Eagles' 2026 Opponents Set: A Gauntlet Awaits in One of NFL’s Toughest Schedules
The Eagles earned their NFC East crown in 2025 - and now they’ll pay the price in 2026.
With their first-place finish comes a first-place schedule, and Philadelphia is staring down one of the most demanding slates in the league next season. While the official schedule with dates and times won’t be released until spring, the opponents are locked in. And from top to bottom, it’s a who’s who of playoff-caliber teams, rising contenders, and familiar division rivals.
Let’s break it down.
Home Games: Lincoln Financial Field Won’t Get Many Breathable Sundays
Divisional Matchups:
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Washington Commanders
As always, the NFC East battles will be fierce. Dallas and New York are both expected to take steps forward, and Washington has shown flashes of potential despite an up-and-down 2025. These are never easy wins, regardless of the records.
NFC West & AFC South Opponents at Home:
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
This is where things start to heat up. The Rams are coming off a 12-5 season and are one win away from the Super Bowl. Sean McVay’s group is no stranger to postseason football, and the Eagles have had to claw out wins in their last three meetings - including a dramatic walk-off win on a blocked field goal return.
Then there’s Seattle. The Seahawks are arguably the most complete team in football right now, riding a 14-3 regular season and a No. 1 seed into the NFC Championship Game. Sam Darnold has found new life under Mike MacDonald, and this team’s balance on both sides of the ball is no joke.
Houston brings the league’s top-ranked defense to Philly, led by former Eagle and now head coach DeMeco Ryans. The Texans have made the Divisional Round three years running, and they’re not just a defensive team - they’ve got the kind of balance that makes them a real threat.
The Colts are a bit more of a wild card. They’re trending upward, and by the time this game rolls around, they could be a sleeper team that no one wants to face.
First-Place Finishers:
- Carolina Panthers
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Carolina returns to the postseason for the first time since 2017, winning the NFC South with an 8-9 record. That’s not a typo - and it tells you just how wide open that division was. Still, the Panthers nearly knocked off the Rams in the Wild Card Round, and they’ll be looking to prove their playoff run wasn’t a fluke.
Then there’s Pittsburgh. The Steelers won the AFC North at 10-7 but enter 2026 with a major shift - a new head coach for the first time in nearly two decades.
With Mike Tomlin stepping down, the Steelers are entering a new era. Whether that’s a reload or a rebuild remains to be seen, but you can bet this team won’t roll over.
Road Games: No Easy Outs Away from the Linc
Divisional Matchups (Again):
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
- Washington Commanders
The road versions of these games are always tough. Dallas and New York, in particular, have been thorns in the Eagles’ side in recent years, and both will be hungry to knock off the division champs.
NFC West & AFC South Road Games:
- San Francisco 49ers
- Arizona Cardinals
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
The Eagles will travel west for a rematch with the 49ers - the same team that ended their playoff run. San Francisco, despite a banged-up roster, finished 12-5 and was one of the grittiest teams in the league. This one will be circled in red on the Eagles’ calendar.
Jacksonville, under first-year head coach Liam Coen, had a breakout 13-win season - their best since 1999. Trevor Lawrence looked like a franchise QB again, throwing a career-high 29 touchdowns.
This is not the same Jaguars team of old. They’re dangerous, especially at home.
The Titans and Cardinals are question marks - teams in transition - but no road game in the NFL is a gimme, especially not with the kind of physicality both teams bring when they’re at their best.
First-Place Finisher:
- Chicago Bears
This one might be personal. The Eagles dropped a 24-15 game to Chicago on Black Friday, and now they’ll head back to Soldier Field to face a Bears team that just won the NFC North and made it to the Divisional Round.
Under head coach Ben Johnson, Chicago went 11-6 and looks like a team on the rise. Expect this to be a nationally televised showdown - and expect the Eagles to come in with something to prove.
The Bottom Line: A Heavyweight Schedule for a Heavyweight Team
Eight of the Eagles’ 2026 opponents made the playoffs last season - including both NFC Championship contenders (Rams and Seahawks), two division winners from the AFC (Texans and Jaguars), and three other first-place finishers (Panthers, Steelers, Bears). That’s a murderers’ row of competition.
Add in the always-physical NFC East battles and long road trips to places like San Francisco, Jacksonville, and Chicago, and you’ve got a schedule that’ll test every inch of this roster.
Nick Sirianni’s squad went 11-6 in 2025, resting several starters in a Week 18 loss to Washington. But 2026 will demand even more - more consistency, more health, and more big-time performances in big-time games.
There are no soft spots here. Just a long, winding road through some of the NFL’s most talented and battle-tested teams.
Buckle up, Philly. The road to another NFC East title - and beyond - is going to be a grind.