An inside have a look at the Commanders-Eagles NFC Championship showdown at Lincoln Monetary Subject on Sunday afternoon:
Marquee matchup
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels vs. Eagles security C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Daniels is making an attempt so as to add a layer to one of the best rookie quarterback season of all time by changing into the primary to achieve the Tremendous Bowl.
Most of his throws go to 1,000-yard receiver Terry McLaurin, however tight finish Zach Ertz has re-emerged as a primary look within the pink zone late in his profession.
Standing of their method is a ballhawk with six interceptions in every of his previous two seasons enjoying for the Eagles (2022 and 2024).
Is it a coincidence that Daniels threw three of his 5 landing passes in opposition to the Eagles in Week 16 after Gardner-Johnson was ejected early within the third quarter for 2 personal-foul penalties? Johnson stated afterward that he has to “grow the hell up.”
“I think he’s always known how important he is to the defense. We sure do,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni stated. “He’s been just so good at taking the football away and playing with energy. He has an impact on games.”
Dunleavy’s resolution
An argument might be made the Eagles’ roster is best at each place besides a very powerful one, the place Daniels would possibly already be the NFC’s finest quarterback.
Saquon Barkley has been unstoppable all season — much more so in opposition to the Commanders (296 yards and 4 touchdowns on the bottom in two video games).
He and the 4 Professional Bowlers on the offensive line may win the sport on their very own.
Defensive sort out Jalen Carter took his Professional Bowl season to new heights with two sacks and a compelled fumble final recreation.
Not an excellent first time for the Commanders to be with out their finest offensive lineman, after proper guard Sam Cosmi’s ACL damage.
Eagles 31, Commanders 27
4 downs
Hurts so good: Quarterback Jalen Hurts (knee) was a full participant in Thursday’s and Friday’s practices after he was restricted Wednesday. His mobility clearly was restricted on the finish of final week’s win.
Hurts stated his restoration is “progressing” however he “anticipates” sporting a knee brace. If he scrambles, the Commanders received’t take sympathy.
“We are going to treat him like a running back,” defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. stated. “We are going to hit him that way. That’s their decision if they want to get him hit the way that he gets hit.”
Tight finish Dallas Goedert (ankle) is able to go after not training Thursday. Heart Cam Jurgens (again) is questionable.
For the Commanders, defensive sort out Da’Ron Payne (knee, finger) is out, however linebacker Bobby Wagner (ankle) will play.
Revenge recreation: Brian Johnson was thought of a rising star when the Eagles made the Tremendous Bowl two years in the past.
He was the quarterbacks coach accountable for Hurts’ speedy improvement into NFL MVP runner-up and offensive coordinator-in-waiting as quickly as Shane Steichen left to be the Colts head coach.
Effectively, Johnson’s one season calling performs was a disappointment. He was fired final January.
One yr later, Johnson is passing recreation coordinator for the Commanders underneath offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury throughout Jayden Daniels’ rookie-record-setting debut.
“Just being able to share some things he used with Jalen there in Philly — some things that worked, some things he wishes he would’ve done differently — with Jayden has been huge,” Kingsbury stated. “Because obviously that’s instant credibility of success they had there. He’s been a blessing for us.”
Third-and-8: With a win, the Commanders will develop into simply the third No. 6 seed to achieve the playoffs and the third workforce to beat its convention’s high three seeds (No. 3 Buccaneers, No. 1 Lions and No. 2 Eagles) en path to the Tremendous Bowl.
Dan Quinn, who beforehand took the 2016 Falcons to the Tremendous Bowl, would be part of Invoice Parcells (Patriots, Giants), Don Shula (Colts, Dolphins), Dick Vermeil (Eagles, Rams), John Fox (Panthers, Broncos), Mike Holmgren (Packers, Seahawks), Dan Reeves (Falcons, Broncos) and Andy Reid (Chiefs, Eagles) because the eighth head coach to steer a number of franchises to the Tremendous Bowl.
Parcells, Shula and Vermeil are Corridor of Famers, Holmgren is a present finalist, Reeves is overdue for choice and Reid is a future lock.
Fourth-and-gutsy: The Commanders led the NFL through the common season by changing practically 87 % of fourth downs (20-for-23).
Their 66.7 % hit price within the playoffs (6-for-9) in opposition to good defenses is much more spectacular.
Quinn bypassed 4 area targets within the win in opposition to the Buccaneers, turning 12 factors into 14 when going 2-for-4 on fourth downs led to 2 touchdowns.
The Commanders’ three conversions in opposition to the Lions — one of many NFL’s most aggressive fourth-down groups — all led to touchdowns.
The Eagles transformed 73 % (19-for-26) through the common season on the again of probably the most unstoppable performs within the NFL: the “Tush Push.” 9 out of 10 fourth-and-1 runs moved the chains.
One in every of coach Nick Sirianni’s four-year hallmarks goes for fourth downs in Eagles’ territory.
“I think the game flow and things like that will have an impact on it once you get into later moments,” Sirianni stated. “That will be a key to the game on both ends.”
