Thursday, October 1, 2026
79 ° Clear
79 ° Clear
The Philadelphia Eagles head to Nashville looking to win at Nissan Stadium for the first time before the Titans move to their new home down the street next season.
The Eagles left many questions unanswered about how their offense will look in 2026 after their win against the Commanders, and they will have a chance to make a statement this Sunday against Tennessee.
The Eagles’ pass rush against Cam Ward could be the biggest factor. Ward was pressured on 26 of his 38 dropbacks against the Jets, and Philadelphia has the kind of defensive front that can make life extremely difficult for a young quarterback. If they can create that same level of disruption, this game could get ugly quickly.
Turning pressures into production, via sacks, will be important. Philadelphia can get home with their front four and force Ward into bad decisions. Eagles DC Vic Fangio likely won’t blitz Ward repeatedly, but they should dial it up a few times to create more havoc for the inexperienced QB.
Philadelphia has the interior talent to consistently collapse the pocket, but they need to stay disciplined on the outside and keep Ward from escaping, which proved difficult against Jayden Daniels in Week 1.
The Eagles invest heavily in the trenches, and this is the type of game where that pays off.
Philadelphia should have a significant advantage here, particularly if the offensive line controls the game. Tennessee has some talent up front, but the Eagles should be able to lean on Saquon Barkley and their run game to wear down the Titans. The heat will be a major factor, and being the aggressor will go a long way toward coping with it.
The challenge for the Eagles will be avoiding the same slow stretches that allowed Washington to hang around. If the Eagles establish the run early, Hurts should have plenty of opportunities to make plays off of it. More under-center looks and play-action calls.
Cam Ward is the obvious player to watch, but the Eagles can’t make this all about the quarterback.
Tony Pollard remains a dangerous back, and Tennessee will likely try to make this a physical game and take some pressure off Ward.
Philadelphia’s defensive line should be able to make life difficult for him, particularly if they can get consistent pressure without having to blitz.
The Eagles also need to make sure they don’t give up explosive plays. They were very effective at eliminating them against Washington, and it could be the only way an underdog Titans team could hang around in the game.
Jalen Carter feels like the guy who can take over the game. Tennessee will game plan to run the football and give Ward manageable situations, but Carter can wreck that plan from the middle. If he and the Eagles’ front win early downs, the Titans will be forced to put more of the game on Ward’s shoulders. That is a tough ask of the young QB, and it plays into the Eagles' hands.
Pass rush. How quickly can Philadelphia make Ward uncomfortable? The Titans can’t afford to live in obvious passing situations against this defensive front.
The run game. If Philadelphia can consistently run the football, everything else becomes easier for Hurts and the offense.
Responding to being a big favorite. This is a different challenge than Washington. Philadelphia is expected to win this game, and the key is to take care of business without letting Tennessee hang around into the fourth quarter.
27
Philadelphia shouldn't need to score 27-plus against the Titans, but they should be able to. Scoring in the upper 20s would signal the offense is finding its rhythm and becoming a product worth cheering for. I want to see the Birds take advantage of short fields and put up 20+ offensively. The Eagles' defense could add a score as well.
Philadelphia arrives in Nashville as a heavy favorite and needs to dictate the game from whistle to whistle. They have more talent, more experience, and lofty goals. Beating an inferior opponent on the road isn't something that could happen; it should.
Eagles 27, Titans 9
I have to believe the Philadelphia Eagles will be more disruptive than the NY Jets were. This is a game that should never be in doubt, and one the team should win despite having a new starter on the offensive line.
The biggest challenge this weekend should be the heat; no excuses, just win.
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