Because the Commanders put together to face the Eagles in Sunday’s NFC Championship Recreation, this is a cool nugget of optimism for every group: The final 4 instances there was a divisional rematch in a convention title sport, the winner has gone on to win the Tremendous Bowl.
The Rams beat the 49ers on the best way to a title in 2021, the Seahawks beat the 49ers in 2013, the Packers beat the Bears in 2010, and the Steelers beat the Ravens in 2008. It does not matter how their regular-season conferences went — the Rams had been swept, the Steelers had swept, and the Seahawks and Packers had break up their first two video games, simply because the Eagles and Commanders did this season.
These two video games between Philadelphia and Washington have been thrillers. In Week 11, the Eagles scored 20 straight factors within the fourth quarter, together with two Saquon Barkley touchdowns, in a 26-18 win. In Week 18, the Commanders trailed 27-14 within the fourth quarter earlier than rookie QB Jayden Daniels threw three landing passes, the final with six seconds left, to rally Washington to a 36-33 win.
With that, this is our deep dive into the final two NFC groups standing, their greatest strengths, query marks and X-factors:
No. 2 seed: Philadelphia Eagles
Largest power: You need to begin with Barkley and the NFL’s No. 2 speeding assault, which has averaged 227 yards per sport within the playoffs to this point. The eradicated Ravens really averaged extra, however the final group to common extra within the playoffs earlier than this season was the 1974 Steelers (231). Add in Jalen Hurts and the Eagles had 184 speeding yards simply on touchdowns of their divisional win over the Rams. Philly’s ground-and-pound power goes up in opposition to a vulnerability for Washington, however then once more, Detroit rushed for 201 yards on 23 carries final weekend and the Commanders nonetheless beat the Lions by 14 factors.
Can the Commanders comprise Saquon Barkley in NFC title sport?
Largest query mark: The Eagles’ passing sport has been practically nonexistent. They completed with 65 internet passing yards on Sunday, the bottom in a playoff win in 14 years. A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith mixed for 35 yards on 11 targets, with an extended of 9 yards. If Washington’s protection can restrict the run, can Philadelphia take benefit via the air? Hurts barely performed earlier than struggling a concussion within the Eagles’ Week 16 loss to the Commanders. In Philadelphia’s Week 11 win over Washington, he threw for 221 yards. So latest proof apart, it is attainable that the Philly offense can have extra steadiness than previously two video games.
X-factor: Defensive lineman Jalen Carter is just 23, however his sack of Matthew Stafford within the remaining minute to seal the win over the Rams was a reminder of what a game-wrecker he will be. The Commanders shall be with out guard Sam Cosmi, who sustained a knee damage in opposition to the Lions, and that units up a weak spot on the inside of Washington’s offensive line, as backup Trent Scott began just one sport this season. The Eagles’ file for sacks by a participant in a playoff sport is 2, and it is occurred seven instances, together with thrice previously two weeks.
No. 6 seed: Washington Commanders
Largest power: It is not even shut: Rookie QB Jayden Daniels continues to enhance and amaze in main Washington to what’s now a seven-game profitable streak. Daniels’ subsequent landing cross will give him the NFL rookie file with 5 in a postseason. Sure, it is a low quantity, but it surely reminds you the way uncommon it’s to have a rookie main a group to victory in January. The Eagles held Daniels in examine in addition to anybody within the first assembly — 191 passing yards, 18 speeding yards. Within the second sport, nevertheless, he had 5 landing passes and 81 speeding yards, a efficiency that was a transparent foreshadowing of the promising postseason forward.
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Largest query mark: Can the Washington protection preserve the Eagles beneath 30 factors? Detroit scored 31 in opposition to the Commanders regardless of 5 turnovers, piling up 521 yards of complete offense. Washington is giving up 7.2 yards per play within the playoffs, the worst mark by any of the 14 playoff groups. Barkley alone averaged 148 speeding yards and two touchdowns within the two video games in opposition to Washington, so the Commanders’ problem is to get to Hurts and comprise his scrambling capability whereas additionally holding Barkley from the game-changing lengthy landing runs he is had all season.
X-factor: Takeaways. Washington and Philadelphia are tied for one of the best turnover margin group within the playoffs — each are plus-6, forcing six turnovers and committing none. Whichever group can maintain that’s in all probability headed to the Tremendous Bowl. However in case you look again on the common season, the Eagles have been plus-11, whereas the Commanders have been plus-1, which factors to Philadelphia having the sting general. Daniels’ capability to keep away from errors whereas being a catalyst for your complete offense is sorely underappreciated in all of the reward being appropriately thrown his approach.
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