Prediction time: The Inquirer’s game-by-game Eagles picks, NFL playoff selections and major award winners

The 2026 NFL season kicks off this week, with the Eagles’ Week 1 meeting against the Commanders highlighting a slate that also includes Wednesday’s Seahawks/Patriots on Wednesday and a 49ers/Rams showdown in Australia on Thursday.

With that in mind, The Inquirer’s NFL reporting team of Jeff McLane, Olivia Reiner, Jeff Neiburg and Ryan Novozinsky offered their predictions not only for the Eagles season but also how they see the entire league shaking out, including playoff brackets and major awards.

Which pick were you most on the fence about?

McLane: London game vs. the Jaguars (loss). I was at the Eagles’ last trip over the Atlantic when they beat a then-good Jacksonville team in 2018. Only a couple of players remain from the squad — tackle Lane Johnson and kicker Jake Elliott — but traveling to other countries has become the norm for every team in the NFL. So it’s not like the Jaguars, who play in London the most, have a distinct advantage.

But coach Liam Cohen returns a squad that won the AFC South with a 13-4 record as he enters his second season in charge. There will likely be regression with a first-place schedule. I see a lot of prognosticators picking them to fall to the middle of the pack. But I like their roster. And I think the Eagles are going to hit a rough patch from Weeks 3-5 after opposing defenses get film on Sean Mannion’s new offense. Still, it’s difficult to see Vic Fangio’s defense allowing a three-game losing steak. So I was divided about this pick. Ultimately, I just felt the Jags matched up well against the Birds.

Reiner: The 49ers road game (win). There should be plenty of juice going into that game, as the Eagles fell to the 49ers in the wild-card round. Looking back, it seemed like a lot of the Eagles’ shortcomings in that game were self-inflicted. The following week, the 49ers were exposed by the Super Bowl champion Seahawks in their 41-6 divisional-round drubbing. That late-season three-game stretch against the Seahawks, Texans, and 49ers should be tricky, but it seems unlikely that the Eagles will lose three straight games. I think the 49ers could be the lesser team of that trio, especially if their poor injury luck persists into 2026. Given they have one of the oldest rosters in the league, perhaps that isn’t too far-fetched.

Neiburg: The Texans game on Christmas Eve (win). I think 12-5 is the right record, and because it’s impossible to know what’s going to go on later in the season, guessing the spots for the losses is tough. On my first spin through I had them losing three straight to Seattle, Houston, and San Francisco. I can’t see this team losing three consecutive games. I also don’t see them losing to Washington, but 13-4 seems a bit off, and I needed a fifth loss, so I went with the NFC East opponent on the road rather than a random loss at home to a team like Pittsburgh. You see? This is an exact science. Houston is really good. That three-game stretch could be a turning point.

Novozinsky: The Seahawks game (win). Yes, they’re the defending champs. Yes, their defense is great. Yes, Sam Darnold just completed a masterful career 180. But after watching the Eagles defense all summer, I just think the Birds have the deeper unit — which will be the clear difference maker in this game. This’ll be a true rock fight, but I say the Eagles come out on top thanks to their secondary clamping down Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Which game do you most consider a lock?

McLane: The opener vs. the Commanders. If there was one non-quarterback Washington couldn’t afford to lose to injury, it was Laremy Tunsil. The left tackle’s season ended when he tore his triceps early in training camp. Not only was Tunsil arguably the most established player on the team, but he was the No. 1 piece standing between Jayden Daniels and more injuries.

But there are a host of other reasons to think Dan Quinn’s unit will be just as bad as it was last season. The offensive skill position group is lacking in top-end talent. The defensive front seven will look significantly different than it did during last season’s wretched campaign. But it’s young and will have to carry the load if the secondary continues to be porous. The Eagles may have some early hiccups with a first-time play caller in Mannion, but the offense should benefit from the early element of surprise. The defense, meanwhile, could dominate.

Reiner: The game against the Cardinals. Congratulations – you have the chance to start for the Cardinals at quarterback this season! The Jacoby Brissett-Gardner Minshew-Carson Beck quarterback depth chart isn’t exactly fear-inducing for defensive coordinators. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love, who is already injured, could be challenged to reach his potential behind an average offensive line. If things aren’t going well for the Cardinals by Week 13, Josh Sweat might sneak back to Philadelphia on the team plane after the game.

Neiburg: Dec. 6 in Arizona. The Cardinals are dreadful. There’s a real chance they go winless. They could be touchdown underdogs in every one of their divisional contests and they’re also matched up with an AFC West division that could produce three playoff teams. Eagles fans always travel well, but an early December trip to the southwest is enticing, and this one might feel like a home game.

Novozinsky: Week 2 at the Titans. The Titans will probably be marginally better in 2026, but let’s face it: If your team is picking up the scraps from the Giants/Jets of the past five years, you’re probably not going to be a very good team. They’re a true dumpster fire franchise — and I’m still not sold on quarterback Cam Ward. The Eagles will win this game and Broadway will be flooded with chants of “Go Birds!”

Which contest screams “statement game” to you

McLane: Dec. 19 vs. the Seahawks. After a shaky start to the season, I can see the Eagles settling into a groove, especially with some expected easier opponents in the middle portion of the season. I have them 9-4 by the time they host the defending-champion Seahawks on Dec. 19. It’s difficult to repeat, of course, and while Mike Macdonald returns one of the best defenses in the league, and has elite players like Smith-Njigba on offense, I could see Seattle falling back to earth in a tough NFC West. Does anyone really think that Darnold will be as good as he was during a sun-kissed 2025? But a win here for the Eagles would be impressive and maybe catapult them into a stretch run and another NFC East crown.

Reiner: The Seahawks game in Week 15, especially if both teams are competing for playoff spots at that point in the season. Seattle is defending its Super Bowl title and the Eagles are looking to contend once again. If they can come up with a win against the league’s leading defense in 2025 and the Offensive Player of the Year in Smith-Njigba, they should feel good about themselves heading into the final stretch of the season. If not, a loss could be a sign of bad things to come for the Eagles in the postseason.

Neiburg: Well, the Rams game could be a preview of the NFC title game, so, for better or worse, that is kind of a measuring stick game. The Eagles will match up with a few shaky defenses early in the season before welcoming Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald, and perhaps the best defensive front ever assembled to Lincoln Financial Field. It’s just a shame it’s a 1 p.m. game, because it’s one of the best games on the NFL calendar this season.

Novozinsky: Christmas Eve in Houston. What the Texans lack on offense, they make up for — in a huge way — with an unrelenting defensive front. They’re my Super Bowl pick this year and they’re a perfect measuring stick for the Birds in front of a primetime holiday audience. The schedule makers sure didn’t do the Eagles any favors, sandwiching this game between the Seahawks and 49ers.

Who’s the biggest threat to an Eagles’ NFC East three-peat?

McLane: It’s got to be the Cowboys. The Commanders, as noted above, could be a hot mess, while the New York Giants are likely a year away from contending. But Dallas has the offensive firepower to match the Eagles’ potent defense. Dak Prescott has an aerial attack that can expose a weakness at safety and even some of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. We saw it last season. The Cowboys couldn’t compete in 2025 because, ultimately, they were dreadful on defense. They made significant changes. They snatched Christian Parker from Philly to helm the unit. And they added six new starters, including edge Rashan Gary and first round safety Caleb Downs.

I’m not saying it’ll transform them into a top unit. Parker is as much of an unknown as Mannion. But it’s hard to see Dallas not finishing with a winning record. I think the Eagles will be right there with them. Heck, they’re still the odds-on favorite to win the division. But I think defenses will still be able to corral Saquon Barkley and the run game because the passing offense will not improve enough with too many question marks at receiver and tight end.

Reiner: The Cowboys. They made upgrades to their defense, which ranked last in the league in points allowed in 2026, and hired Parker. Combine an improved defense with an offense that ranked in the top 10 in 2025 and one of the best kickers in the NFL in Brandon Aubrey and the Cowboys could threaten the Eagles for the NFC East crown.

Neiburg: Dallas. The Cowboys should have an improved defense, and there’s plenty of talent on offense to get to double-digit wins. The Giants could be a sneaky wild-card team with an exciting offense, but I don’t think they’re ready to take that step yet. Washington, meanwhile, didn’t do a whole lot of improving in the offseason and its defense just isn’t good enough. The Eagles-Cowboys game on Thanksgiving could end up being a turning point of sorts in the NFC East standings.

Novozinsky: It’s the Cowboys and it’s not even close. The Commanders are going to stink. I’d be stunned if the Eagles didn’t sweep them this year. The Giants should be better under Harbaugh, but I’m just not sold on Jaxson Dart. Dallas, for all its faults, has a good offense and a capable defense led by a sharp defensive mind in Parker.

Wild card teams in italics

Most Valuable Player:

Offensive Player of the Year:

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Offensive Rookie of the Year:

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