The Philadelphia Eagles will open their preseason campaign on the road against the Baltimore Ravens this weekend. Here's all you need to know ahead of the matchup.
When: Saturday August 15, 7:00PM EST
Where: M&T Bank Stadium
How: NFL+, NFL Network, ESPN app
Facing the Baltimore Ravens in your opening preseason contest is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, they take preseason incredibly seriously, once setting a record of 24 consecutive wins in tune-up games. While that recoed did come to an end in 2023, they did go 3-0 once more in 2025. This, in theory, gives opponents a highly competitive environment in which to perform and allows coaches to really accurately gaugue certain players and prospects against NFL competition.
The Eagles, on the other hand, don't seem to take it as seriously, at least in terms of who gets to play. Nick Sirianni has often been criticized for keeping his starters well away from the field during preseason, sometimes leading to a bumpy few opening weeks while the cogs begin to fall into place. Whether or not that changes in 2026 is anyone's guess, but based off of recent history, I wouldn't expect to see the likes of Jalen Hurts, Lane Johnson, or Riq Woolen on Saturday night. If they do play, it'll likely only be for a short spell.
This will of course be the first time we get a glimpse of Sean Mannion's offense. The Eagles have been strutting their stuff during Training Camp showing plenty of new wrinkles, and while the gameplan is bound to be a very basic version of what we'll see, it'll be interesting to see just how different it compares to what woes fans endured in 2025.
With that said, there are several Eagles players who will be chomping at the bit to prove their worth. WR Darius Cooper has enjoyed a strong summer for the second season in a row and there is reason to believe he makes it onto the final 53-man roster as a rotational wideout. If he can put up a couple of good outings as he did in 2025, then that will bode very well for him.
Along the offensive front is where most attention should be maintained. The Eagles are in the early stages of ushering in a new era of developing future backups/starters. The likes of Markell Bell, Myles Hinton, Drew Kendall, and Willie Lampkin will all be in great positions to maximize playing time agaisnt a Baltimore defense that isn't exactly taking the game lightly.
On the defensive side of the ball, Uar Bernard could be a name to highlight. The freakishly athletic rookie will be getting his first taste of professional football after a Summer working against Philly's offensive front. How will he fare in preseason, and could we even see him play a role in the regular season ahead? it all starts with a strong impression on Saturday night.
The preseason opener should give fans and players alike their first course for what promises to be an exciting Football dinner. Will we see any major surprises, or a potential new underdog emerge? Only time will tell...
