The Philadelphia Eagles kick things off with a divisional battle against the Washington Commanders. It's set to be a physical battle to begin the year, but the Eagles have an edge over Washington along the interior.
Going into this matchup, the Eagles have a better interior offensive line compared to Washington's interior defensive line. They should exploit that.
Eagles could feast on the Commanders’ run defense
Last season, Washington ranked 30th in run defense (141.8). They allowed 4.8 yards per carry, along with 18 rushing touchdowns. And they didn't make any significant defensive tackle moves to improve in that area.
They are bringing back defensive tackles Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw, neither of whom is a good run defender. On Pro Football Focus, Kinlaw has finished with a run defense grade of 50 or lower for six straight years. As for Payne, he hasn't finished with a run defense grade over 58 in the past five seasons. These guys will play the bulk of the defensive snaps at DT for Washington, and that's a recipe for success.
The Eagles want to run the ball, and with A.J. Brown no longer in town, they will lean that much more on Saquon Barkley. In addition, Tyler Steen, Cam Jurgens, and Landon Dickerson are people movers in the run game.
Last season, all three guys finished with a run-blocking grade of 65 or higher on PFF. Not only that, but Barkley has dominated Washington since coming over. In four straight games against Washington, Barkley has finished with 118-plus rushing yards, with Philadelphia winning three of those four games.
The proof is in the pudding that the Eagles could run the ball at will against Washington, and that shouldn't change in Week 1. The Commanders did little to improve that part of their defense. They drafted linebacker Sonny Styles with the seventh overall pick, but expecting a rookie to impact the contest immediately is a tough ask, especially in his first game.
The Eagles should make it a priority to run the ball against Washington, as that will open up the pass game for Jalen Hurts and company. By controlling the clock, moving the chains, and limiting turnovers, Philadelphia wants to control the game. This matchup against the Commanders fits into that recipe, and attacking that defense on the ground should be their game plan.
Read more: 3 underrated Eagles that could flip Week 1 Commanders game on its head
Washington hasn't shown that they can slow down Barkley, so why change it now? The offense will look different under Sean Mannion in 2026, but to start, the focus should be on dominating the ground game. And the Eagles have the personnel and playmakers to do so.
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