Sonny Styles leads the Commanders in tackles
The Washington Commanders are expecting big things from rookie linebacker Sonny Styles. General manager Adam Peters didn't have to think much when the Ohio State product fell into his lap at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, and he's got all the makings of a franchise cornerstone if his ceiling is reached.
Being a top-10 pick comes with increased scrutiny. The critics around Styles' extremely brief preseason involvement were laughable and meaningless. He's still young, still learning, and still working things out.
But once everything clicks, the Commanders will have a special player on their hands.
Styles is projected to make his NFL regular-season debut at Lincoln Financial Field, which will be hostile. It's nothing the player didn't experience in college, but the stakes are much higher here.
One of Styles' biggest objectives will be to keep Saquon Barkley quiet. The running back has torched the Commanders at will throughout his career at two stops in the NFC East, but the added speed on Washington's defense gives them a fighting chance of finally counteracting this supreme threat.
The rookie will be a big part of that. Diagnosing plays quickly and using his elite-level athleticism to reach the contact point will serve him well. Don't be surprised if Styles ends up as Washington's leading tackler on the day.
Commanders' fourth quarter surge seals memorable road win
The Commanders are underdogs in Week 1. That's not a great shock, but writing off Dan Quinn's squad entirely would be foolish.
This is opening weekend, where anything can happen. The element of surprise is a real thing, especially right out of the gate. It's also a fierce division rivalry between two clubs with no love lost for one another, and there will be no half-measures given in pursuit of a crucial win.
Everything has to go right for Washington.
They are on the road in what can best be described as a toxic cauldron. The fine margins will make a big difference, but having their backs against the wall should bring a collective resolve that wasn't evident much in 2025.
The Eagles won't be doing Washington any favors. They have their own concerns to alleviate, and Nick Sirianni's men will want to make a big statement by easily disposing of a divisional adversary.
But it might not be that clear-cut.
If the Commanders can keep this close entering the fourth quarter, that might provide enough unrest at Lincoln Financial Field to make the Eagles nervous. And quarterback Jayden Daniels has already proven capable of coming through in the clutch when given the chance.
The Commanders are not expected to win. But that doesn't mean they can't.
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