The Washington Commanders are heading to Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, with a Super Bowl spot on the line.
This will be the third time these NFC East rivals meet this season, and both have already picked up a win at home. The Eagles came out on top in Week 11 with a 26-18 victory, while the Commanders got their revenge in Week 16 with a 36-33 win.
NFL legend and current Fox Sports analyst Tom Brady was on Sirius XM with his former head coach, Bill Belichick, to discuss the game ahead of his call on Sunday. During the conversation, Brady predicted who he thinks will win.
The three-time NFL MVP picked the Eagles to win, highlighting their strong defense as the key difference when comparing them to the Detroit Lions, who the Commanders just upset in the Divisional Round.
"The difference in this game with the Lions and the Commanders and the Commanders and the Eagles is the Eagles got a really great defense," Brady said. "They got a D line that can make an impact. They can stop the run without having to shove extra bodies up there. We'll see how the injuries in the Eagles' secondary, if Mitchell can play, how that affects them. Certainly, the Eagles are the favorite for a reason. They've had an incredible season. If the Eagles play well, I think they're moving on."
Tom Brady predicts the Eagles to win the NFC Championship
👀👀👀#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/Sym7T7tkTu— The Philly Times 📰 (@the_phi_times) January 24, 2025
As Brady pointed out, the Eagles defense is elite. They rank first in the NFL in yards allowed per game (278.4) and second in points allowed per game (17.8).
The Commanders will have to rely on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who helped them secure their first playoff win since 2006 and their first NFC Championship appearance since the 1991 season.
In their first meeting, the Eagles’ defense held Daniels to 191 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. In the second meeting, when the Commanders won, Daniels passed for 258 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions while adding 81 rushing yards.
If Daniels performs at a high level, Washington will stay competitive. If he struggles, the game could slip away from them.
Kickoff on Sunday is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on FOX. According to ESPN BET, the Eagles are six-point favorites.
