The Commanders open 2026 with a familiar test, heading up I-95 on Sunday to face the Eagles in Philadelphia. It’s a Week 1 matchup loaded with recent history, and both teams arrive with very different storylines: the Eagles are coming off their second straight NFC East title, while Washington is trying to bounce back from a 5-12 season that followed its surprising trip to the NFC Championship Game.
Philadelphia became the first NFC East team in more than 20 years to win back-to-back division crowns last season. That run ended in the NFC Wild Card round, where the Eagles lost 23-19 to the San Francisco 49ers.
For Washington, the trip to Philly also brings back plenty of past results. The Commanders and Eagles have opened the season there five times before, with Washington going 3-2 in those road openers.
The last one came in 2019, when Philadelphia won 32-27. That game marked Terry McLaurin’s NFL debut, and he immediately made his presence felt with five catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Case Keenum also missed him on what would have been another scoring play.
This will be the 12th Week 1 meeting between the two teams, and Washington holds a 6-5 edge in those games. The most recent one came in 2020, when the Commanders won 27-17.
Dwayne Haskins started that day and went 17 of 31 for 178 yards and a touchdown, while Peyton Barber scored twice on the ground. McLaurin again led the way with five receptions for 61 yards.
The rivalry has been almost perfectly even in Philadelphia over the years. The teams have played 90 times in the city, and each side has 44 wins, with two ties.
Their latest meeting came in Week 18 in January, when Washington beat Philadelphia 24-17. Josh Johnson was under center for the Commanders in that game, while the Eagles rested their starters and Washington was missing a good portion of its original lineup because of injured reserve.
One major change for Philadelphia: A.J. Brown is gone.
The Eagles traded away the star receiver this offseason, and that removes a huge problem for Washington. Brown had been a constant headache for Commanders cornerbacks, putting up 45 catches for 654 yards and six touchdowns in seven career games against them.
With Brown out, DeVonta Smith moves into the No. 1 role, and he has also had success against Washington.
The quarterback matchup adds another layer. Jayden Daniels did not play in either of last season’s meetings, but he faced the Eagles three times in 2024, including the NFC Championship Game.
In two regular-season games against Philadelphia, Daniels completed 46 of 71 passes, a 65% clip, for 449 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. He also ran for 81 yards in the second meeting, when he threw a career-high five touchdown passes and helped Washington rally for a big comeback win.
Daniels played well again in the NFC Championship Game, but fumbles by Austin Ekeler and Dyami Brown helped the game get away from the Commanders.
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Commanders May Be Nearing The End With One Of Their Steadiest Veterans
Tress Way has been one of the most familiar and steady faces in Washington since taking over punting duties in 2014, and the veteran specialist is now openly acknowledging the finish line may be coming into view. Way told reporters the 2026 season could be his last, and he has already let general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn know he is strongly considering retirement.
For a player who has earned three Pro Bowl selections and was recently voted a team captain for the fifth time, the possibility carries real weight inside a locker room that has long leaned on his consistency and professionalism. Way has been part of so much of the franchises recent history that his decision will resonate well beyond special teams, even if the final call is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Depth Chart Just Settled A Few Camp Battles Early
The first depth chart of the 2026 season gave the Commanders an early snapshot of where a few camp competitions stand after the opening stretch of work. Treylon Burks showed up as the third receiver ahead of rookie Antonio Williams, while undrafted rookie Tanoa Togiai landed backup spots at both guard positions, giving Washington a clearer picture of how the early roster puzzle is taking shape on offense.
On the other side of the ball, the back end of the defense stayed mostly familiar, with the top cornerbacks and safeties holding their places. Special teams brought one of the more notable developments, too, as Stevens emerged as the new kicker after beating out Jake Moody, another sign that the roster is starting to sort itself out even if a few jobs still have plenty of camp left to play. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Fans Will Have Strong Feelings About This Kyle Shanahan Debate
Kyle Shanahans name has a way of stirring things up in Washington, even when there is no real movement behind the scenes. NFL insider Jason La Canfora recently floated the idea that Shanahans time with the 49ers could come to an end after the upcoming season, and from there the discussion quickly turned to the Commanders, where the connection is obvious enough to get attention. For a franchise still sorting out its long-term identity, any conversation involving Shanahan naturally pulls fans into the larger debate about what the next era could look like.
Still, the path from speculation to reality looks extremely narrow right now. Shanahan is under contract, has his own history with the organization, and his career has long pointed in a different direction than a return to Washington in either a head coach or offensive coordinator role. For now, there have been no official moves or decisions, which leaves this as more of a fan-friendly debate than a true pursuit, even if it is the kind of possibility Commanders supporters will keep talking about. [Read more 🡒]