How to Watch Washington Commanders vs Philadelphia Eagles: NFL Week 1 2026

Watch Info

• Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
• Time: 4:25 PM ET
• TV Channel: FOX
• Streaming: NFL+ (in-market), NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (out-of-market)
• Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Odds: Eagles favored (+135 to win the NFC East, +1800 Super Bowl odds)

Game Preview

Week 1 opens with a genuine NFC East statement game, as the Eagles host the Commanders in a rivalry that's been remarkably competitive over the past three seasons regardless of either team's record. Philadelphia became the first team in over 20 years to win back-to-back NFC East titles last season, finishing 11-6, while Washington endured a rough follow-up campaign to its surprising 2024 playoff run, finishing with a losing record and another early draft pick.

Despite Philadelphia's clear talent advantage and home-field edge, this series has a history of coming down to the wire. Washington actually beat the Eagles in their Week 18 meeting last season, scoring 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points — though Philadelphia had already rested its starters with playoff seeding locked in. Head coach Nick Sirianni has never lost a season opener, but Philadelphia's openers over the past four years have been won by a combined margin of just 13 points, suggesting this one won't be a laugher regardless of the disparity on paper.

Washington Commanders News & Storylines

Washington enters year three of the Adam Peters/Dan Quinn regime looking to bounce back from a season defined by poor defensive play and offensive regression around third-year quarterback Jayden Daniels. The team parted ways with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and brought in David Blough, who is implementing a traditional under-center, timing-based passing attack built around pre-snap motion — a departure from Kingsbury's spread concepts. The scheme change asks Daniels to operate more from the pocket, though his scrambling ability remains the ultimate safety valve when plays break down.

Beyond wide receiver Terry McLaurin, Washington still lacks a proven complementary weapon in the passing game, and questions remain about the offensive line and a defense that struggled to make an impact last season. This opener represents an early gauge of whether the new offensive system can mask some of those roster deficiencies.

Philadelphia Eagles News & Storylines

Philadelphia's 2025 season told two very different stories: an 8-2 start that had the Eagles in the mix for the top NFC seed, followed by three straight losses that knocked them out of contention and eventually led to a frustrating early playoff exit. The offense took a real step back, falling from eighth to 24th in total yardage and from second to 18th in rushing, while the defense dropped out of the top 10 after ranking second the year before.

The offseason brought significant change on both sides of the ball. Most notably, wide receiver A.J. Brown was traded to New England after four seasons and two Super Bowl appearances in Philadelphia, and longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland — long considered the architect of the Eagles' championship-caliber front — is no longer with the team. Washington's Week 1 opponent still boasts serious talent, though, with quarterback Jalen Hurts, receiver DeVonta Smith, running back Saquon Barkley, and defensive tackle Jalen Carter leading a roster that remains the popular pick to repeat as NFC East champions.

Key Matchup to Watch

Jayden Daniels operating David Blough's new under-center scheme against a Philadelphia defense that regressed last season but still has plenty of talent up front. If Washington's offensive line can hold up and give the new system time to develop, Daniels' dual-threat ability could make this a much closer game than the outside expectations suggest.

What to Expect

Given how tightly contested this rivalry has been in recent years — and Philadelphia's history of surprisingly close season openers — expect a physical, low-margin divisional battle rather than a rout, even with the Eagles favored at home to open their title defense.