Who is PSR Staff Predicting to Win Eagles-Commanders’ NFC Championship Game?

Today is the day! NFC Championship Game Day!

The Eagles and Commanders kick off from Lincoln Financial Field at 3:00 today. Who is the Philly Sports Reports staff picking to win the game?

Here are our official predictions:

Benjamin Goldstein: Eagles 31, Commanders 28

The Commanders are coming into this game red-hot. Jayden Daniels is having perhaps the greatest rookie season ever, and it seems like everything is going their way. But this game will come down to one thing: who will slow down the opposition’s star. I give that advantage to the Eagles with Saquon Barkley. Even when looking back to what Daniels did in December to this Eagles defense, the Eagles’ top-ranked defense is better equipped to deal with Daniels than the Commanders’ 30th-ranked run defense with Barkley. Along with this, Washington will be without DT Daron Payne and OG Sam Cosmi on Sunday, big losses to both of their lines. Daniels may be playing better than Jalen Hurts right now, but the Eagles are better in every other position. Along with being home, it will be a close one, but I think the Eagles are punching their ticket to New Orleans on Sunday night.

Sam Heine: Eagles 31, Commanders 24

For the second time in three seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles are playing in the NFC Championship game. The Eagles will face a familiar opponent in this game the Washington Commanders. The Commanders got the better of the Eagles the last time they faced off, but what many people in the national media seem to forget is that Kenny Pickett played in three-quarters of that game. The Commanders are a scary team, led by a scary Quarterback. Rookie Jayden Daniels has taken the league by storm this season, and he is definitely talented enough to win a game by himself. While the Commanders have the better Quarterback in this game, I believe the Eagles have the advantage at every other position group. The Commanders’ defense is bad against the run, which plays right into our biggest strength. In last week’s game, Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns against this Commanders’ defense, who will be without Daron Payne tomorrow. The Commanders will also be without guard Sam Cosmi. Cosmi would have been lined up against Jalen Carter, so look for him to have another big game. I believe these are why the Eagles will win this game, and advance to Super Bowl 59.

Matt Brown: Eagles 34, Commanders 26

Welp, here we are again. The Eagles find themselves back in the NFC Championship game for the second time in three years, and I have a feeling this game will be similar to how 2023 went. It’s the rubber match between the Eagles and the Commanders, and I think with the injuries Washington has suffered in Sam Cosmi and Daron Payne will make a huge difference. Jayden Daniels will do his thing, but Saquon Barkley and the Eagles’ defense will be better. Barkley runs for 150 and a touchdown, Jalen Hurts finally throws for over 200 yards and A.J. Brown once again has a big day against Marshon Lattimore, helping the Eagles clinch a berth in Super Bowl LIX.

Evan Hartenstein: Eagles 31, Commanders 27

This game is going to come down to one thing and one thing only. Jake Elliott. If Elliott can hit his field goals and extra points, the Birds should be able to squeak by a pesky Washington team. But this needs to be the case. The Commanders will take advantage of every opportunity they get and are one of the most clutch teams in the NFL. If Elliot can make the freebies, all should go well and the Eagles should advance to the big one.

Ethan Whitney: Eagles 27, Commanders 24

This game is going to be a fun one. Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ offense looks like an unstoppable force but they’ll have to square off against the immovable object that has been the Eagles’ defense. Assuming Cam Jurgens suits up, the Eagles will be fully healthy while the loss of Daron Payne for Washington I think will loom large. The game will be decided by Jalen Hurts play. We saw what happened last time we faced them when they didn’t respect our passing game with Kenny Pickett. If Hurts is 100%, you can book your flights to New Orleans.

Roman Furchi: Eagles 38, Commanders 33

Both the Eagles and Commanders are coming off of very strong performances last week. The Eagles had arguably the most dominant running performance ever seen in the playoffs, fronted by Saquon Barkley, having 205 yards on the ground and 8 yards per carry. The Eagles passing game wasn’t amazing, but that could come as a strength for them due to the Commanders’ surprise resurgence of their secondary last week in Detroit. The Commanders gave up the second-most rush yards of the weekend and are a lock to do it again with the lack of stars on the defensive line. The Eagles are just too much of a force to stop.