Game Preview, Week 18: Washington at Philadelphia Eagles
January 3, 2026
by Steve Thomas
Well, we’ve reached the end of the road, folks, finally – thank goodness. Considering the fact that the team reached the NFC Championship game last season and that quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to be a budding superstar, this season was surely one of the most disappointing seasons in memory. It’s probably for the best that we’ve made it to week 18, if for no other reason than the fans won’t have to sit through any more blow losses after this week’s game. I’m operating here today as though Washington still wants to win this game despite the impact on draft position, which in my view is what both the players and coaches will strive for. I’m not sure it’s possible given that the Eagles are still playing for playoff seeding and need to win, but you never know. It could be worse than finishing the season on a high note by blowing Philadelphia’s playoff seeding. Our game preview starts below.
Game time & location: Sunday, January 4, 2026, 4:25 p.m. ET, Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA; Gates open 1:55 p.m. ET (earlier access to premium seating and facilities); parking lots open 11:25 a.m.
Television: CBS
Television announcers:
TV broadcast map: Click here
DC-area radio: BIG-100 (WBIG FM)
Washington radio network: Click here
Eagles radio network: Click here
Satellite radio: SiriusXM: 387 (Wash. broad.), 831 (Wash. broad.)
Washington roster: Click here
Washington depth chart: Click here
Eagles roster: Click here
Eagles depth chart: Click here
All-time head-to-head record vs Eagles: 89 – 87 – 6 (last 10: 2 – 8)
Last meeting: L, December 20, 2025, 29 – 18
Eagles record: 11 –5 (1st place) / home: 5 – 2 / NFC: 8 – 3 / NFC East 3 – 2
Washington record: 4 – 12 (3rd place) / away: 2 – 6 / NFC: 2 – 9 / NFC East: 2 – 3
Early odds: Eagles, -4.5
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Clean, mistake-free play on both sides of the ball
The Eagles probably aren’t as good as they were last year when they won the Super Bowl, but they are still a much more talented team than Washington, and Washington has looked terrible against every good team they’ve played this year except for the Chargers. The only way Washington has a chance at getting a victory is to play mistake-free football on both offense and defense. The offense can’t have turnovers, drops, or an abundance of penalties to give Philadelphia easy outs from otherwise successful Washington drives. On defense, Washington can’t afford to allow Saquon Barkley to get another easy, long touchdown or to blow coverages and give the Eagles easy long gains. Whoever is the quarterback for Washington can’t afford to play like a third, fourth, or fifth stringer. I’m really don’t think Washington has a realistic chance of winning, but for them to actually pull it off, this is mandatory.
Control the clock through the running game
This is the same point I made two weeks ago in the first game against the Eagles. Philadelphia’s offense actually has been more of a middle of the road unit this year, albeit not necessarily against Washington. Nevertheless, this is a game in which Washington needs to keep the Eagles offense off the field through a strong, consistent, and effective running game. The good news is that the Eagles remain fairly middle of the road in terms of run defense – their opponents are averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Washington is statistically a good run team, so this is something of a strength versus weakness matchup. In contrast, the Eagles are better at pass defense. Focus on the run game, Kliff.
Tight, layered zone pass defense
Once again, this is the same point as I made for the first Eagles game last month. Washington obviously has lost a significant amount of their secondary to injury, and don’t get much above-average play from their linebacker corps in terms of pass coverage. Nevertheless, Washington needs to figure out a way to lock down its pass coverage against an elite passing offense. Washington can’t afford to allow the Eagles to get easy gains through busted coverages and gaps in zones. They need to figure out how to lock down the vertical routes while simultaneously not allowing significant gains through screens and short passes. This remains easier said than done for this year’s Washington team.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
Brown is a 3x All Pro and 3x Pro Bowler, and is the heartbeat of the Eagles aerial attack. He’s having a good but not great season by his lofty standards, with 73 receptions for 935 yards so far – DeVonta Smith actually has 64 receptions and 839 yards – but that doesn’t mean that he can’t have a monster game against Washington’s weakened secondary. Two weeks ago he had 9 receptions in 12 targets for 95 yards. The job of covering Brown will fall primarily to Jones, who is Washington’s #1 corner by injury-created default. The question isn’t whether Jones can completely shut Brown down, because he can’t and won’t. The real question is whether Jones, primarily, but also the rest of Washington’s zone defense, can keep Brown from game-killing long receptions. Watch out for how open Brown is getting throughout the game.
Terry McLaurin vs. Quinyon Mitchell
In the first game two weeks ago, McLaurin had just 3 receptions in 4 targets for 53 yards, but one of those receptions was for 40 yards and was probably the best play of the year for him. Yes, Washington still needs to focus on its rushing attack in this game, but nevertheless, McLaurin versus Mitchell is probably the most high-profile matchup in the game. Mitchell isn’t at an All-Pro or Pro Bowl level, yet, but he’s a talented corner and a legitimate #1. McLaurin has at times throughout his career been blanketed by top-level NFL corners, but while Mitchell is talented, he isn’t at that level. As was the case in the first game against the Eagles, this will probably be a fairly well-balanced battle throughout the day. I suspect that the television broadcast crew will highlight this matchup throughout the game.
For those who were not aware, Miller quietly leads Washington in sacks, with 8 so far this season. He doesn’t get a ton of snaps – mainly just obvious passing downs – which makes him facing off with the Eagles’ left tackle, Mailata, in those situations, all the more important. Miller is old by NFL standards, so it seems pretty likely that he probably won’t be back in Washington next season. If that’s true, this game could be his swan song with this franchise. In fact, he’ll be 37 before the start of next season, so it’s possible that this could be the last game of his career. Thanks for letting us watch a great career, including playing pretty well in DC and giving it your all in limited opportunity, Von.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
D – doubtful
| Washington | Eagles |
| RB J. Croskey-Merritt, illness; Wed: DNP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | LB N. Dean, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| QB M. Mariota, right hand/quad; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | TE D. Goedert, knee; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| OLB V. Miller, NIR (rest); Wed: DNP | T L. Johnson, foot; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| T L. Tunsil, oblique; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O | OLB J. Phillips, ankle; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| LB B. Wagner, knee/NIR (rest); Wed: DNP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | LB J. Campbell, back/shoulder; Wed: LP; Thurs: DNP |
| QB J. Daniels, left elbow; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP; Fri: LP; game: O | DT J. Carter, hip; Wed; NL; Thurs: DNP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| LB N. Bellore, concussion; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | S M. Epps, concussion; Wed: NL; Thurs: FP; Fri: DNP; game: O |
| T G. Fant, knee; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | |
| DT D. Payne, back; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP; Fri: FP | |
| WR T. Burks, illness; Wed: NL; Thurs: NL; Fri: FP | |
| OL B. Coleman, knee; Wed: NL; Thurs: LP; Fri: FP; game: Q | |
| WR T. Burks, illness; Wed: NL; Thurs: DNP; Fri: FP |
Steve’s Prediction
There’s no way absent a miracle or a dramatic turn of events that Washington wins this game. Eagles get the victory by a score of 31 – 17.
pwin https://www.adpwin.com