The Philadelphia Eagles have been annual hot starters with quarterback Jalen Hurts behind center. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport sees that happening again during the 2026 campaign.
On Sunday, Davenport predicted how the beginning of the 2026 season will go for every NFL team. For the Eagles, Davenport projected a “hot” start because of the team’s early schedule.
“Quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Eagles have to be relatively happy with how the early portion of the schedule shook out,” wrote Davenport. “Yes, the Eagles face a pair of stout opponents in Weeks 3 and 4 when they head to Soldier Field to take on the Bears and host the Rams.
“But if they can split that pair the Eagles should be looking at 3-1 given that they open at home against the Washington Commanders before traveling to Tennessee in Week 2.”
With that start, the Eagles would be 3-1 or better for the fourth time since 2022.
In three of the past four seasons, the Eagles have started the campaign 4-0.
Eagles Predicted to Start ‘Hot’ in 2026 NFL Season
Davenport’s early season prediction for the Eagles had everything to do with the team’s schedule. To begin the campaign, the Eagles will face two teams that didn’t make the postseason last year.
The Eagles will then have four straight games against 2025 playoff teams. But Davenport sees Philadelphia at least splitting the first two to begin 2026 at 3-1.
Given recent history, that prediction makes a lot of sense. Under head coach Nick Sirianni, the Eagles have been one of the best teams in the NFL during September and early October.
The Eagles went 4-0 to begin the 2022, 2023 and 2025 seasons.
Hurts started all of those games for Philadelphia. The quarterback owns a career 13-5-1 record in September during his NFL career.
With the Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans on the schedule first, the Eagles are a strong candidate to be 2-0. They could conclude September undefeated if they get revenge against the Chicago Bears during Week 3.
The Bears defeated the Eagles 24-15 last year.
2026 NFL Schedule for Eagles
The Bears contest on Monday Night Football will be the start of an interesting stretch in the Eagles schedule. First, they played four straight 2025 playoff teams. After that, the Eagles have three consecutive games against the NFC East.
Philadelphia’s likely biggest competition for the division crown this fall will be up first — the Dallas Cowboys. Then, the Eagles will play the Commanders again during Week 8.
The Eagles will cap off that stretch with the New York Giants on November 8 in Week 9. Despite Week 10 being a bye week for Philadelphia, Pennlive.com’s Johnny McGonigal called the Eagles-Giants matchup a trap game for the Eagles.
After the bye week, the Eagles will play a lot of games in the late afternoon Sunday window or in primetime. In November, the Eagles will play the Cowboys again and Pittsburgh Steelers.
In notable December games, the Eagles will face the Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and Giants again.
The Eagles don’t absolutely need a fast start to win another championship. The team went 2-2 to begin 2024 when it won the Super Bowl.
But the fast start Davenport predicted the Eagles to earn would be an advantage in the NFC East race.
Eagles Pegged to Repeat History Early in 2026 NFL Season