The Eagles couldn’t ask for a better way to open the season: a home game against a division rival, with a chance to put last season behind them in Week 1, in front of the best fans in the NFL.
While Washington has plenty of talent, particularly if Jayden Daniels plays to the level he did in 2024, this is a game Philadelphia should expect to win.
The Eagles’ pass rush against Daniels will be crucial to their success. Daniels can turn a broken play into a 30-yard gain in a heartbeat, and if there is a defense prepared for this type of mobile QB who creates plays out of structure, it is the Eagles.
Philadelphia’s front has to keep him in the pocket and make him beat them from there. If the Eagles can consistently pressure him without losing contain, they should control this game.
This is where Philadelphia and new OC Sean Mannion should be able to impose their will. Washington has some questions up front, and the Eagles will be motivated to showcase their new outside-zone run scheme. They have a healthy two-headed monster at RB with Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby, and if they win in the trenches, they win the game.
The obvious player they need to contain is Daniels, but the Eagles can’t lose sight of the receivers around him. Washington has added Stefon Diggs to a group that already includes Terry McLaurin, who has proven difficult to cover for the Birds on some occasions. Philadelphia’s secondary seems to be a strength of the team heading into the new year, but Riq Woolen is new to the backfield, and he and the other corners and safeties will have to communicate well to be successful. This is a good challenge for them to see where they are as a unit.
Jalen Carter is fresh off a new deal, and this just feels like one of those games where Carter can completely change what Washington wants to do offensively. He would love to start off 2026 in the right direction, and if he wins his matchup inside, Daniels is going to have a much harder afternoon. Carter is a game-wrecker and is out to show he can consistently bring interior pressure week in, week out.
Jalen Hurts and the new-look offense is what everyone has waited all offseason to see. How quickly does Philadelphia look comfortable?
The Eagles’ secondary. Can they handle McLaurin and Diggs without giving up the explosive plays, and do they communicate well? The first quarter could tell you a lot. The Eagles offense doesn’t need to blow Washington out, but getting off to a fast start would settle a lot of questions and bring immediate confidence to a unit that fizzled out late in the season.
One. That’s the number that matters most in Week 1 — going 1 and 0.
Nobody will remember how pretty a win in September looked; they just need to win. The Eagles need to get the division win in front of a home crowd that has been itching to cheer for something since the wild card loss in January.
Washington is good enough to make this interesting, particularly if Daniels gets outside the pocket. The Eagles have more talent, they’re at home, and this is a game they should control if they play to their strengths.
Eagles 31, Commanders 20.
I think the Philadelphia offense comes out aggressive, and the Fangio-led defense makes Daniels work for everything. The Eagles pull away in the second half by taking advantage of a Commanders defense that was beaten down by the run all evening, and by abusing an offensive line that has too many chinks in its armor to compete for four quarters.
