The Washington Commanders vs. the Philadelphia Eagles is an NFC Championship game matchup few, if any, expected at the season’s start.
The Eagles were predicted to be a lock for the NFC East and contenders for the conference crown. But with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in command, Washington surpassed all expectations in this fairy-tale season. And now they’re just one stage away from the biggest stage of all: the Super Bowl.
How Hurt Is Jalen Hurts?
There are two big uncertainties in today’s game.
The first is the injured knee of Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. He’ll reportedly be wearing a brace during the game. Depending on the severity of the injury and type of brace, it could significantly limit his mobility, potentially having two game-changing effects.
One, it may limit Hurts’ ability to run — which has helped compensate for his subpar passing in recent weeks.
Two, it could make him more vulnerable in the pocket. It’s against the Commanders earlier this season that Hurts sustained a concussion that put him out for nearly three weeks. Hurts, who was sacked seven times last week, could be at risk of becoming a sitting duck in the pocket.
The Saquon Factor
Regardless of how hurt Hurts is, the Eagles need running back Saquon Barkley to come up big again. “Snoquon,” as he’s now known, rushed for over 200 yards in last Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Rams in snowy Philadelphia.
Not only is there no snow in the forecast, but Barkley will face one of the NFL’s worst rush defenses this season. He averaged 148 yards per game against the Commanders this season.
Can Daniels Continue to Exceed Expectations?
The other uncertainty is whether Commanders QB Daniels can sustain his elite-caliber play against the NFL’s top defense.
Daniels was 22-for-32 for 191 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception in their first matchup in the regular season. In their rematch, he came up big, completing 24 of 39 passes for 258 yards and five touchdowns, driving their 22-point fourth-quarter comeback win.
Turnovers may ultimately decide this game. In their win over the Eagles, Daniels threw two interceptions — one of five total turnovers for the Eagles in that game. So far in their playoff run, the Commanders have gone without a turnover.
The two teams split their regular-season meetings. The Eagles came out on top 26-18 in their Week 11 game in Philly. But the Commanders took the second game at home in Week 16, coming back to win 36-33 — but only after Hurts’ exit.
Injury Report
Philadelphia Eagles
QB Tanner McKee (emergency third QB)
WR Ainias Smith
G Trevor Keegan
G/T Darian Kinnard
OL Nick Gates
CB Eli Ricks
DB Lewis Cine
Washington Commanders
QB Jeff Driskel (emergency third QB)
RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
WR K.J. Osborn
G Sam Cosmi
DT Daron Payne
LB Dominique Hampton
CB Michael Davis
How to Watch Commanders vs. Eagles
The Commanders-Eagles game will be broadcast nationally on Fox. An antenna is one way to watch for free — and without cable.
Basic cable or satellite subscriptions, as well as live TV streaming platforms, also offer Fox as part of their packages.
Date and Time: Sunday, January 26, 2025, 3:00 PM Eastern
TV: Fox
Streaming: Fox Sports app and website, Hulu, Sling, NFL+, NFL Game Pass International (Outside U.S.), YouTube TV
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
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