Two games with two very different outcomes, and now the Eagles host the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field, hoping the third meeting provides the key for entrance to Super Bowl LIX.

In a span of five weeks in the regular season, the Eagles played their NFC East rival, a Washington team that has exceeded all preseason expectations. Riding the talent and leadership and playmaking ability of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders enter Lincoln Financial Field having won two games in the NFC postseason – a thriller won on a last-play field goal in Tampa against the Buccaneers and a back-and-forth offensive explosion on Saturday at Detroit against the top-seeded Lions.

Washington is a team that has high-scoring capabilities on offense and a physical, take-the-ball-away defense. What have the Eagles learned about the Commanders in two games? Let's take a look back at the meetings and review ...

Week 11, November 14, Lincoln Financial Field

Eagles 26, Commanders 18

In this Thursday night game, the Eagles played against a banged-up Jayden Daniels, who had taken some shots to the ribs in earlier weeks and who clearly had lost some of his steam. He had, in the games since being injured (October 6 against Carolina) not been the same player. His numbers dropped. The offense struggled. Washington fell behind the Eagles in the NFC East.

It wasn't until the fourth quarter that this game was decided. Washington led, 7-3, at the half as the Eagles failed to mount consistency on offense and Jake Elliott missed a pair of field goals. The Commanders had the lead despite gaining just 124 total yards and converting 1-of-6 third-down opportunities.

Things changed in the second half, but not before Washington took the opening kickoff of the third quarter and drove 42 yards on eight plays, upping the lead to 10-3 on a Zane Gonzalez 45-yard field goal. The Eagles got it going offensively, driving 74 yards on its first possession of the second half before the drive stalled in the red zone. Elliott kicked a 31-yard field goal to make it 10-6.

Philadelphia's defense held and then the Eagles drove 76 yards late in the third quarter and into the fourth, ending with a Jalen Hurts Brotherly Shove touchdown plunge as the Eagles jumped into the lead.

The game changed on the next possession. Philadelphia's defense made the play of the game, as Washington went for it on fourth-and-2 at the Eagles 26-yard line. Daniels took the snap from center, had his movement and handle interrupted by the pressure of defensive tackle Jalen Carter, and tried to reach the first-down marker with a run around the right edge. But linebacker Zack Baun, cornerback Big Play Slay, and safety Reed Blankenship were there for the stop and the Eagles had control of the football.

Hurts and the offense, leading 12-10, used big plays to extend the lead. A catch and run from tight end Dallas Goedert gained 32 yards. And then running back Saquon Barkley bolted 23 yards for a touchdown and the Eagles extended its lead to 19-10.

Blakenship picked off Daniels on Washington's next possession and Barkley reached paydirt from 39 yards out on first down and the Eagles held a 26-10 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the game.

Washington made it close with a touchdown in the final seconds, but the Eagles had made their statement: They were in charge of the NFC East and would not relinquish that advantage.

Statistics to remember: Barkley gained 146 of the team's 228 on the ground, Hurts was 18-of-28 for 221 yards passing, and the Eagles' defense limited Daniels to 191 passing yards and 18 rushing yards on 7 attempts.

Week 16, December 22, Northwest Stadium

Commanders 36, Eagles 33

Winners of a franchise-record 10 straight games, the Eagles looked to extend that number on a cold, sunny day in Landover, Md. Things started wonderfully for the Eagles: The defense stopped Washington on downs on the first possession and the offense took over and drove 49 yards for a touchdown, a Saquon Barkley 2-yard run. On Washington's next offensive snap, from its 43-yard line, Jalen Carter punched the ball out of the grasp of running back Brian Robinson and the Eagles recovered at the Philadelphia 43.

The offense came out smoking – a completion to DeVonta Smith for 11 yards, a Jalen Hurts scramble for 22 yards, and then, after an Eagles penalty for intentional grounding, a Hurts run for 13 yards to the Washington 21-yard line, when the game changed.

Hurts took a hit on the play as he dived forward and was taken to the sidelines for evaluation. He was ruled out with a concussion shortly thereafter as Kenny Pickett came in and finished off the drive with three completions, the last of which was a 4-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown. The Eagles led, 14-0.

Pickett threw an interception the next time he was on the field and Washington turned that into seven points, but the Eagles answered with a 68-yard Barkley touchdown run up the left sideline to bring the lead to 21-7.

From there, it was a struggle.

Washington kept chipping away, chipping away. By early in the fourth quarter, the lead was down to 27-21 and the Eagles were unable to stop Daniels. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was out of the game, ejected after two personal fouls.

Still, the Eagles had the game in their grasp. A Blankenship interception with three minutes left could have sewn things up for the Eagles, who led 30-28. But Pickett's pass to Smith on third-and-5 was dropped, and the Eagles settled for an Elliott 40-yard field goal. He made it and the Eagles pushed ahead, 33-28.

Daniels, though, was too good on this day. He drove Washington 57 yards on nine plays and threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jameson Crowder as the Commanders took the lead, converted the two-point play, and took a 36-33 lead with six seconds remaining to play.

Ballgame. The Eagles turned the ball over on the kickoff as they tried to execute a series of pitch plays and Washington recovered and stormed the field celebrating the victory.

Statistics to remember: The Eagles had five takeaways and turned the ball over twice (including the last giveaway on the kickoff). Daniels was incredible – 24-of-39, 258 yards, 5 touchdowns, 81 rushing yards on 9 carries. Washington was just 3-of-16 on third down, but converted all 3 of its fourth-down attempts. Barkley ran for 150 of the team's 211 yards on the ground.