Commanders risk infamous curse after fans defaced iconic Philadelphia landmark before Eagles game

Philadelphia’s famous ‘Rocky’ statue has been defaced ahead of the Eagles-Commanders game – with Washington now at risk for an infamous playoff curse.

Ahead of the NFC Championship Game, someone draped Washington gear over the famous landmark, with a scarf resting on the structure’s neck, a towel covering its waist and legs and a jersey and jacket placed below it.

The fan even left a cardboard sign reading ‘Yo Adrian HTTC [Hail to the Commanders].

However, fans are convinced that the culprit was not actually a Commanders fan.

Some pointed out that the fan used memorabilia from when the team was still named the ‘Redskins’ (which was retired in 2020).

Barstool’s PFT Commenter, a notable Commanders fan, also called the stunt a ‘false flag.’ NBC Sports fantasy football analyst and longtime Washington fan Matthew Berry agreed.

Evidence later emerged on social media suggesting that the fan responsible was actually a Packers fan.

Green Bay was eliminated by the Eagles in the wild card round of this postseason.

And one fan, according to an apparent X screenshot, glee fully posted a picture of the Commanders display to his Facebook account.

‘Even Rocky can’t resist hopping on the Washington bandwagon,’ they wrote.

In the same X post, a picture of the same fan wearing a Packers jersey with his family was included.

However, others weren’t convinced that the post proved anything, beyond the fact that the fan documented the Commanders display. 

Nonetheless, things have not gone well in the past for Eagles opponents after the  Rocky statue was messed with.

Prior to the NFC Championship Game in 2018, the statue was decorated with purple and yellow gear for the Vikings. Minnesota lost the game 38-7. 

The Patriots suffered a similar fate just a couple of weeks later after a Tom Brady jersey had been placed on the statue. They lost Super Bowl LII to Philly 41-33.

Five years later prior to the divisional round, the statue was decorated with a Kayvon Thibodeaux jersey – and the Giants were walloped 38-7.

And the 49ers lost the subsequent NFC Championship Game 31-7 after San Francisco gear was spotted on Rocky prior to that contest.

Regardless of the apparent curse, Philly is comfortably favored this weekend.

According to FanDuel, the Commanders are 6.5-point underdogs.

The game kicks off at 3pmET on Sunday.