Sunday marks the rubber match between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders. This one also carries added significance. It's just the second time in the last 11 NFC Championship Games that two division opponents have squared off with a chance at earning a Super Bowl berth. It's also the first time these longtime rivals have squared off in this round of the NFL Playoffs.
The teams split the season series with both teams winning at home. Philly won on Thursday Night Football. Washington defeated an Eagles team that lost quarterback Jalen Hurts to a concussion early.
How's this for an update? Reports have surfaced this morning that Commanders fans have gone the route of being disrespectful.
You wouldn't believe this, but Commanders fans have defaced the Rocky Statue
It appears Washington fans have taken it upon themselves to 'decorate' the Rocky Balboa statue. They had the audacity to deface one of the City of Brotherly Love's historic symbols.
A scarf sporting Commanders colors along with a blanket with the team's former name was wrapped around the statue. Other team-themed gear was placed at the base of the statue as well, but a twist developed shortly after this story was published.
Did a Green Bay Packers fan frame the Commanders fans?
Oh man… looks like some #Commanders fans decorated the Rocky Statue.
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) January 24, 2025
This hasn’t ended well in the past for previous fans that have done this. pic.twitter.com/yJ8OabuThB
Apparently the guy who put up the Redskins/Commanders gear on the Rocky statue in Philadelphia is a Packers fan pic.twitter.com/YX6g0praXl
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) January 24, 2025
Regardless of who the culprit was, this isn't the first time that an opposing team has decorated the statue or done something this disrespectful ahead of an NFC Championship Game matchup. Minnesota Vikings fans once did a 'Skol' chant in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. San Francisco 49ers fans hung a team shirt on the statue before the NFC Championship Game in January 2023.
Things didn't end well for either fan base.
Niners fans are out here messing with the Rocky statue 👀
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 27, 2023
(via @DiBirdsBlog) pic.twitter.com/WjgDWHBaoG
Philadelphia rolled over the Vikings AND 49ers by 38-7 and 31-7 final scores respectively en route to two Super Bowl appearances. This is a good sign for the Birds leading into Sunday's matchup if you're into this kind of thing.
But, if a Packers fan is the culprit, that won't change much in terms of motivation.
Philadelphia fans are already ultra-passionate. This should spark them even more as comments from Los Angeles Rams rookie Jared Verse did last week.
These two proud franchises will square off at 3:00 on Sunday. The winner punches their ticket to Super Bowl LIX and has an opportunity to go tackle the Kansas City Chiefs or Buffalo Bills.