Eagles-Commanders: Start time, channel, how to watch and stream

The undefeated Eagles (3-0) take on the Washington Commanders (2-1) in their first NFC East game of the season Sunday afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field.

It’s the first 1 p.m. kickoff for the Birds, who have basically played in front of a national audience the first three weeks of the season. It’s also just one of three scheduled 1 p.m. starts (the other two are Week 8 at the Commanders and Week 17 back home versus the Arizona Cardinals).

It’s easy to see why the NFL placed the Birds in its most-watched windows. The Eagles are averaging nearly 17 million viewers per game this season and drew Amazon’s largest single-game audience since Prime Video began streaming Thursday Night Football last season with their Week 2 win against the Minnesota Vikings (15.1 million viewers). The Birds’ Week 1 win against the New England Patriots drew 21.4 million viewers, CBS’s best opener since 2015.

Despite the Birds being huge favorites, the Commanders have had some success against the Eagles in recent years, including a win in Week 10 last season that ended the Birds’ undefeated season. Overall, the Commanders are 3-3 against the Birds during the past three seasons, including two wins at the Linc (though one featured the Eagles sitting most of their starters). But after starting 2-0, the Commanders are coming off a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills that featured quarterback Sam Howell tossing four interceptions and getting sacked nine times.

“Howell has been sacked a league-high 19 times in three games, absorbing six more sacks than the next two quarterbacks on the list,” the Inquirer’s Olivia Reiner wrote. “The going won’t get any easier for the Commanders against the Eagles. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter and defensive end Josh Sweat have been giving quarterbacks fits this season, racking up 15 and 12 pressures, respectively, in three games.”

Here’s everything you need to know to watch or stream today’s Eagles game against the Commanders:

Today’s game between the Eagles and Commanders is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. Eastern on Fox.

Handling play-by-play is Joe Davis, in his second season calling a full slate of NFL games for Fox. Philly sports fans got to know Davis during the Phillies’ World Series run since he called nearly every playoff game they appeared in, opposite color analyst John Smoltz (and was praised for his call of Bryce Harper’s series-changing home run). He should also sound very familiar to Eagles fans, since he called four Birds games last season, including their blowout win against the Giants in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Alongside Davis in the booth will be veteran broadcaster Daryl “Moose” Johnston. Reporting from the sidelines at the Linc will be veteran Pam Oliver, who has a particular fondness for Eagles fans.

“They’re passionate about their football and they want good football. If the Eagles don’t deliver, the fans let them know. That is something I appreciate,” Oliver told The Athletic this week. “They’re not just necessarily all kumbaya. It’s like, “You guys better bring it, we’re astute fans, we want good football, and we expect good things from our football team.” It’s one of my favorite places. Probably in my top five.”

Eagles-Commanders will also air on the radio on 94.1 WIP, where fans can listen to the familiar voices of Merrill Reese and former Eagles receiver Mike Quick. WIP host Howard Eskin will handle sideline reporting duties.

Eagles-Commanders will stream on the Fox Sports app, though you need to login with your cable provider.

The game also will stream on any so-called skinny bundle that carries Fox, including fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and DirecTV Stream. Most offer a free trial.

If you live in the Philadelphia TV market, you can also stream the game on NFL+, the leagues subscription streaming service, which runs $6.99 a month.

If you’re looking to stream the game for free and you live in or around Philadelphia, your best option is using a digital antenna, since the game will air on broadcast television on Fox 29.

» READ MORE: The NFL isn’t airing the week’s best game in Philadelphia. Here’s why.

Staff writers Jeff McLane, EJ Smith, Josh Tolentino, and Olivia Reiner will be covering the action live on Gameday Central. Notes and observations about the game will be at Inquirer.com/Eagles. Don’t forget to subscribe to our free Sports Daily newsletter.

» READ MORE: Eagles-Commanders: Live coverage