by Tony Fiorello

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 14: (L-R) Head Coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles talks with head coach Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders after the Eagles 26-18 win at Lincoln Financial Field on November 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Welcome to Conference Championship Weekend. Here at Buffalo Sports Page we will attempt to inform and educate our readers about the upcoming playoff games and what each team might do to emerge victorious.
This season’s NFC Championship Game will take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the Washington Commanders will face the Philadelphia Eagles. Here’s what you should know:

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 19: Jalen Hurts #1 hands the ball to Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles against the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
EAGLES’ OFFENSE A DUAL THREAT
After Doug Pederson brought a Super Bowl championship to Philadelphia in 2017, things began to sour rather quickly in the City of Brotherly Love. Following a deterioration of talent thanks to age, free agency and the salary cap, general manager Howie Roseman let go of Pederson and hired his replacement in former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni.
Sirianni, who worked for Pederson’s championship-winning offensive coordinator Frank Reich, has brought a similar system to the Eagles. Pederson offense’s – a chip off the old block from his mentor, former Eagles coach Andy Reid – is a West Coast-style unit that is built off misdirection concepts, quick underneath throws (especially on slant-flat concepts), screens, bootlegs, run-pass options and occasional downfield route combinations – mostly outside the numbers. Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore also rarely utilize formations from under center – except for their patented “Tush Push” play, their famous (or infamous) version of a quarterback sneak – and have increased their number of “empty” and three-by-one sets to spread the field and make easier reads in the passing game.
Moore, who is in his first season calling the plays after stints in Dallas and Los Angeles, does a good job of using tight splits for his wide receivers and motion to get defenders to commit to soft coverage. He then has his wideouts defeat them with double moves, and he’ll also go no-huddle from time to time.
The Eagles’ top offensive weapon is arguably running back extraordinaire Saquon Barkley. The 6-foot, 233-pound Barkley evokes comparisons to Marshall Faulk and Barry Sanders for good reason – able to make plays in both the passing and running game, Barkley possesses the strength and quickness to break tackles and slither in and out of gaps. The quote “Give me 18 inches of daylight, that’s all I need” from Hall of Famer Gale Sayers certainly applies to Philly’s tailback, as he can make big plays with his burst and excellent vision – as evidenced by nearly breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record in 2024.
Thanks to Barkley and backup Kenneth Gainwell, the Eagles have consistently been a top-10 rushing offense in the NFL over the last four years. They were second this year, and were eighth, fifth and first in each of Sirianni’s seasons at the helm of Philadelphia.
Helping them in that department has been quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurts, a product of Oklahoma, has utilized his mobility on several types of read option plays with zone, power and counter concepts built into them and capitalized by rushing for double-digit touchdowns in each of the last four years – the only signal-caller ever to do so. He also has a strong arm and his accuracy, ability to identify coverages, manipulate safeties with his eyes and decision-making post-snap has grown by leaps and bounds while executing a passing game with defined primary reads.
But Hurts has developed a habit of looking at the opposing pass rush too much and bailing out of the pocket prematurely, and he also needs to get rid of the ball quicker. He also doesn’t like throwing the ball into tight windows over the middle and is more comfortable throwing outside the numbers.
To accelerate his growth, in 2022 Roseman acquired one of pro football’s most physical wide receivers in A.J. Brown from the Tennessee Titans. Brown, perhaps the Eagles’ best pass-catching threat since Terrell Owens, performs well out of high-low concepts and he, deep threat DeVonta Smith, slot receiver Jahan Dotson and tight end Dallas Goedert make up one of the NFL’s best receiving corps.
Blocking for Hurts and his cohorts is an elite offensive line made up of Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Mekhi Becton and Cam Jurgens (the latter two replacing the departed Jason Kelce and Issac Seumalo). They’ve become one of the best thanks to the development prowess of position coach Jeff Stoutland and can execute most rushing concepts (gap schemes, duo, inside zone, outside zone etc.).
Beyond their rushing accolades, the Eagles were also eighth in total yards and seventh in scoring. But they were just 29th in passing.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 19: Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun (53) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) tackle Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) during the NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams on January 19th, 2025 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHILLY DEFENSE, GREAT TWO YEARS AGO, HAS BEEN REBUILT
The Eagles’ defensive play-caller from 2022, Jonathan Gannon, is now in Arizona as head coach of the Cardinals. Last year he was replaced by former Chicago Bears coordinator Sean Desai, and both were avid fans of longtime defensive guru Vic Fangio (a consultant for the Eagles two years ago).
Gannon took Fangio’s approach and got impressive results with them while leading Philly to a Super Bowl berth. Desai, meanwhile, struggled in 2023, leading to an in-season demotion in favor of Matt Patricia and neither were brought back this fall. Instead, Sirianni opted to re-hire Fangio.
Fangio doesn’t like to blitz much. Relying on a four-man pass rush with stunts, twists and slants and two-deep safety looks often, he heavily employs well-disguised hybrid coverages that feature man and zone concepts – especially Cover Four, or “quarters”, with each defensive back dividing the field into fourths and matchup principles to take away vertical concepts.
This approach has been gaining in popularity in recent years throughout the NFL. According to Smart Football’s Chris B. Brown, “It’s the most important defensive scheme of the past decade…. At first glance, Cover 4 looks like an anti-pass prevent tactic, with four secondary defenders playing deep. But therein lies its magic. The four defenders are actually playing a matchup zone concept, in which the safety reads the tight end or inside receiver. If an offensive player lined up inside releases on a short pass route or doesn’t release into the route, the safety can help double-team the outside receiver. If the inside receiver breaks straight downfield, it becomes more like man coverage. This variance keeps quarterbacks guessing and prevents defenses from being exploited by common pass plays like four verticals, which killed eight-man fronts. The real key to Cover 4, however, is that against the run both safeties become rush defenders (remember, the outside cornerbacks play deep). This allows defenses to play nine men in the box against the run – a hat-tip to the 46’s overwhelming force.”
Although they were just 17th versus the run, they ended 2022 second in total yards given up, first against the pass, eighth in points allowed, tied for fourth in takeaways and were first in sacks with an eye-popping 70 – 15 more than the second-closest team (Kansas City). In fact, Philadelphia became just the fourth team ever to reach 70 sacks in a season – along with the 1984 and ’87 Bears and ’89 Minnesota Vikings – and were just three away from breaking the ’84 Bears’ all-time record.
In 2023 the Eagles’ defense fell off a cliff. While 10th against the run, they were just 19th in sacks, 26th in total yards surrendered, second-last against the pass and tied for 23rd in takeaways. With Fangio now back, Philly’s defense is back as well – they were first in total yards and against the pass (the first team ever to go from 22nd or worse to first), 10th versus the run, second in points allowed, sixth in takeaways (they’ve had 16 takeaways in their last five games including playoffs, their most in that span since 2008-09) and tied for 13th in sacks.
To have success this way, you need to get pressure from a defensive line that has depth and talent. Which the Eagles have in spades, allowing them to use a 5-2 base front at the line of scrimmage (a departure from most teams who use a four or three-man unit).
It helps that Philly has rebuilt this unit from one that was veteran-laden to the youngest defense in the NFL. Once boasting names such as Fletcher Cox, Haason Reddick, Linval Joseph, Derek Barnett, Javon Hargrave, Ndamukong Suh and Robert Quinn, now the Eagles can roll out names like Brandon Graham (currently injured), Josh Sweat, Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, Bryce Huff, Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith on every snap and not miss a beat.
More change has come at the second and third levels of their defense. While cornerbacks Darius Slay, James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox remain (Bradberry has missed the entire season due to injury), the Eagles drafted Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo in the first round and Cooper DeJean from Iowa in the second. DeJean has had a very good rookie season as he’s displayed good blitzing ability, patience and physicality at the top of opponents’ routes. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, one of the game’s rangiest and smartest centerfielders who can also play in the slot, holds down the back end along with Reed Blankenship.
After employing T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White two years ago and Zach Cunningham and Nick Morrow last season, Philly has upgraded at linebacker in the form of Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean (currently injured). Baun has gotten some consideration for the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award as he has made a near-seamless transition from the defensive line due to his excellent awareness.
The Eagles are attempting to reach their fifth Super Bowl. It would be their second appearance in the last three years and their third in eight seasons. It’s also their 13th NFC/NFL title game appearance, and it’s the first one since 1986 (Washington-New York) to feature two NFC East teams.

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 01: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders throws a pass to Terry McLaurin #17 in the first quarter of a game against the Tennessee Titans at Northwest Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON HAS SOME OFFENSIVE PLAYMAKERS
Change is the theme in the nation’s capital, as new ownership (Josh Harris), a first-year general manager (Adam Peters), a fresh face at head coach (Dan Quinn) and a different offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury) have taken charge of the Washington Commanders and led them to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Kingsbury’s system, which borrows heavily from the Air Raid system, leans towards the usage of “10” and “11” personnel and two-tight end sets. He also likes to use three-by-one sets (three wide receivers on one side and another wideout or a tight end on the other) along with some shifts and motion to help his quarterbacks decipher coverages in the passing game. They’ve also incorporated some no-huddle and empty packages recently.
After multiple seasons in which the Commanders had six different starters take turns under center (Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen, Alex Smith, Sam Howell and the late Dwayne Haskins), the organization decided to start over and draft Jayden Daniels from LSU. Daniels is accurate, intelligent and throws a good deep ball while possessing poise and vision.
Daniels also has athleticism and mobility, and Washington uses a lot of designed runs like zone reads, run-pass options, quarterback sweeps and lead draws to take advantage of his ability to make people miss in space. He’s responded with the most rushing yards ever by a rookie quarterback, and his anticipation skills and ability to throw inside the numbers have grown by leaps and bounds. Daniels will become the sixth rookie quarterback all-time to start in a conference title game, joining Shaun King, Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez and Brock Purdy.
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin is a nuanced route runner and has shown the ability to line up outside the numbers and in the slot. “Scary Terry” is also very good on contested catches and he is supplemented in the form of Dyami Brown, K.J. Osborn, Jamison Crowder, Luke McCaffrey, Olamide Zaccheaus and the injured Noah Brown. Tight end Zach Ertz has been rejuvenated in D.C. while posting his best numbers in three years.
Running back Austin Ekeler, who is a shifty ball-carrier and a threat both as a pass-catcher out of the backfield and split out at wide receiver, and the powerful Brian Robinson operate behind an offensive line that doesn’t have a lot of household names. Ex-Chief Andrew Wylie joins Brandon Coleman, Nick Allegretti, Tyer Bladasz and Sam Cosmi (currently injured).
Washington has had surprising success on this side of the ball. They ended 2024 seventh in total yards, 17th in passing, third in rushing and fifth in scoring, and have been the best third down offense in pro football since Week 13.

ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 05: Bobby Wagner #54 of the Washington Commanders lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on January 5, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
DEFENSE LEARNING A NEW SCHEME
In the past, Quinn – a former defensive coordinator in Seattle and Dallas and a head coach in Atlanta – was a strong proponent of the Cover Three scheme (deep zone coverage on the outside with a safety in the box and a deep safety patrolling centerfield) but he has had excellent results while mixing in more single-high man coverages (Cover One) in recent years. He’ll also throw in some Cover Two zone looks on third down from time to time.
The Commanders’ defensive line has two building blocks with Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen (both are currently injured), veterans Dante Fowler, Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell and rookie Jer’Zhan Newton. Washington can win at the line of scrimmage with stunts, slants and twists to create confusion for rival offensive lines.
11-time All-Pro Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu (an underrated edge rusher in the team’s dime packages) are the linebackers. Four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore, former Miami Dolphins first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene, Mike Sainristil, Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin make up Washington’s secondary.
The Commanders finished 2024 13th in total yards, third against the pass, tied for 11th in sacks and 18th in points surrendered. But they were third-last versus the run and tied for just 20th in takeaways.
Washington is appearing in the NFC title game for the first time since their last Super Bowl-winning campaign in 1991. They’re looking for their sixth George Halas Trophy overall and are in the NFC-NFL Championship Game for the 13th time dating back to 1936.
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