NFC Championship Preview: Eagles Keys to Victory, Preview, and Prediction

Man, it’s been a long and quite frankly, annoying week in Philadelphia but we have finally arrived to the weekend and on Sunday, the Eagles will host the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

In my humble opinion, this game won’t even be close and the Eagles should be able to easily win at home against an inferior Commanders team but for writing purposes, we’ll act like I’m a neutral party to provide a readable preview of the matchup.

Washington Commanders fans make critical mistake by enacting the Rocky Statue Curse ahead of the NFC Championship Game

The Eagles and Commanders split their two regular-season games in dramatic fashion, and now, they’ll battle it out for a trip to the Super Bowl.

With history favoring the winner of divisional rematches at this stage—think Rams in 2021, Seahawks in 2013, Packers in 2010, and Steelers in 2008—there’s an undeniable weight to this showdown.

Both teams bring intriguing narratives to the table: a rookie quarterback leading an underdog run for Washington, and Philadelphia leaning on a dominant rushing attack that’s rewriting postseason history.

‘RUN THE DAMN BALL’, Saquon Barkley

If the Eagles are playing football, they’re running the ball. Philly’s rushing attack is operating at a level rarely seen, averaging 227 yards per game in the playoffs.

Saquon Barkley has been unstoppable, slicing through defenses for long touchdown runs, while Jalen Hurts adds his own dual-threat element.

Against the Rams last week, the Eagles piled up 184 rushing yards on touchdowns alone. Granted, the weather served as a main reason why, but the fact remains that Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts are very dangerous when running with the football.

Washington will have its hands full trying to slow down this juggernaut. Their defense has struggled to stop the run all year, giving up 201 rushing yards to Detroit last weekend, even in a win.

Saquon Barkley and the Eagles offensive line will look to exploit that weakness early and often. Barkley has had 199 carries for 1,090 yards and has scored 12 touchdowns in 11 games against the Commanders in his career. This season, he faced the Commanders twice and absolutely destroyed them both times. 

• Saquon Matchup No. 1: 26 carries for 146 yards and 2 TD
• Saquon Matchup No. 2: 29 carries for 150 yards and 2 TD

All Four Saquon Barkley Touchdowns vs Commanders this Year:

Eagles/Commanders 2024 Playoff Edition: Saquon owns them

Saquon has faced the Commanders twice a year every year of his career and has averaged 137 scrimmaged yards per game vs them. That is the 2nd highest average any player has had vs any team in NFL history (at least 10… pic.twitter.com/seY4B2G5h2

— Fly Eagles Fly Bets (@Fly_EaglesBets) January 21, 2025

Can Rookie QB Jayden Daniels Rise to the Occasion? I have my doubts.

On the other side, Washington believes they found its savior in rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Leading the Commanders on a seven-game winning streak, Daniels has, at times, showcased poise beyond his years but if we’re being honest, the Detroit Lions defense in the divisional round, duct taped together with third stringers and practice squad guys due to injuries, is NOT comparable to what they will see Sunday at The Linc.

Will Terry McLaurin be stranded on Q-Island Again?

We’ll see how Quinyon Mitchell’s shoulder is doing on Sunday but as long as his legs are working, Commanders WR1, Terry McLaurin, could be stranded yet again on Q-Island.

Back in November, lining up across from McLaurin on 20 of 25 routes, including 19 of 20 routes when McLaurin lined up wide, Mitchell didn’t allow a single reception, or yard in his coverage. In fact, the Eagles’ secondary as a unit essentially wiped McLaurin and the rest of the Commanders wide receiving corps off the stat sheet.

Mitchell was targeted just once, with the pass falling incomplete. His ability to take a team’s No. 1 wideout out of the game entirely is rare for any player, let alone a rookie.

The Quinyon Mitchell Effect:

Terry McLaurin vs. Quinyon Mitchell —

• 20 routes run
• Zero targets
• Zero receptions
• Zero yards

Prison 🔒 pic.twitter.com/tru1DTBWfc

— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) November 15, 2024

Q-Island: Quinyon Mitchell had Terry McLaurin in JAIL, Eagles put stranglehold on NFC East

Oren Burks and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

When the Eagles lost Nakobe Dean, the middle of their defense looked vulnerable. The plan heading into Sunday’s game against the Rams was for veteran linebacker Oren Burks and rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to fill the void together.

Instead, Burks proved he could shoulder the load on his own, delivering a standout performance in the Eagles’ 30-24 divisional-round win.

Burks played 68 defensive snaps (96% of the total), tying for the team lead with six tackles. He added two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit, and a pass defensed—checking every box you’d want from a fill-in starter. His presence helped stabilize the linebacker corps and allowed the Eagles’ defensive line to dominate up front.

While Burks usually splits his time between defense and special teams, the Eagles leaned heavily on him defensively against the Rams. His special teams reps were limited to just nine snaps, a testament to how critical he was to the game plan.

Burks isn’t new to high-pressure situations—Sunday marked his 13th career playoff game and his second career playoff start. But this performance felt like a defining moment for the veteran linebacker, proving he can be a reliable presence in a postseason setting.

WIll Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Get Playing Time on Defense?

While Burks thrived, rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. didn’t see the field on defense. He logged 25 special teams snaps but was kept on the sidelines when the Eagles lined up defensively.

Whether Trotter gets defensive reps or continues to be eased in remains to be seen.

A Battle of Red-Zone Execution

This game could come down to who executes better in the red zone. The Eagles have been efficient defensively, ranking fifth in red-zone defense during the regular season. Washington, however, ranked just 22nd in that department.

On offense, the Commanders were one of the league’s best in the red zone, finishing sixth. But the Eagles’ ability to control the clock with their running game could limit Washington’s opportunities to cash in.

Turnovers Could Decide It

Both teams have been perfect in the playoffs when it comes to turnovers, with neither committing a single one. They’re tied for the postseason lead with a +6 turnover margin.

However, the regular season tells a different story. Philly was +11, one of the best in the league, while Washington was a mere +1.

Jayden Daniels has been great at protecting the ball during this winning streak, but any mistakes against the Eagles’ opportunistic defense could spell doom for the Commanders.

Prediction: Eagles will rely on the Rushing Attack and Trench Warfare to Beat Commanders

This game has all the makings of a high-scoring classic. The Commanders have been nearly unbeatable in close games, with a knack for late-game heroics. But the Eagles’ dominance on the ground and in the trenches feels like the difference-maker.

Expect Philly to control the tempo, wear down Washington’s defense, and lean on Jalen Carter and the defensive line to disrupt Daniels enough to secure the win.

Final Score: Eagles 38, Commanders 20.

Philly punches its ticket to the Super Bowl, leaving Washington’s Cinderella run just short of a fairy-tale ending.

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