Eagles-Commanders preview: Will weather hinder NFC Championship?
Although no snow is expected to fall on Sunday, near-freezing temperatures will make its presence felt, with wind chills in the upper 20s to mid 30s.
Weekend football championship weather forecast
The Commanders will take on the Eagles and the Chiefs will host the Bills on Sunday. FOX Weather Meteorologist Ian Oliver and NFL analyst Mike Gunzelman breakdown the weather forecast.
PHILADELPHIA – The Washington Commanders will take on the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday in the NFC Championship game for the chance to play in the Super Bowl.
The game comes as freezing temperatures have swept the nation, and a historic snowstorm made the southern U.S. look more like a wintry Philly.
Before the historic southern winter storm, Philadelphia was graced with 2 inches of snow during the divisional round playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Eagles won dramatically, 28-22.
Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the fourth quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Photo by Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
Will the weather have an impact on the game?
Although no snow is expected to fall, temperatures will feel rather balmy compared to where the mercury has recently been, with temperatures reaching near average levels on Sunday.
At kickoff time, temperatures at 3 p.m. are expected to be in the low 40s, but with the winds, it will feel closer to freezing through the game.
(FOX Weather)
The teams come from the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, which are no strangers to frigid weather, so the impact on the game should be minimal. However, fans will need to bundle up to keep the cold at bay in the stands.
The Eagles and Commanders, who are divisional opponents, will face off for the third time this year. After dropping a game in Philadelphia in mid-November, the Commanders escaped with a victory and evened the season series 1-1 with a Week 16 36-33 victory in late December. Most notably, Jalen Hurts was forced to leave the game in the first quarter due to a concussion.
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 22: Jamison Crowder #80 of the Washington Commanders makes a catch for a touchdown in front of Tristin McCollum #36 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of the game at Northwest Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.
(Photo by Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
The Commanders pulled off the victory with 10 seconds remaining in the game as Jayden Daniels zipped a pass to veteran receiver Jamison Crowder for the go-ahead score. Daniels looks to have a repeat performance as he threw for 258 yards and five touchdowns on the day, along with 81 total rush yards.
This time around, the Eagles will have Hurts at the helm of the offense, which is a completely different team and game plan, as opposed to Kenny Pickett under center.
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This Sunday will mark a historic day for either team.
If the Eagles win, it will be their second Super Bowl appearance in the last three seasons. If the Commanders advance, Daniels will become the first-ever rookie quarterback in NFL history to start in the Super Bowl.