Getty Images/Action Network. Pictured: Jayden Daniels (left) and Jalen Hurts.
The Washington Commanders (14-5) and Philadelphia Eagles (16-3) will face off in the NFC Championship Game. Kickoff is set for in 3:00 p.m. EST from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The game will be broadcast live on FOX and can be streamed on platforms like YouTube TV.
The Eagles are favored by 6 points over the Commanders with the game total set at 47.5 (-110o / -110u). The Eagles are -300 favorites to win outright, while the Commanders are +240 to pull off the upset.
Led by rookie QB Jayden Daniels, the Commanders have dispatched of the Buccaneers and Lions on the road to reach the NFC Championship Game, where they meet the Eagles for the third time this season. Philadelphia has held serve at home, eliminating the Packers and Rams to reach this point. The regular-season series was split at a game apiece, with the Eagles winning in Week 11 (26-18) and the Commanders winning in Week 16 (36-33).
Let’s get into my Commanders vs. Eagles predictions and NFL picks.
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When I look at the Eagles, I see too many red flags to not take at least six points.
The Eagles are one of the most conservative teams in the NFL, which I’d expect to especially be the case if Jalen Hurts is not 100%, while the Commanders are one of the more aggressive. Everything favors the underdog staying competitive so I’ll take the key number of six with Washington.
Since we’re getting such an important number on the spread with the Commanders, I’ll make that my pick instead of betting on another road upset win.
I project this total as 48 points. I don’t see enough of an edge either way to bet on that.
My Pick: Commanders +6.5
I think the general market sentiment is that the Commanders have had a nice run but will likely be taken care of by the Eagles. The line has moved up, and now we’re at a key number of six.
Philadelphia has been outgained in both of its playoff games and in four of its last five games. While Saquon Barkley’s output against the Rams was impressive, there’s no reason to believe the Eagles offense as a whole has turned a corner.
The Eagles scored touchdowns on plays of 78, 62 and 44 yards against Los Angeles. Outside of those plays, they gained 166 yards on 58 plays for 2.9 yards per play.
Philly is living dangerously. Obviously, you can expect impressive long touchdown runs from Saquon Barkley here and there, but that’s not a sustainable recipe for success.
This offense has been very inconsistent. Part of the reason for that is Jalen Hurts, whose health is uncertain entering this game. Anything less than Hurts at 100%, which seems to be the case, is a big advantage for the Commanders.
Defensively, this game could come down to fourth-down conversions. The Eagles ranked 24th during the regular season in allowing 63% of opposing fourth-down attempts to convert. Washington is one of the best in the league.
The Eagles allowed Kyren Williams to average 5.3 yards per carry while Matthew Stafford, who usually struggles outdoors, almost led a comeback to win the game for the Rams. Los Angeles only scored 22 points, but there were a couple of turnovers that seemed to be hugely related to the weather that the Rams weren’t used to and benefited the Eagles.
When these teams first met back in Week 11, the Eagles contained the Commanders offense well on a Thursday night. Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury didn’t move Terry McLaurin around too much, and he was held to one catch. I don’t see that being the case again. Also, Washington was up 10-6 entering the fourth quarter in that game.
In the second matchup, Philadelphia was on its way to a blowout win before Hurts suffered a concussion. The defense, though, still got torched by Jayden Daniels. That part we can’t ignore.
Daniels has improved greatly since that first Eagles matchup and continues to trend up. He shouldn’t have to deal with the snow that the Rams did last week and will have a great opportunity to have a big game against an Eagles team that has a lot of question marks around it.
As an underdog, Daniels is 5-2-1 (71.4%) against the spread and has covered by 7.8 points per game. As a favorite of four or more points, Hurts is 15-20-2 (43%). Over the past two seasons, that record is just 6-12-1 for Hurts.
My Pick: Commanders +6.5
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