As the weekend nears, NFL experts and analysts are beginning to release their hot takes and predictions.
On Thursday, former NFL quarterback-turned-ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky revealed who he thinks should win the NFC championship game between the Eagles and the Commanders: Philadelphia. He also warned that if they lose, it would be one of the biggest upsets in recent memory.
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"This would be a colossal failure if Philly doesn't win this football game. Colossal," Orlovsky said, via X/Twitter.
"Number one, you have the most talented roster in all of football, okay? Number two, you have the historical run game that, arguably, rightfully so, you passed up on breaking an all-time NFL record for the greater good, the bigger goal," Orlovsky continued. "And you get to play this game at home, you don't have to go on the road to the one seed. And as amazing as Jaden (Daniels) has been, he's a rookie quarterback. ...
"So this will be a colossal failure to lose this game at home with the higher seed, dealing with the rookie quarterback, when you have a significantly better roster"
The Eagles running game, which is led by former Giants running back Saquon Barkley, should play a major role in Sunday's game at Lincoln Financial Field. Barkley rushed for 205 yards against the Rams in the NFC divisional round, his second-highest total in an Eagles uniform, with two touchdowns. Combined, Philadelphia pounded Los Angeles for 285 rushing yards. But the 27-year-old running back felt his team could have been even better in the NFC divisional round win.
Against Washington, Barkley and the Eagles intend to be even better.
"No, our O-line wanted 300 tonight," Barkley said, tongue-in-cheek, via NJ Advance Media. "We only got 285, so we gotta do a better job next week for those guys."