2024 NFC Championship preview

For the third time this season, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders will meet on the gridiron. The difference? This time, it’s for a trip to Super Bowl LIX.

The Eagles seek a spot in the big game for the second time in three years, while Washington hopes to make it back for the first time since 1991 behind star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Since the teams square off twice a year as NFC East rivals, fans have already seen the squads battle. They split the season series this year, with Philadelphia winning at home in November and Washington winning in a last-gasp thriller in December.

In both matchups, Daniels’ combined stats total to 449 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. While Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts didn’t play in the second matchup due to injury, Daniels led an impressive fourth-quarter comeback, throwing five touchdowns.

Daniels has the opportunity to secure arguably the greatest rookie season in NFL history if he can clinch the Commanders a Super Bowl appearance.

While Hurts is one of Philadelphia’s crucial offensive playmakers, the true wild card for the Eagles all season has been Saquon Barkley. Barkley dominated the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round, pounding the ground for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Barkley revitalized his career in his first year with the Eagles. He is a finalist for both the Offensive Player of the Year and MVP awards, emphasizing his outright superiority as the premier running back in the NFL.

The Commanders must plan for Barkley and Hurts’ elite combination in the running game. Washington ended the regular season as the third-worst rushing defense in the league, and that weakness has been amplified in the playoffs with opposing teams rushing for 151 rushing on average in the two opening games.

The Eagles, on the other hand, ended as the second-best scoring defense in the league. In the playoffs, they’ve only gotten better, allowing an average of 16 points.

Jalen Carter, specifically, has become a force to be reckoned with on the interior defensive line for Philadelphia. He disrupted and essentially iced the game with a monumental sack on Matthew Stafford to help the Eagles sneak out the win and claim the right to host the NFC Championship game.

Washington’s defensive prowess lies in its secondary. The defense picked off Jared Goff three times in its Divisional Round upset of Detroit, despite Amon-Ra St. Brown racking up 137 yards receiving yards.

Overall, the NFC comes down to two of its most historic franchises duking it out for a chance to hoist the Lombardi in New Orleans. Hurts and Daniels’ duel will hold an immense stake in the outlook of the NFC East for years to come. A new era has begun with Daniels’ arrival.

Philadelphia and Nick Sirianni feel like they have unfinished business since losing a heartbreaker to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. Washington and Dan Quinn look to shock the NFL world with one of the most unprecedented Super Bowl runs in history.

All will be cemented on the gridiron on Sunday at 3 p.m. EST at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Oscar Orellana is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email oko5122@psu.edu.