Philadelphia Eagles Opening Day Vs. Washington Redskins: Kickoff Time, Preview, And More

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Philadelphia Eagles begin their 2017 season on Sunday afternoon when they take on their division rivals, the Washington Redskins, at 1 p.m.

It's the Eagles second season under the helm of Head Coach Doug Pederson, who took over the reins from Chip Kelly. In Pederson's first year, the Eagles finished 7-9 and finished fourth in the NFC East. The Redskins, meanwhile, led by Head Coach Jay Gruden, are coming off an 8-7-1 third place finish in the division last year.

The Eagles are slight but consistent favorites to win the season opener, and are projected to take over third place in the division. In ESPN's summer Football Power Index rankings for the 2017 season, the Eagles placed 15th overall at a 0.2 rating, with the Redskins in 22nd with a -0.8 rating.

Nevertheless, Pederson has forecasted something greater for the Birds, recently comparing the 2017 squad to the Green Bay Packers teams that went to several Super Bowls in the 1990s. Pederson was a backup quarterback on the Packers from 1996 to 1998.

"I look back at my time in Green Bay as a player when we were making those playoff runs and those Super Bowl runs there, and do we have as much talent on this team than we did then? We probably have more talent, right?" he told ESPN.

Fans in particular will be watching second year quarterback Carson Wentz to see if he can build upon his 2016 rookie season and become the franchise cornerstone many believe he can be.

The Redskins, meanwhile, will turn to quarterback Kirk Cousins, whose 97.2 QB Rating was seventh among all eligible quarterbacks in 2016 (Wentz was 25th, with a 79.3).

NFL.com highlights the matchup between Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery and Redskins cornerback Josh Norman as one deserving special attention.

The Eagles trail the all time series against their arch-rivals, having lost 86 times, won 73 times, and tied five times. Washington won their last matchup at the end of the 2016 season, 27-22. The 2017 NFL season will officially begin on Thursday night when the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here's what you need to know about Thursday night's game:

TV: The game will be broadcast on Fox, beginning with the Kickoff Show at 12:30 p.m. Play-by-play will be handled by Kenny Albert, while Ronde Barer takes the color analysis and Kristina Pink is stationed on the sidelines.

Local Radio: SportsRadio 94WIP will broadcast the game in the Philadelphia area. Merrill Reese is the play-by-play announcer, while Mike Quick is the color analyst.

National Radio: ESPN Radio will broadcast the game nationally. Adam Amin will handle play-by-play, Bill Polian will take color analysis, and Sal Paolantonio will be on the sidelines.

Kickoff

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at FedEx Field, capacity 82,000, in Landover, Maryland.

The Betting Line

Here's what the oddsmakers have to say about Sunday afternoon's game via ESPN.com:

• Westgate - Philadelphia by 1 point
• Caesar's - Philadelphia by 1 point
• William Hill - Philadelphia by 1 point
• Wynn - Philadelphia by 1 point
• Cantor - Philadelphia by 1 point
• Unibet - Philadelphia by 1.5 points

Tickets

Thinking of attending in person? Tickets are still available, ranging from $48 and up. Check out Ticketmaster here.

Tailgating at FedEx Field Lots

Tailgating is permitted up to five hours prior to kickoff in the RedZone Lot. The Redskins have the following guidelines:

• Use of an empty parking space for tailgating is permitted only in designated areas and until such time as the space is needed to park other vehicles.
• Use of an empty parking space for tailgating is not permitted in the Platinum Lots.
• When parking, park your car in one space only and between the white lines.
• Parking permits are to be used for cars only, not for additional tailgating space or storage.
• Be considerate of other guests’ vehicles.
• For the safety of all guests and for emergency vehicle access, please keep all aisles clear.
• Dispose of all trash in proper receptacles.
• Prior to entering FedEx Field, please extinguish all flames and grills. Ash dumpsters are available throughout the lots for your convenience. Do not place a hot grill in or under any vehicles.

Parking and Transportation

Click here to pre-purchase your single game parking permit at FedEx Field online. Parking is also available on Brightseat Road in the Gray Lot.

The Metro's Blue or Silver lines can also be used to arrive at the stadium. Utilize Metro Trip Planner here: www.wmata.com.

Stadium information courtesy Washington Redskins

Image of Lincoln Financial Field before a 2011 game via Commons, courtesy Georgejelias