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Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?

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AJ Brown Stiff Arm Against Washington

The Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles are set to meet for the third time this season with a trip to Super Bowl LIX on the line. The NFC East rivals split the 2024-25 NFL regular season series with each team earning a win on their respective home field. The margin for victory in each game was one score including Washington’s come from behind three-point victory in NFL Week 16. 

Here’s a look at who has the offensive edge in the NFC Championship Game between the Washington and Philadelphia.


Who Has the Edge on Offense?

Quarterback

 

Whoa boy, this is a lot closer than most people would’ve expected at the start of the season. 

Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has built off a rookie season that saw him throw for 3,568-yards, 29 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. The presumptive NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year leads all playoff quarterbacks with 567 yards and is tied with two others –the eliminated Lamar Jackson and Matthew Stafford– with four playoff touchdowns. His explosive plays helped propel Washington to a convincing 45-31 win over the No. 1 seed Detroit Lions in the divisional round. 

As for Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts, his 2024-25 NFL regular season passing numbers were down thanks to the Eagles run-first offensive philosophy. Still, Hurts threw for 2,903 yards, 18 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. Hurts has been tasked with controlling the game and eliminating mistakes during the NFL playoffs, throwing for 259 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. 

Both quarterbacks have the ability to break a defense with their running game. 

Daniels rushed 148 times for 891 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season for Washington. Despite his success in the running game during the regular season, Daniels has been asked to do less running in the playoffs. In the meantime, Hurts has always factored heavily into the Eagles run-first offensive philosophy, rushing 150 times for 630 yards and 15 touchdowns during the regular season. Hurts has rushed 13 times for 106 yards and one TD, a massive 44-yard run against LA, during the playoffs.

Factoring in past performances, which includes Hurts’ performance in multiple College Football Playoff runs and Super Bowl LVII, the Birds’ quarterback is more seasoned when the bright lights are shining. That’s not to take-a-way from Daniels –who is going to be an absolute superstar for a decade to come– but Hurts’ experience in this type of situation gives him a very slight edge in the quarterback battle.

Edge: Slightly Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?

 

Running Back

 

LOL, it ain’t even close!

Washington’s combination of Austin Ekler and Brian Robinson Jr. is a fine pairing that most NFL fan bases would welcome. But the Eagles have the best player in the National Football League in 2024-25, Saquon BarkleyEnough said.

Edge: Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?

 

Wide Receiver

 

Washington’s receiving corps isn’t bad by any means. Longtime Commanders pass catcher Terry McLaurin set the team’s single season receiving touchdown record with 13. Dyami Brown, Jamison Crowder and former Philadelphia wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus give quarterback Jayden Daniels multiple options in the passing game. 

But the Eagles wide receivers are just better.

The one-two punch of A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith are hard to top. The Birds’ duo has the ability to take over a game at any given time. The pair had some uncharacteristic drops last week in the NFC divisional round win over the LA Rams that, if caught, would’ve propelled the Eagles towards a blowout win. Former Washington wide receiver Jahan Dotson also has the ability to make explosive plays in the Eagles passing game. 

Edge: Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?

 

Tight End

 

Give credit to Super Bowl LII champion Zach Ertz for finding a way to a bit of a career rebirth in Washington. The 34-year-old tight end hauled in 66 catches for 654-yards and seven touchdowns this season for Washington during the regular season. In the playoffs, the future Eagles’ Hall of Famer has become a key safety blanket for the Commies rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels with seven receptions for 51-yards, a TD, and four first down conversions.

On the other sideline, the Eagles have the younger version of Ertz in Dallas Goedert. Goedert, who missed the Commanders-Eagles week 16 matchup with an injury, has come up big in the Birds two playoff games with his highlight reel touchdown against Green Bay and huge 31-yard first down reception in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over LA. In the postseason, Goedert has eight receptions for 103 yards, a TD, and four first down conversions. If Washington is able to neutralize Goedert, Philadelphia has a formidable backup in Grant Calcaterra

 

Edge: Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?

 

Offensive Line

 

Washington was dealt a massive blow in the NFC Divisional round losing blossoming offensive lineman Sam Cosmi with an ACL injury. Washington’s second round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Cosmi moved to guard last season and became a cornerstone for Dan Quinn’s offensive group. The University of Texas product would’ve been tasked with slowing down what has been a dominant Philadelphia Eagles interior pass rush. According to The Athletic, Washington is considering a shuffle that includes moving right tackle Andrew Wylie to guard and shifting Cornelius Lucas to tackle.

As for the Eagles, the offensive line struggled against a quick Los Angeles Rams unit in the NFC divisional round allowing seven sacks for negative 63-yards. However, the unit still proved to be road graders in the run game allowing the Philadelphia offense to put up 285 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. The group will be facing a Washington defensive unit that ranks in the bottom three in rush defense this season.

Edge: Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?

 

Specialist: Punter

 

This is about as even as it gets. Washington punter Tress Ways was extremely effective during the 2024-25 NFL regular season with 50 punts and an average of 46.9 yards per punt. Likewise, Philadelphia punter Braden Mann finished the NFL regular season with 54 punts and an average of 48.8 yards per punt. Neither allowed many return yards off of their punts.

Edge: EVEN

 


Who Has the Edge on Offense: Breakdown

 

WSH Position PHI
QB Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?
RB Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?
WR Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?
TE Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?
OL Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?
EVEN Specialist EVEN
The Edge Eagles vs. Commanders: Who Has the Edge on Offense in NFC Championship Game?