The Washington Commanders open the 2026 season with a brutal assignment: a road trip to face the Philadelphia Eagles in a divisional showdown at Lincoln Financial Field. That alone makes Week 1 a serious early test for Dan Quinn’s team, especially with the Eagles coming in as the two-time defending NFC East champions and eager to start by beating one of their most familiar rivals.
Still, one Eagles insider thinks this might actually be the right moment for Washington to catch Philadelphia.
Anthony Miller of Inside the Iggles said the outlook around the Eagles is cloudy because of all the change on offense, even while the defense remains loaded. He pointed to uncertainty around how Jalen Hurts will mesh with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion as Hurts enters another scheme change. At the same time, Miller said Philadelphia’s defense is good enough to make life miserable for the Commanders anyway.
"After an offseason of so much change on the offensive side of the ball, the expectations of the Eagles are all over the place from winning the Super Bowl to not even making the playoffs.
"Their defense is elite with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean ready to have standout seasons again. The biggest question is how Jalen Hurts will work with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion in Year 1 of a much different scheme.
"The Commanders might have some advantages with their defense against the Eagles' offense, but Philly's is elite enough to still become a massive headache for Jayden Daniels and company."
There are plenty of moving parts here. Philadelphia is adjusting on one side of the ball, while Washington is making changes on both.
The Commanders have reportedly made a positive impression this summer under Daronte Jones and David Blough, but neither has ever called plays in the NFL. That leaves both sides of the ball stepping into something new once the real games begin.
The defense may be the easier place for Washington to find early traction, especially if Hurts has to work through growing pains in Mannion’s system. But the Eagles still have a major trump card in Saquon Barkley, who has spent his career punishing the Commanders and would love to do it again.
For Washington, the key is simple: keep Barkley from controlling the game. That means winning the battle inside, closing space on the interior, and making sure the edge stays sealed. If the Commanders can do that, they can force the ball into Hurts’ hands and try to make the new scheme work against them.
Opening day usually comes with a little chaos. Preseason snaps are limited, stars barely play, and the standard is lower than it will be a few weeks from now. That gives the Commanders some room to make this interesting.
An upset in Philadelphia would be a huge early lift for Quinn’s group. And if Miller is right, the path to it runs straight through Hurts in a brand-new system.
It might swing either way, but Washington has not been written off yet.
In Other News...
Commanders Injury Report Brings Relief Before Week 1 But One Detail Matters
The first official injury report of the season gave the Commanders a noticeably healthier look than they had two weeks ago, a welcome development as Week 1 approaches. Odafe Oweh, Bill Croskey-Merritt and KLavon Chaisson were back in limited practice, while Nick Allegretti, Jordan Magee, Marcus Mariota, Charles Omenihu and Ben Sinnott were listed as full participants, a sign that the roster is moving in the right direction after an early stretch of health concerns.
Dan Quinn still had one important caveat, though, and it speaks to how early this part of the calendar remains. Everyone was out there in some form, but not everyone is working at the same intensity or for the same length of time, which means the report offers encouragement without fully answering how ready the group is for opening week. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Left Tackle Problem They Can't Ignore
The Commanders moved quickly to release D.J. Humphries shortly before their season opener, but the timing of the decision only sharpened an already uncomfortable problem up front. With Laremy Tunsil dealing with a torn triceps injury, Washington is expected to turn to third-round pick Brandon Coleman at left tackle, a spot that suddenly looks a lot less secure than it did when camp opened.
What makes the situation even more urgent is the lack of a clear answer behind Coleman. Washington has not made a corresponding roster move to replace Humphries, leaving the depth chart thin at one of the most important positions on the field. For a team trying to get through the early part of the season without its top option at left tackle, the margin for error is looking awfully small. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Still Have One Painfully Obvious Gap Heading Into Eagles Opener
The Commanders head into their 2026 opener in Philadelphia with a backfield that looks built more for sharing work than for carrying a game on its own. Washington is expected to lean on a running-back-by-committee approach, with Wild Bill, Rachaad White and rookie Kaytron Allen all in the mix as the team tries to find a rhythm before facing the defending Eagles on the road.
Even with that group in place, the position still stands out as the most obvious place for an upgrade if Washington wants more punch offensively. Saquon Barkley looms over that conversation as the kind of back who could instantly change what this offense looks like, which only sharpens the contrast between what the Commanders have now and what they may still be missing. [Read more 🡒]