns. Most impressive is that Philly had the ball for 13 more minutes and won the turnover battle 5-2 yet still lost.
Keys to the Game
Washington – They must figure out how to slow down Saquon Barkley. If there was a patented way of doing it, we would see it far more often than we have this year, but Barkley doesn’t seem human this season. He has nearly 300 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns this year against Washington. He has over 100 yards in 11 of his last 13 games.
Philadelphia – Forcing Jayden Daniels into a rookie game is the way they win in this game. They managed five forced turnovers last time out against the Commanders and didn’t win but I have a hard time believing that would happen in a second-straight game. Daniels hasn’t thrown a pick in his last three games. Philly must figure out a way to force one.
Prediction
The Eagles are six-point favorites, and I think Vegas is pretty spot on. A rookie QB has never started a Super Bowl game, and I don’t anticipate that one starts it this year. This Philly defense is legit and is the kind of unit that gets you to that game. Philadelphia 28 Washington 21