Eagles Host Commanders in Week 1 Slog: Andy Dalton Era Begins Under the Lights

Welcome to the Andy Dalton experience, Philadelphia. The Eagles trot out the Red Rifle as their Week 1 starter after he logged just four games last season, and if you're expecting fireworks in this NFC East opener, you might want to temper those expectations. Philly managed a pedestrian 22.3 points per game in 2025, and that was presumably with better quarterback play than what a 38-year-old Dalton will provide on short notice.

Washington's defense was a sieve last year at 26.5 PPG allowed, but their offense wasn't exactly lighting up scoreboards either—20.9 per game tells you everything about their ceiling. The Commanders should keep this game ugly through sheer incompetence if nothing else.

Here's the thing about divisional openers: nobody knows each other better, and nobody wants to show their hand. Expect conservative game plans, plenty of three-and-outs, and the kind of grinding football that makes you question why you spent Sunday indoors.

DarkHorse likes the under 44.5 here, and it's hard to argue. These two teams combined for 43.2 PPG last season, and one of them just downgraded significantly at the most important position. The total assumes league-average scoring from two demonstrably below-average offenses. We'll take the under and the couch nap that comes with it.