Eagles-Commanders Game Preview: Who Will Win in Week 1?
The Philadelphia Eagles will host the Washington Commanders for the team’s home opener at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday in Week 1. It’s a fitting way to kickoff the regular season as both teams are looking to bounce back following disappointing performances last season.
Some expect the Eagles to make another Super Bowl run, yet there are still questions surrounding Philadelphia’s roster and coaching staff. Meanwhile, the Commanders are out to prove that the team’s NFC Championship game run in 2024 wasn’t a fluke despite last season’s showing.
Here’s my game preview for the Week 1 matchup between the Eagles and the Commanders.
Three Storylines To Follow
What Will Sean Mannion’s Offense Look Like?
Following last season’s letdown, the Eagles made a massive change to the coaching staff by handing the keys to the offense to first-year offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. While we’ve seen small glimpses into what Philadelphia’s offense will look like in 2026, the team’s starters didn’t play during the preseason. Now I’m ready to get a closer look at every aspect of Mannion’s offensive scheme.
We’ve heard about how the Eagles are going to use more under center looks but how often will they actually do so? What type of personnel groupings will Mannion lean on? How much motion and insert action will the Eagles use before the snap? Will the offense mix up the tempo and handle the play clock better after last season’s embarrassing showing?
Those are all questions that we will finally get the answers to on Sunday. After hearing and seeing how excited Philadelphia’s top players are about the new offense, we’ll finally get a chance to see it with our own eyes in Week 1. While there are certainly going to be growing pains for Mannion along the way, I’m excited to see everything that the 34-year-old is going to bring to Philadelphia’s offense in 2026.
Is Landon Dickerson Actually Healthy?
One of the biggest issues for Philadelphia’s offense last season was the health of the offensive line. It was clear that Eagles left guard Landon Dickerson and center Cam Jurgens weren’t healthy in 2025. Both players underwent stem-cell treatment in Colombia this summer and while Jurgens seems to be healthy, the same can’t be said for Dickerson.
In 2025, Dickerson allowed five sacks and 33 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. It was a concerning showing yet many excused Dickerson’s performance since he was clearly banged up. Fast forward to 2026 and Dickerson still doesn’t seem like his old self. According to multiple reports, Dickerson struggled during training camp and seemed to be moving slowly both on and off the practice field.
There are some that believe Dickerson is managing his health and not overexerting himself during practice. As a veteran player, Dickerson understands the journey that each season presents and he could simply be saving himself for the regular season. Yet we’re going to quickly find out how healthy the 27-year-old is in Week 1. Washington’s defense is expected to utilize exotic pressures and the Eagles can’t afford for Dickerson to be a shell of himself.
Can Jalyx Hunt Live up to the Hype?
When the Eagles selected former Houston Christian edge rusher Jalyx Hunt in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, many viewed him as a project player that was several years away from becoming a contributor. Yet all Hunt has done since arriving at the next level is surpass everyone’s expectations—or lack thereof. But that won’t be the case this season, as many expect Hunt to be a key player on Philadelphia’s defense.
Despite the acquisition of Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, Hunt is still expected to make another leap in 2026. After leading the Eagles in both sacks and interceptions last season, Hunt has finally caught the eye of many around the league. While the 25-year-old edge rusher was able to fly under the radar in his first two seasons, Hunt won’t be sneaking up on anyone moving forward. It’s going to be interesting to see how Hunt handles the newfound attention and lofty expectations that this season will bring.
Two Underrated Players To Watch For
Johnny Mundt, TE, PHI
Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert wasn’t the only veteran in his position room that sat out during the preseason. Goedert was joined by veteran tight end Johnny Mundt, who was reunited with Mannion this offseason in Philadelphia. While the two worked together as players with the Minnesota Vikings, Mundt is now expected to play a key role as TE2 in Mannion’s offensive scheme. Mundt is regarded as a strong blocking tight end with limited upside as a pass catcher.
Yet if the Eagles are going to keep defenses honest, they’ll have to target Mundt at times. Washington is expected to use a 3-4 defensive front that’ll dial up a ton of exotic pressures in 2026. Therefore, I could see the Eagles relying heavily on 12-personnel in Week 1 with Mundt playing a key role. If Mundt can hold up as a blocker, while also hauling in a catch or two, it could make Philadelphia’s 12-personnel look diverse enough to keep Washington’s defense on their toes on Sunday.
Amik Robertson, CB, WAS
Prior to Philadelphia’s matchup with the Detroit Lions last season, many pointed at the Motor City’s banged up secondary as a major weakness. Yet the Eagles struggled to get anything going in the passing game, as Jalen Hurts completed just 50% of his passes for 135 passing yards and no touchdowns. One of the players that stepped up in Detroit’s secondary in that game was veteran cornerback Amik Robertson. Fast forward to 2026 and Robertson signed a two-year deal with the Commanders and will start in Week 1.
Robertson limited Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith to zero receptions on three targets, including one pass breakup in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. Now Robertson and Smith will likely be matched up several times in Week 1. While it’s clearly a different offense and defense for both teams this time around, I’ll certainly be watching Robertson closely after he gave Philadelphia’s passing offense a few issues last season.
One Key Matchup To Monitor
Zack Baun vs. Jayden Daniels
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is one of, if not, the best defensive minds in the NFL. Yet last season, Philadelphia’s defense seemingly struggled to defend quarterbacks on the run. Fangio’s defense allowed four different quarterbacks to run for 40 or more rushing yards last season. It was frustrating to watch the Eagles try to corral New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart in Week 6 and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in Week 14.
Now the Eagles will open the regular season against one of the most dynamic, dual-threat players in the NFL in Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. My guess is that the Eagles and Fangio will rely heavily on All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun to keep Daniels in check on the ground. Baun’s communication before the snap and athleticism after the snap will be key to limiting Daniels’ production as a runner. While it’ll ultimately take the entire defense to keep Daniels in the pocket, Baun will play a huge part in doing so.
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Final Score Predictions
Anthony’s Pick: Eagles 24, Commanders 20
Since Nick Sirianni became Philadelphia’s head coach in 2021, the Eagles are undefeated in Week 1. Yet in each of the last four seasons, Philadelphia has never won by more than five points in the regular season opener. Add in the fact that divisional games are always a bit odd and I think that this matchup could be closer than many expect. The Eagles will do enough to win but it may not be the prettiest victory.
Josh’s Pick: Eagles 23, Commanders 17
Finally! We get to see the long-awaited Sean Mannion offense. And while there will likely be bumps in the road, I expect the running the game to get caught up to speed quickly and lead the way for this offense. Yes, Week 1 is weird and divisional openers can be even weirder. But I’m riding with Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni’s undefeated record in first week games to get the job done.