Eagles visit Washington: Hurts silent, run defense under scrutiny
The Eagles face the Commanders as 5 1/2-point underdogs while quarterback Jalen Hurts remains out with blood clots.
By Luka Evans ·
The Philadelphia Eagles travel to Washington on Sunday night to face a one-win Commanders team in Week 8 of the NFL season.
The Eagles enter the matchup with a 2-5 record. They are listed as 5 1/2-point underdogs against the Commanders, who are 1-4-1. This is the first time since Jalen Hurts suffered blood clots in his lungs that the team is playing without their starting quarterback.
Hurts has not made a public appearance or statement since the injury was announced. He remains out for the rest of the 2026 season. Backup quarterback Tanner McKee has continued to use Hurts as a resource during practice and game preparation.
The Eagles’ defensive line has remained relatively healthy this season. Linebackers have also been largely available. Despite this availability, the unit has struggled to contain opposing running backs. Zack Baun, a member of the Eagles organization, described the issue as a primary concern. He said, “We’ve got to stop the run. That's first and foremost. When you don't stop the run, it's just an avalanche of other bad stuff that can happen.”
Wide receiver Eli Stowers played his first snaps of the season during the Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys. He did not record a reception. Stowers described his debut as a blessing and a dream come true. He said, “It was awesome, man. It’s a blessing. It’s a dream come true just to be out there, working, getting better. Just to be out on the field was a blessing.”
The Eagles showed offensive improvement in the previous week before the defense declined sharply. The Commanders have not won a game in a month. They are ranked 19th in the league in offense and 25th in defense. Their best wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, is out for the year. Their quarterback has not thrown a touchdown pass of more than 10 yards this season.
NBC Sports Philadelphia and NBC10 will provide coverage of the event. The schedule includes Birds No Huddle at 6:30 p.m., Eagles PreGame Live at 7:00 p.m., and the game at 8:00 p.m. on NBC10. Eagles PostGame Live will air immediately after the final whistle.
Reuben Frank and Dave Zangaro of the media outlet offered predictions for the game. Frank projected a Commanders 24, Eagles 17 victory. He noted that the Commanders are the only team ranked 27th or worse in both offense and defense. Zangaro projected a Commanders 26, Eagles 24 victory. He stated that while the Eagles could win, the team currently finds ways to lose more often than it wins.
