Eagles-Commanders among the worst ‘Sunday Night Football’ games in 30 years
It's the first "Sunday Night Football" game outside September to air on NBC featuring teams with a combined win percentage less than .300.
The Eagles are in the nation’s capital to face the Washington Commanders in one of the worst Sunday Night Football matchups to ever air on NBC, at least on paper.
After both teams went winless in October, they enter their Week 8 matchup with a combined three wins, boasting a win percentage of .269 (the NFL counts ties as half a win).
Take out early-season games in September, and it’s the first Sunday Night Football game since NBC took over in 2006 to feature teams with a combined win percentage below .300, according to ProGridSpots.
It’ll also be just the 11th time during that 30-year span both teams will walk away from their Sunday Night Football matchup with a record below .500, according to The Athletic.
Funny enough, it isn’t the first time a two-win Eagles team played an NFC East opponent on Sunday Night Football in Week 8. During the 2020 season, the 2-4-1 Birds defeated the equally terrible 2-5 Dallas Cowboys (combined win percentage .321) despite then-starting quarterback Carson Wentz’s four turnovers.
In Week 17 that same season, the 4-10-1 Eagles took on the 6-9 Washington Football Team (combined win percentage .350) in the final game of the NFL season. Why did the NFL stick with such a terrible matchup? Because Washington was playing for the NFC East title, which it claimed with a 7-9 record by defeating the Birds, 20-14.
Sunday Night Football has generally been able to avoid terrible matchups because of the league’s ability to swap out bad games for good ones. Since 2006, the NFL has flexed 36 games off Sunday Night Football, averaging just over one a season.
So why didn’t the NFL move Eagles-Commanders? A few reasons, but mostly because both teams are still in contention in a lackluster NFC East, where the division-leading New York Giants also lost their starting quarterback for the season and have just a two-win lead on the Eagles entering Sunday.
NFC East standings
There was also a lack of options due to TV rights deals that give CBS and Fox the right to air at least one game each of divisional rivalry during the season from the AFC and NFC, respectively.
Despite that, the NFL seriously considered swapping in an AFC North matchup between the Cleveland Browns (5-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2), which instead remains at 1 p.m. on CBS (and won’t air in Philly).
While the NFL didn’t move the Eagles out of primetime this week, circle January 3 on your calendar. The Birds are scheduled to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football in Week 17. If the 49ers have nothing to play for at that point and the Eagles’ season continues apace, the NFL would likely move the game out in favor of a matchup with some playoff implications.
Then again, the way the NFC East is stacking up, the Eagles could still be fighting for a third-straight divisional championship and a playoff spot.
How to watch and stream Eagles-Commanders
After all that, you still plan on tuning in?
Eagles-Commanders will air on NBC, with Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth calling all the action (or lack thereof). Melissa Stark will be reporting from the sidelines of Northwest Stadium.
The game will stream on Peacock, NBC’s subscription streaming service. It will also be available to stream on NFL+ and any service that carries NBC, including YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. You can also stream it for free on a digital antenna if you live in or near Philadelphia (or any other major city).
The game can also be heard on 94.1 WIP, with Merrill Reese — in his 50th season as the voice of the Eagles — calling the game alongside former Birds receiver Mike Quick.
The Spanish radio call — featuring Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen, and Dave Gerhardt — can be heard on the Eagles website and on a handful of stations, including La Mega 105.7 FM in Philadelphia, 93.9 FM in Atlantic City, and 103.3 FM in Vineland/Millville.
Other Week 8 NFL games on TV in Philly
Sunday
Ravens at Bills: 1 p.m., CBS3 (Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker)
Cardinals at Cowboys: 1 p.m., Fox 29 (Joe Davis, Greg Olsen)
Chiefs at Broncos: 4:25 p.m., CBS3 (Jim Nantz, J.J. Watt)
Monday
Bears at Seahawks: 8:15 p.m., ESPN (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman)
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Eagles 2026 TV schedule
Week 1: Eagles 24, Commanders 22
Week 2: Eagles 24, Titans 20
Week 3: Bears 27, Eagles 7
Week 4: Rams 24, Eagles 20
Week 5: Jaguars 19, Eagles 17
Week 6: Panthers 25, Eagles 14
Week 7: Cowboys 38, Eagles 21
Week 8: Eagles at Commanders — Sunday, Nov. 1, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Week 9: Giants at Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 8, 1 p.m. (Fox)
Week 10: Bye week
Week 11: Steelers at Eagles — Sunday, Nov. 22, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Week 12: Eagles at Cowboys — Thursday, Nov. 26, 4:30 p.m. (Fox)
Week 13: Eagles at Cardinals — Sunday, Dec. 6, 4:05 p.m. (Fox)
Week 14: Colts at Eagles — Sunday, Dec. 13, 1 p.m. (Fox)
Week 15: Seahawks at Eagles — Saturday, Dec. 19, 5 p.m. (Fox)
Week 16: Texans at Eagles — Thursday, Dec. 24, 8:15 p.m. (Prime Video)
Week 17: Eagles at 49ers — Sunday, Jan. 3, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Week 18: Eagles at Giants — TBD (TBD)
