Follow closely the NFC Championship Odds, thats because between Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XXXI, the NFC won all but one of those 16 Super Bowls, with the lone exception coming in Super Bowl XVIII when the then-Los Angeles Raiders rolled the Washington then-Redskins, 38-9.
Aside from the NFC’s dominance, the AFC prevailed earlier with the Dolphins and Steelers, and later through the Broncos, Patriots, and Chiefs, showcasing its strength across different eras.
While quarterbacks have always been one of the top choices for any roster, the NFL has moved in more recent years to a pass-friendly game. The rules have been adjusted to make it harder for defenders to stop the passing game.
So players like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady found it easier to set up shop in the pocket and find receivers down the field.
The emergence of mobile quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson fuels the growth of dual-threat quarterbacks, with talents like Bo Nix and C.J. Stroud.
In this year’s NFL playoff bracket, the NFC Championship will come down to the Philadelphia Eagles or the Washington Commanders as the two sides meet Sunday for a berth in Super Bowl LIX.
Let’s take a look at the NFC side of the postseason bracket as you plan your sports betting for the next couple of weeks.
NFC Championship Odds: Who’s the favorite to Win the Super Bowl LIX?
- Philadelphia Eagles +154
- Kansas City Chiefs +179
- Buffalo Bills +212
- Washington Commanders +680
Betting Implications of an NFC Win
NFL Futures Winning Conference: AFC -133 / NFC +104
The Frankford Yellow Jackets and Boston Braves relocated to Washington in 1937, evolving into the Philadelphia Eagles and Redskins, respectively; they have faced each other 182 times since October 21, 1934.
It has been a very close rivalry, with Washington winning 90 times, Philadelphia winning 86 times, and six games ending in ties.
They have only met once before in the playoffs, though, a 1990 wild-card game that Washington won. As divisional rivals, these teams have met twice a year for just about as long as the NFL has held its current format, so they know each other well.
Whichever team emerges from this game to play in Super Bowl LVIII will be the underdog, though.
If Jayden Daniels excels, the Commanders could emerge as a thrilling contender, but may falter under Super Bowl pressure against the playoff experience of Buffalo or Kansas City.
If Jalen Hurts can lead his team to a gritty win, then the Eagles will enter as underdogs, likely because of the injuries plaguing the Eagles.
^NFC Championship Odds: Which NFC Team Will Win?
Washington Commanders
Washington will win because the Commanders excel in passing, while the Eagles rank 29th in passing yardage. Though Saquon Barkley lightens Jalen Hurts’ burden, Washington’s third-ranked pass defense aims to stifle Barkley, forcing Hurts to rely on his aerial game while playing from a disadvantageous position.
Wednesday injury report#WASvsPHI | #RaiseHail
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 22, 2025
Dan Quinn
Washington is exhibiting a carefree style of football under new head coach Quinn, who remains composed unlike his previous tenure with the Falcons. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, a Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, demonstrates poise, avoiding typical struggles faced by past winners in the pros. The team’s relaxed and confident demeanor reflects an attitude of playing freely, truly embracing the feeling of having nothing to lose.
Jayden Daniels
Washington triumphed over Philadelphia in their second 2024 regular-season clash, led by Daniels who orchestrated a remarkable comeback as the Eagles offense faltered. With Hurts sidelined due to injury, his backup Kenny Pickett played through a painful rib issue. This allowed Washington’s defense to crowd the box, forcing the Eagles to struggle with deep plays, resulting in repeated punts.
Washington capitalized on the tired Philadelphia defense while showcasing their offense against Detroit, slicing through their injury-plagued unit effortlessly. The performances at Ford Field signal potential challenges ahead for defensive coordinators in Philadelphia, Buffalo, and Kansas City.
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia will win because… their defense makes opposing quarterbacks miserable. In their first two playoff games this season, they posted seven sacks. They also take the ball away frequently; they were sixth in the regular season in turnover differential and total turnovers. It’s true that Daniels has only taken one sack in two playoff games and has a three-game turnover-free streak. However, the Eagles have the personnel and the system to throw new wrinkles at Daniels.
Jalen Hurts
Hurts will have had a week to recover from the damage his knee took in the win over Los Angeles in the snow. He didn’t leave the game, but he was a lot less mobile. He took a safety that he wouldn’t have taken if he were 100%, and the Eagles’ play-calling was much more conservative with respect for his injury. That meant taking out the “Tush Push” near the goal line. Hurts stepped up with a huge completion to A.J. Brown on fourth-and-4, and Saquon Barkley was able to bang the ball into the end zone instead.
Wednesday's Injury Report#WASvsPHI pic.twitter.com/byaQLSWIFF
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 22, 2025
Jalen Carter
Carter showed that he can be a wrecking ball on defense. Against the Rams, he had a huge sack in the first half and then belted Kyren Williams in the fourth quarter, forcing a huge fumble. On his last two snaps, he sacked Matthew Stafford and then pressured him again on fourth down to hurry the incompletion. Carter needs to be ready to lead a big effort by the front seven again this week to keep Washington from running wild once again.
^NFC Championship Odds provided by Xbet
NFC Championship Odds: Best Wins for NFC Teams
Super Bowl XLII: N.Y. Giants 17, New England Patriots 14
This was going to be the year when the Patriots ended the run of the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only perfect team in NFL history, but that all went for naught as Eli Manning led the Giants down the field for a late touchdown. On the way to that score, David Tyree made the famed “helmet” catch, trapping a heave from Manning against his helmet as he landed on the ground – the last catch that Tyree would make as a pro football player. This is one of two Super Bowl wins that would cement Manning’s place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
^N.Y. Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19: Super Bowl XXV
This was the “Scott Norwood” game – the “Wide Right” game. Buffalo would lose four straight Super Bowls, starting with this one, when they had a makeable field goal attempt to win the game, but Norwood pushed the kick to the right. The Giants played a unique defense, using two down linemen and five linebackers to keep the Bills’ offense from doing what they wanted. The Bills had quarterback Jim Kelly and tailback Thurman Thomas dominating defenses, but the Giants figured out how to tame the Buffalo attack, and then they got the luck of a missed field goal try.
^Super Bowl XXIII: San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16
The Bill Walsh-coached San Francisco 49ers were one of the great dynasties of the NFL, with not one but two elite quarterbacks – Joe Montana and Steve Young. When the 49ers and the Bengals met for the second time, Montana made some elite plays, but what may have made the key difference was the injury to Cincinnati nose tackle Tim Krumrie. Once he broke his leg, the 49ers had room to run, and that opened the door for enough long drives to keep the ball out of the Bengals’ hands. John Taylor caught the game-winning touchdown pass in one of the great back-and-forth Super Bowls.
^Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33: Super Bowl LII
This was definitely one of the most exciting Super Bowls of all time. The defense basically took a back seat for both teams, except for Brandon Graham’s highlight-reel strip-sack. The Eagles won their first title since 1960, when they beat Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers at Franklin Field in a game that was shockingly blacked out in Philadelphia because it didn’t even sell out. This game was the end of Nick Foles’ Cinderella season, when he rose up from backup quarterback to Super Bowl MVP, partly on the back of his catch on the Philly Special touchdown that the Patriots tried to copy, only to have Tom Brady flailing at a ball out of his reach.
^Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16
The Rams looked like they were running away with this game, but then Tennessee roared back from a 16-point deficit. Steve McNair was a monster in the fourth quarter, rolling out on play after play and just refusing to let opportunities die. The image of Kevin Dyson extending the ball out on the last play of the game, tackled just a few feet short of the touchdown that would have tied the game, is one of the iconic images in the history of this game.
^New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts 17: Super Bowl XLIV
The game ended with a 14-point margin, but that doesn’t tell the story of how close this game was. Sean Payton rolled the dice with an onside kick to open the second half that could easily have backfired, but it helped give the Saints momentum. Tracy Porter had a late interception when he jumped the route on a pass aimed at Reggie Wayne, and all of a sudden, the Crescent City had its first world championship.
^Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 25
This may be the only Super Bowl hosted by the Dallas Cowboys for the foreseeable future, as AT&T Stadium is unlikely to be replaced. The game’s poor execution led to lawsuits due to temporary seats that failed inspection. An ice storm crippled travel in the city and caused a fatal accident at the stadium. However, on the field, Aaron Rodgers delivered a standout performance, while Clay Matthews’ pivotal hit on Rashard Mendenhall helped secure the game-winning score.
^Who will be crowned NFC and AFC Champions? 🏆🤩 pic.twitter.com/lkkIdQURWP
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 21, 2025
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