Eagles-Commanders Game Preview: 5 Players To Watch For in Week 18
The Philadelphia Eagles will look to earn their fourth consecutive win as they’ll host the Washington Commanders on Sunday. Yet the Eagles will have to do so without their starters, as Nick Sirianni announced his intentions of resting Philadelphia’s best players ahead of the postseason.
While the Eagles are resting their starters and the Commanders are down several key players, there is still plenty to watch for during the regular season finale. Many players will be competing to showcase their talents after being forced to fill a lesser role this season.
Here are five players to watch for, Underdog plays and final score predictions for Week 18.
Five Players To Watch For
Tanner McKee
Eagles third-year quarterback Tanner McKee will likely be the star of the show in Week 18. The 25-year-old has consistently played at a high level whenever called upon in Philadelphia. Yet there is still plenty of intrigue surrounding McKee due to him throwing just 48 total passes during the regular season in his NFL career.
McKee has completed all three of his pass attempts this season for 33 yards and three first downs. But he put on an absolute show during Philadelphia’s first preseason game, the only one that McKee appeared in this year. He completed 20-of-25 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Now McKee will get a chance to showcase his talent in Week 18 once again, just as he did last season against the New York Giants. If he continues to play at a high level, it’s fair to wonder if McKee will become a hot commodity on the trade market for quarterback-needy teams in the offseason.
Darius Cooper
One of the biggest beneficiaries of McKee’s strong performance in this year’s preseason opener was Eagles undrafted rookie wide receiver Darius Cooper. While Cooper has carved out a small role in Philadelphia’s offense, he’ll likely have a chance to play throughout the entire game in Week 18.
Cooper has hauled in six receptions for 59 yards and three first downs during his rookie season. With current starting wide receiver Jahan Dotson set to become a free agent in the offseason, Cooper could prove to Philadelphia’s coaching staff that he’s worthy of a bigger role in 2026 with a strong showing on Sunday.
Cameron Williams
The Eagles selected offensive tackle Cameron Williams in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. While Williams made Philadelphia’s initial 53-man roster, he was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury after Week 1. He has yet to register a snap during the regular season in the NFL.
Yet that will unexpectedly change on Sunday as the Eagles activated Williams ahead of their regular season finale. Now the 22-year-old will have a chance to showcase how he’s grown throughout his first season in Philadelphia. With Fred Johnson set to become a free agent, Williams can earn a backup role in 2026 if he plays well against the Commanders.
Ty Robinson
Many people, including myself, may have placed unreasonable expectations on rookie Ty Robinson ahead of his first NFL season. Philadelphia’s fourth-round pick has played just 53 total defensive snaps during his rookie season, yet he could eclipse that total in the regular season finale.
Robinson was labeled as an NFL-ready player that could contribute immediately. Yet he has been lost in the shuffle of Philadelphia’s absurdly talented defensive line room. But he’ll finally have a chance to play a bigger role against the Commanders in Week 18.
Jakorian Bennett
When the Eagles traded for cornerback Jakorian Bennett in early August, many expected him to compete for a starting job. Yet Bennett couldn’t catch up to Adoree’ Jackson and has seemingly been unable to learn Vic Fangio’s defense fast enough to carve out a bigger role in Philadelphia.
But with Jackson set to be a free agent in the offseason and Kelee Ringo failing to impress, Bennett could have a massive opportunity to showcase his growth in Week 18. If Bennett plays well against the Commanders, it could help his case to potentially start in 2026.
Underdog Pick’em Plays for Week 18
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Here are our Underdog pick’em plays for Week 18.
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Final Score Predictions
Josh’s Pick: Eagles 21, Commanders 17
While the Commanders played better against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day, it wasn’t enough for Washington to get a win. Now they have even less motivation to win and will face Philadelphia’s backups that are eager to prove their worth at the next level. The Eagles will do just enough to win and close out the regular season with a fourth straight win.
Anthony’s Pick: Eagles 24, Commanders 17
Despite many questioning Nick Sirianni‘s decision to rest Philadelphia’s starters, the Eagles still have more than enough talent to defeat the Josh Johnson-led Commanders. I expect Tanner McKee to continue to look like a starting caliber NFL quarterback and the Eagles will win rather convincingly in Week 18.