Eagles-Washington: Start time, how to watch and stream NFC East face-off

It’s been 16 days, but the Eagles will return to action Tuesday against Washington in a postponed game with huge playoff implications.

Both teams enter the game with a 6-7 record, and the Eagles need a win to keep pace with the New Orleans Saints (7-7) and Minnesota Vikings (7-7), who both won their Week 15 matchups. According to the New York Times, the Birds have a 38% chance to make the playoffs with a win. A loss to Washington plunges their chances down to just 6%.

A bit of good news for the Eagles is quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to start after suffering a high ankle sprain during the Birds’ loss against the Giants on Nov. 28. Meanwhile, Washington still isn’t sure who will start at quarterback, since both Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen remained on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday. If neither come off the list Tuesday, Washington will likely go with Garrett Gilbert, who was signed off the Patriots’ practice squad Friday.

Calling Tuesday’s game will be Kevin Kugler and former Eagles quarterback Mark Sánchez, who is in his first year as an NFL analyst for Fox. The prime time matchup will easily be Sanchez’s most-watched game, as it will air in about 70% of homes across the country (the rest of the nation will see Seahawks-Rams, which also was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak).

Sánchez offered some thoughts on Hurts in Week 6 during an appearance on FS1′s Speak for Yourself, where he said it’s too early to determine whether he can have success long-term as the Eagles’ starting quarterback. Sánchez also took aim at Eagles fans he once said were “nicer” that those in New York City during his tenure with the Jets.

“The market that he’s in is completely unfair. It’s pretty fickle. It’s week-to-week, at sometimes drive-to-drive or quarter-to-quarter,” Sánchez said of Philadelphia. “All I’m saying is, if you say, ‘Yes he’s our franchise guy,’ you will always have to gadget, scheme, format or game-plan to death because he is limited in his drop-back passing ability.”

Here’s everything you need to know to watch and stream Tuesday’s game:

As with every Eagles game, staff writers Jeff McLane, EJ Smith, and Josh Tolentino will be covering the action live on Twitter, which you can follow live on GameDay Central. Notes and observations about the game will be at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Inquirer Sports Daily Newsletter.

Smith, Tolentino, and columnist David Murphy will host GameDay Central live prior to kickoff on Inquirer.com.

Coverage on Fox begins at 6:30 p.m. with a pregame show hosted by Curt Menefee and analysts Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, and Jimmy Johnson. NFL insider Jay Glazer will also appear on the show.

Coverage on NBC Sports Philadelphia begins at 5:30 p.m. with Birds Huddle, a new show focused on sports betting and fantasy football featuring Taryn Hatcher, Brad Feinberg, Barrett Brooks, and John Clark.

Eagles Pregame Live, hosted by Michael Barkann and featuring Seth Joyner, Ray Didinger, and Barrett Brooks, will air live at 6 p.m. on NBC Sports Philadelphia. Eagles Postgame Live will air immediately following the game.