Eagles Predicted to be Upset by Commanders in Week 1

After trading away star wide receiver A.J. Brown over the offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles will enter the 2026 season with real questions along the offense.

Philadelphia still has star wideout DeVonta Smith and running back Saquon Barkley, but the rest of the playmakers are questionable. And given that quarterback Jalen Hurts saw some real inconsistency a year ago, the concerns around the Eagles' offense are justified.

But the Eagles are confident that new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion will be able to help them overcome all obstacles throughout the year. Mannion, a former NFL quarterback, should be able to provide Hurts with more in-depth analysis and schemes, helping him get back to being an elite player.

Hurts wasn't bad last season, but the Eagles offense just didn't look explosive like it did in 2024 when they won the Super Bowl. So heading into Week 1 of the new season, the Eagles will have their hands full with a division matchup against the Washington Commanders.

Bleacher Report's NFL Staff predicted each game for Week 1 of the NFL season. Within the predictions, five of the seven staff members surprisingly picked Washington to take down the Eagles in Week 1.

Much of the reasoning had to do with the Eagles losing Brown this offseason.

Without Brown on the roster, Smith is going to have much more responsibility on his shoulders. The former Heisman Trophy winner certainly has the talent to make things happen for the Eagles, but this will be a new role for him.

Last season, Smith caught 77 passes for 1,008 yards and four touchdowns. Unlike Brown, Smith is more of a spread the field type of wide receiver, helping to create space all over.

Philadelphia did draft wide receiver Makai Lemon out of USC in the first round this year, hoping to replace Brown. But Brown was the go-to guy for the Eagles, giving Hurts someone he could always look too whenever a big play was needed.

This will be the biggest adjustment for Philadelphia as the year goes on. If Smith can step into that top option for the Eagles, the team will be just fine.

But until he proves himself this yer, the questions will continue to be asked around the offense. Against Washington, Smith will likely see a double-team, with the Commanders forcing others to beat them.

Smith is going to have to answer the call thus season; otherwise, the entire year could become very difficult for the Eagles. It won't all fall on his shoulders, but he needs to come out with a strong performance in Week 1 to silence all doubters.