It was a good week for the Philadelphia Eagles.
They looked like a galvanized team after days of self-induced outside noise, handled a good Pittsburgh Steelers team at home, and moved into a three-way tie atop the NFC Standings at 12-2.
The arms race for the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed and first-round bye has boiled down to three teams with three weeks remaining. The Detroit Lions (12-2) still hold the top spot via tiebreaker, and the Minnesota Vikings (12-2) refuse to go away. The Eagles might have the ultimate edge, though, thanks to a more favorable remaining schedule, and Detroit's head-to-head matchup with Minnesota at Ford Field in Week 18.
Philly has a golden opportunity to win out, facing nothing but NFC East opponents to finish the season. First is a trip to Northwest Stadium to face the Washington Commanders on Sunday (1 p.m. EST, FOX). After that, the Eagles close with home games against Cooper Rush and the Dallas Cowboys, and a potential laugher against the tanking New York Giants in Week 18.
Sunday’s matchup with Washington should be the stiffest test of the bunch. The Commanders are currently in the NFC playoff picture at 9-5, and they played Philly tough for three quarters when these teams met at the Linc back on Nov. 14.
The potential problem for Washington? The Eagles are a completely different animal since that game. They’ve upped their winning streak to 10 games, knocking off future playoff teams like the Ravens, Rams and Steelers in the process.
Can star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Commanders ruin Philly’s quest to clinch the division and keep pace in the hunt for the No. 1 seed? Here’s what the experts are saying, with score predictions, for Sunday’s NFC East matchup of Super Bowl hopefuls:
NFL picks, predictions Week 16: Eagles vs. Commanders
- Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: Eagles 30, Commanders 24
Iyer: “The Eagles should have plenty of success passing and running in the same game to clinch the NFC East title. Washington has limited passing pop around Jayden Daniels and can lose the battles up front on both sides. For a change, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Saquon Barkley will go off at once to give Jalen Hurts his latest boost.”
- Bill Bender, The Sporting News: Eagles 28, Commanders 20
Bender: “The Eagles still have a shot at the No. 1 seed, and the defense has quietly allowed less than 20 points in five of its past six games. Saquon Barkley had 146 yards and two TDs in the last meeting with the Commanders, but he's dealing with some soreness after the Week 15 matchup against Pittsburgh. Will Nick Sirianni lighten that workload ahead of the postseason? This is a possible first-round preview, albeit on the road for Philadelphia.”
- Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic: Eagles 27, Commanders 20
Cluff: “The Eagles are a juggernaut right now and might be the team to beat in the NFC. The 10-game win streak will reach 11 games for Jalen Hurts and company, who are 6-1 on the road.”
- Matt Johnson, Sportsnaut: Eagles 27, Commanders 17
Johnson: “Marshon Lattimore at least gives this Washington Commanders defense a fighting chance against the Philadelphia Eagles offense. However, a bottom-10 run defense with a below-average pass rush puts Washington in a far more challenging spot. The No. 1 defense in the NFL is also very well-equipped to create pressure on Jayden Daniels and bottle up a one-man receiving corps (Terry McLaurin). The Commanders have been very good this season, but the Eagles are a superior team.”
- Ben Rolfe, Pro Football Network: Eagles 27, Commanders 20
Rolfe: “While Washington has been the feel-good story of the season, its strength of victory (.280) is the lowest of any team currently in a playoff spot. It has not beaten a team with a winning record this season, and it is hard to see it beating an Eagles team that is on the march for the top seed in the NFC.”
