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Washington (14-5) will clash with Philadelphia (16-3) on Sunday at 3 p.m. EST, broadcasted on Fox.
Current betting odds from BetMGM favor the Eagles by 6 points. Both teams have shown a solid performance against the spread, with the Commanders holding a record of 12-6-1 and the Eagles matching that.
Historically, Washington leads the series 90-85-5, including a victory in their only playoff encounter back in January 1991. In their last matchup on December 22, 2023, the Commanders disrupted the Eagles’ ten-game winning streak, edging them 36-33, led by Jayden Daniels who threw for five touchdowns.
Last week, the Commanders triumphed over Detroit with a score of 45-31, while the Eagles secured a 28-22 win against the Rams.
Analyzing the offenses, Washington ranks seventh overall, with the third-best rushing offense, 17th in passing, and fifth in scoring. Meanwhile, Philadelphia is positioned eighth overall, second in rushing, 29th in passing, and seventh in scoring. Defensively, Washington sits at 13th overall with struggles against the run (30th), but excels in pass defense (3rd) and scoring (18th). The Eagles’ defense, however, is outstanding, ranking first overall and in passing, and second in scoring.
In terms of turnover differential, the Commanders have a plus-one rating while the Eagles shine with a plus-11.
Key players for the Eagles include running back Saquon Barkley, who concluded the regular season with a team-record 2,005 rushing yards and returned to action against the Packers in the playoffs, amassing 119 yards followed by a franchise playoff record of 205 rushing yards against the Rams.
For the Commanders, quarterback Jayden Daniels is significant to watch as well. In their previous meeting, he demonstrated his capability by gathering 339 yards through the air and on the ground combined.
A crucial matchup will be Washington’s defense attempting to contain Barkley. The Commanders’ poor performance against the run during the regular season will serve as a potential challenge against Barkley, who has consistently exhibited excellence, including a memorable 78-yard touchdown run that will be remembered as a highlight of the season.
Injury updates show that Washington will be without guard Sam Cosmi due to a torn ACL, while defensive tackle Daron Payne and linebacker Bobby Wagner may also affect their lineup as they deal with injuries. On the Eagles’ side, quarterback Jalen Hurts is nursing a knee injury after the last game but hopes to play Sunday. Other notable injuries include rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, tight end Dallas Goedert, center Cam Jurgens, and linebacker Nakobe Dean, who has been ruled out for the playoffs due to injury.
Historically, the two teams have met only once in the playoffs, with Washington securing a win 20-6, while also boasting a strong showing with a 5-1 record in NFC title games. The Eagles will host their fifth NFC title game at Lincoln Financial Field. In stats, only a few current Commanders players were around during their last appearance in the NFC title game 33 years ago. Washington’s previous playoff experience was marked by a recent wild-card victory at Tampa Bay.
Both teams are on impressive streaks, with Washington forcing numerous turnovers in their last game against Detroit while Philadelphia has a strong home record and has seen Hurts perform effectively despite facing defensive pressure.
Key Eagles plays include contributions from wide receiver A.J. Brown and defensive standout Jalen Carter, making them formidable adversaries moving into this intense matchup.
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