Eagles vs Commanders Week 1 picks, season predictions from our experts
· Yahoo Sports
PHILADELPHIA − When we last saw the Eagles and the Commanders, it was the regular-season finale last January. But you would be hard-pressed to recognize many of the players in that game.
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The Eagles rested their starters to prepare for the playoffs the following week, while the Commanders were wrapping up a disappointing 5-12 season. QB Jayden Daniels had long been shut down for the season with an elbow injury, and many of the players on defense have since been replaced.
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As for the Eagles, they have a new offense, a new batch of wide receivers, except for DeVonta Smith, after trading away A.J. Brown.
All of it will be unveiled when the Eagles open their season on Sept. 13 against the Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field.
Even though the Eagles return 10 of 11 starters on offense, they will be used differently under offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. We'll finally see what that looks like after the Eagles kept things close to the vest during training camp and in the three preseason games.
But the Eagles' defense, considered among the NFL's best, should be enough to keep the Eagles in any game until (or if) the offense gets untracked.
Here's how we see the game going:
Our prognosticators are Martin Frank (Eagles beat writer/columnist, Delawareonline.com), Greg Giesen (sports strategist, Delawareonline.com), Tom McGurk (sports editor, Courierpostonline.com), Tom Moore (sports columnist, Phillyburbs.com), Bob Jordan (sports editor, app.com), Bert Bainbridge (sports betting analyst & columnist, Northjersey.com), Tom Haines (Pennsylvania state planning), Brad Myers (high school sports writer, Delawareonline.com), Kevin Tresolini, (college sports reporter, Delawareonline.com), Michelle Ganassi (audience director & die-hard Steelers fan, Delawareonline.com), Tom Rimback (sports writer, Courierpostonline.com), Brandon Holveck (high school sports reporter, Delawareonline.com)
Martin Frank
The Eagles have never lost an opener during the Nick Sirianni era, going 5-0. The Eagles might lose an opener one day, but it won't be to the Commanders. The difference here is the Eagles' offensive line is healthy, so expect a big game from Saquon Barkley, while the Commanders' offensive line is in shambles, so expect a big game from the Eagles' D-line.
The pick: Eagles 27, Commanders 16
Season record: 11-6, lose to Rams in NFC Championship game
Greg Giesen
Are the Eagles ready for the spotlight of the NFL Game of the Week on Fox? Will Jayden Daniels look like the player he was his rookie season? Those questions and more will be answered on Sept. 13. Still, the Eagles offensive weapons should be more than enough for a victory at home.
The pick: Eagles 24, Commanders 17.
Season record: 11-6 regular season, lose to Da Bears in NFC Championship game.
Bert Bainbridge
The Eagles start the season with a convincing three-score win in their home opener against Jayden " No. 5" Daniels and the Commanders.
The pick: Eagles 31, Commanders 13
Philly will get off to a hot start in 2026 thanks to a home-heavy slate during the first half of the season, but tough home matchups (Steelers, Seahawks and Texans) paired with a handful of road games in the second half will slow down the Birds momentum heading into the playoffs.
Season record: 10-7 regular season, lose to Bears in NFC Divisional Round
Tom McGurk
While the offense will likely take some time to get going, the Birds' defense will show it's no joke. Look for the Birds to sack Washington QB Jayden Daniels five times and force five turnovers. Jalen Hurts will have some ups and downs in the opener, but don't be surprised with Dontayvion Wicks becomes one of his go-to guys in big spots against the Commanders.
The pick: Eagles 26, Commanders 16
Season record: 12-5, lose to Rams in NFC Divisional Round
Tom Haines
It’ll be ugly at times, especially offensively, but Saquon Barkley will grind out some key yardage with the help of a reasonably healthy offensive line, and the defense will do its job keeping the free-wheeling Jayden Daniels in check.
The pick: Eagles 20, Commanders 16
Season record: 11-6, lose to Buccaneers in NFC Divisional Round
Tom Moore
The Eagles improve to 6-0 in season openers under Nick Sirianni, though this one might be pretty close.
The pick: Eagles 26, Commanders 20
Season record: 10-7, lose to Rams in NFC Divisional Round
Bob Jordan
When last we saw the Commanders, we didn't see Eagles' stars Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and others as the game was declared the "Week Off Bowl" by Nick Sirianni.
The pick: Eagles 30, Commanders 14
Season record: 10-7 would give the Eagles their fifth straight 10+-win season. Very Andy Reid like.
Kevin Tresolini
The preseason did nothing to stir confidence in the Eagles' revamped offense, though the Birds certainly have the personnel to evolve and improve as the season progresses. A sturdy defense will be there from the start, however, which will key a victory here and in numerous subsequent games on Eagles' path to another NFC East title.
The pick: Eagles 23, Commanders 20
Season record: 11-6, lose to Rams in NFC Divisional round.
Brandon Holveck
Jalen Hurts has said the Eagles need to break the cycle of one year reaching the Super Bowl then the next failing to win a playoff game. Perhaps the Birds should wait one more year before any more drastic changes.
I think the 2026 season will follow the path of years past – several shaky early-season wins that rouse the fan base but ultimately, they will have a secure playoff position as NFC East champions for a third straight year. It starts with an unconvincing win against a Commanders team that drew far less inspiring preseason reviews than the Eagles.
The pick: Eagles 20, Commanders 10
Season record: 12-5, win Super Bowl over Denver Broncos
Tom Rimback
The work in progress that is the Eagles offense may well leave fans in attendance on opening day a bit hoarse from Philly-style acknowledgement of early struggles. Still, the impact of Colombian stem-cells and a revived Saquon Barkley will give fans concrete hope and a head start on Washington's year-long struggles.
The pick: Eagles 18, Commanders 3
Season record: 11-6, NFC East champs, lose Super Bowl to Buffalo Bills
Michelle Ganassi
Here we are, at the start of another NFL season.
This is always my favorite time of year, when optimism is undefeated and I can once again predict, or at least hope for, an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl.
But we're not here to talk about the six-time Super Bowl champion Steelers. I think Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense will show right away that they're ready for another deep playoff run with a screaming fandom at the Linc.
The pick: Eagles 27, Commanders 20
Season record: 12-5, Eagles win the NFC championship before falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl.
Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles vs Commanders Week 1 picks, season predictions from our experts
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