The first Eagles game of 2026 is almost here, and the betting market is already leaning hard toward Philadelphia.
The Eagles are 5.5-point home favorites over the Washington Commanders in Week 1. That’s a number that tells you plenty: this isn’t being framed as a toss-up, even with a division matchup on deck.
In a typical game between evenly matched teams, the home side is usually laying around three points. So this line says the Eagles are seen as the better team, even if the gap isn’t massive. The only real surprise is that the spread isn’t larger.
Part of that has to do with the situation on both sidelines. Philadelphia comes into the opener mostly healthy, while Washington is dealing with some real holes.
The biggest one is up front, where the Commanders are without starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil. That puts even more pressure on Washington to hold up against an Eagles front seven that should be looking to control the line of scrimmage.
The Commanders will also be missing starting cornerback Trey Amos, which leaves their secondary in a shakier spot than they’d like for a road opener.
Of course, there are still paths for Washington to hang around. Jayden Daniels could carry the offense the way he did in 2024.
The Commanders’ two new coordinators might give them a boost. And Philadelphia’s offense does look like a work in progress, so a slow start wouldn’t be shocking.
Still, this feels like a spot where the Eagles have the edge. It may not be a runaway, but the case for Philadelphia is strong enough to lean their way, with the points included.
In Other News...
Eagles Quietly Fixed A Week 1 Problem Fans Remember Too Well
After a season in which tight end blocking was too often a lingering issue, the Eagles have made a quiet but pointed addition in Johnny Mundt, a veteran known more for the work he does without the ball than with it. Philadelphia brought him in to help stabilize the edge of the formation, where tight ends can have just as much responsibility in protection and the run game as they do as pass targets, especially on the right side of the line.
Mundt joins a tight end room that still has Dallas Goedert as the biggest receiving threat, along with E.J. Jenkins and rookie Eli Stowers, giving the Eagles a blend of roles as they get ready for Washington in Week 1. The move does not change the identity of the group, but it does suggest the staff is serious about cleaning up a part of the offense fans noticed last year, even if the bigger questions around usage and matchups are still waiting to be answered. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Camp Battle Fans Should Feel Better About
The Eagles have spent camp shoring up the interior of their offensive line, and the early returns are enough to make the competition feel more like an encouraging sign than a problem. Howie Roseman has been vocal about his confidence in the growth of Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin and Micah Morris, a trio that has given the staff reasons to believe the depth along the front is moving in the right direction.
Drew Kendall and Willie Lampkin have been the most visible parts of that battle, each showing enough at guard to make a real case for playing time. Both have also contributed heavily in preseason action, and offensive line coach Chris Kuper has pointed to their progress and consistency throughout camp, which is exactly the kind of development the Eagles want to see before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Home Opener Could Mean More Than Fans Realize
The Eagles are getting set for their Week 1 home opener against the Washington Commanders, and the usual buzz around the start of a new season carries a quieter layer of significance. For Philadelphia, this one could double as a look at two familiar faces who have been part of some of the franchises biggest moments: veteran tight end Dallas Goedert and right tackle Lane Johnson.
Goedert is playing on a one-year deal, with Eli Stowers waiting in the wings as a possible successor, while Johnson is viewed as someone who may be nearing the finish line of his career. Both have been central figures for the Eagles and have helped deliver two Super Bowl rings, which makes the possibility of this being their last home opener at Lincoln Financial Field feel like more than just another early-September game. [Read more 🡒]