Philly shows up whole

The Eagles enter Week 1 healthy, with a loaded defense and a new Sean Mannion offense meant to put Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley all in the spotlight.

“They're healthy, the defense is looking stacked”

Washington starts in a hole

The Commanders open the season already compromised, leaning on the hope that Jayden Daniels bounces back and, more to the point, stays standing.

“The Commanders? Well, they're already starting the year behind the eight ball”

The offenses basically tied

Last year Washington averaged 20.9 points to Philadelphia's 22.3, and actually gained more total yards, 318.8 to 311.2. On raw production these two were close to even.

Giveaways split them

The Commanders coughed it up 23 times. The Eagles gave it away 15. That eight-turnover gap is where a near-even offensive profile stops being near-even.

Defense is the real gap

Washington allowed 26.5 points and 384 yards a game. Philadelphia allowed 19.1 and 314.2. Through the air it was 242.5 against the Commanders versus 189.8 against the Eagles.

Takeaways, 21 to 10

The Eagles defense forced twice as many takeaways as Washington's last season. Pair that with the giveaway gap and the field-position math tilts hard one way.

Hurts has the bigger book

Hurts threw for 3,224 yards, 25 touchdowns and six picks at 64.8 percent. Daniels, limited to a short sample, put up 1,262 yards, eight scores, three picks and 18 sacks taken.

Volume versus burst

Barkley carried 280 times for 1,140 yards at 4.1 a pop. Jacory Croskey-Merritt needed only 175 carries for 805 yards at 4.6, with eight touchdowns and a 72-yard long.

Smith carries the passing game

DeVonta Smith caught 77 balls for 1,008 yards last season, and this year he is the clear top target. Terry McLaurin's 38 catches for 582 yards lead a thinner Washington group.

“DeVonta Smith will be alone as the Eagles' No. 1 receiving target this season.”

December was a formality

The teams didn't meet until late December, when Marcus Mariota was quarterbacking a banged-up Washington roster. Philadelphia won 29-18, with Barkley running for 132 yards and a score.

“It was a game the Eagles, at that point, should've won without issue and did.”

Week 18 stung anyway

The Eagles rested starters and lost 24-17 to a Josh Johnson comeback. It read as proof of the offense's problems under Kevin Patullo, plus a goal-line lapse from Kelee Ringo.

The series lies to you

Washington leads all time 91-87-5, but since 2017 the Eagles are 14-5 in the rivalry. The high-water mark was the NFC Championship blowout two seasons ago.

“never was it more lopsided than that legendary 55-23 beatdown in the 2024 NFC Championship”