The Washington Commanders surprised many around the league by winning double-digit games for the first time since 2012 and coming one victory away from reaching the Super Bowl. Now, there are higher expectations for the squad in the second year of the Jayden Daniels era.

The Commanders will have a tougher schedule this year by virtue of finishing second in the NFC East. Super Bowl contenders like the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions loom later in the year along with talented teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. They will also experience a dramatic increase in travel miles, which includes a trip to Europe to play the Miami Dolphins.

Now that the season is on the horizon, Commanders.com has been breaking down each of Washington's opponents. We're wrapping things up with the Philadelphia Eagles, who are the top team in the conference after claiming their second Super Bowl victory.

GAME INFORMATION

Dates: Dec. 20, Jan. 3/4, 2026 (TBD)
Time: TBD
Location: Northwest Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field

Individual stats leaders

• Passing Yards -- QB Jalen Hurts (2,903)
• Passing TDs – QB Jalen Hurts (18)
• Rushing Yards -- RB Saquon Barkley (2,005)
• Rushing TDs -- QB Jalen Hurts (14)
• Receiving Yards -- WR A.J. Brown (1,079)
• Receiving TDs -- WR DeVonta Smith (8)
• Tackles -- LB Zach Baun (151)
• Sacks -- LB Josh Sweat (8)
• Interceptions -- S C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Key additions

• DE Azeez Ojulari (free agency)
• CB Adoree' Jackson (free agency)
• LB Jihaad Campbell (draft)
• S Andrew Mukuba (draft)
• TE Harrison Bryant (free agency)

Key questions

• Can the defense recover from the losses in free agency? Half of the Eagles' offseason departures came on the defensive side of the ball. Some left to sign with other teams, while others either retired or were traded. Most of the unit's core, like Baun, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and Reed Blankenship, are still in Philadelphia, but its depth took a noticeable hit. The Eagles are clearly planning for the future and want to get younger on defense, as six of their 10 draft picks are on that side of the ball. There's no immediate need for any of them to be starters, thanks to general manager Howie Roseman's ability to craft one of the best rosters in football, but many of their rookies like Campbell will need to have meaningful contributions sooner rather than later. Roseman tends to draft good players, so there's a solid chance the class will be impressive, but they still need to prove themselves.
• Can Barkley have another strong season? Barkley joined an elite club when he rushed for 2,005 yards in 2024, becoming just the ninth player to eclipse that mark in a single season. It's an impressive feat, especially when considering that Barkley is in the latter half stages of his career, but it's reasonable to ask whether he can be just as dominant in his second straight season with the Eagles. Every player who rushed for 2,000 yards before Barkley experienced some form of regression, whether because of injury or lack of production. Most followed their historic season up by rushing for 1,000-1,300 yards, which are still productive stats but also a steep drop-off. There is a chance Barkley can buck that trend, as he has what many consider the best offensive line in front of him. Teams are going to be determined to stop him, so if he can replicate some of the success he had last season, he will further cement himself as one of the best running backs in recent memory.
• Can the Eagles get more out of their passing game? The Eagles had one of the best offenses in the sport last season, but if there was one area that seemed to be lacking, it was the passing game. Philadelphia has one of the best receiving corps in the league with Brown and Smith leading the group, but despite that, they averaged the fourth fewest yards per game through the air. Some of that was because they rightly leaned on their running game, but their pass-catchers are simply too talented to have that low of a performance. It will come down to whether Hurts can take another step as a passer. Hurts did his job within the scheme but only threw 18 touchdowns in 2024. If the Eagles can unlock that part of their system, it will make them even more potent and more difficult for defenses to handle. We'll see if Kevin Patullo, who was promoted to the offensive coordinator role this offseason, can get more air yards out of the roster.