of commander of washington This is a reassuring team in the NFL playoffs. The long-suffering franchise also wasn't supposed to be here. What began as a new era of promise for incremental progress quickly gave way to the realization that commanders had a chance to accomplish something terrible.
Before the coaches can be overjoyed, they must first overcome the biggest challenge of the season. A frigid Sunday game at The Rink in Philadelphia awaits the Eagles. All of that may seem like a stretch, but there's strong evidence to support Washington's chances.
Part 1: Win the QB battle
It's wild to think that rookie Jaden Daniels is already better than Jalen Hurts, but here it is. The No. 2 overall pick has been a genius this season, but Hurts has had his most inconsistent season as a passer.
The Commanders are very much Kliff Kingsbury's offensive team and love to drag teams into shootouts. The common thread in all these games is that the QB who plays the best wins. There is evidence of a match like this in Week 16 as well. That's when Washington won after holding the Eagles back from scoring on a quick fourth-quarter comeback. .
Philadelphia asserted itself early in the game, taking a 21-7 lead in what appeared to be a close game. However, back-to-back touchdown passes from Daniels were answered by a stalled drive and a long field goal by the Eagles.
The Commanders went on to win 36-33, and while it was a close game, it also laid out a blueprint for this team to beat Philadelphia. If they can slow down Saquon Barkley, pressure Jalen Hurts to be the focal point of the offense, and do what they need to do offensively, they could be in the Super Bowl.
No. 2: Star linebacker
There are a number of areas where the Eagles clearly have an advantage in this matchup, but the Commanders have three game-changing linebackers who all excel in different areas.
Arguably the best unit in the NFL, Frankie Lube, Bobby Wagner, and Dante Fowler are beasts. Luv flew all over the field and did a little bit of everything, recording 99 tackles, 8.0 sacks, and 7 passes defended in 2024. Fowler is an incredibly strong side pass rusher with 10.5 sacks this season and has a knack for getting into the backfield and exploding run plays before they even begin. Wagner is the glue that holds everything together, recording over 100 tackles for 13 consecutive seasons and keeping the entire unit organized.
Linebackers have become almost obsolete in recent years, especially in 4-3 defenses, but managers are making them a focal point of the defense. This could potentially win the matchup, as it comes at the perfect time as the league is becoming more run-based.
No. 3: Intangible assets
Dozens of indicators point to why the Eagles should win this game, but none explain the confidence and belief the managers have in themselves. This is a Washington team that understands the importance of this season to its fan base, the franchise, and the city as a whole. That has been the driving force behind this season and the main reason why the managers continue to win when everyone else has counted their losses. This team inherently knows they have the talent to win any game, and they showed that on the road to Detroit by not getting overwhelmed. It's unfair to say “it means more” to Washington, but it just means more.
It's clear the Eagles want to be in the Super Bowl. Everyone does it. The difference is, Philadelphia has been here before and is aware that they may not be in the mix to win the Lombardi Trophy, especially considering Hurts plays scattershot football. It means that you know it deep down. It's simply a question of who has the motivation to play to their talent level and play outside the box.
The managers proved they can do that by asserting their will against the Lions. The Eagles almost lost to the Rams. Momentum is currently on Washington's side, and the Eagles have more to lose.
