Thursday, October 1, 2026
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79 ° Clear
The Philadelphia Eagles entered Week One undefeated in season openers during the Nick Sirianni era, 5–0, averaging nearly 380 yards and over 30 points per game over those five games.
The result was the same, but the path there was very different.
The Eagles entered the game as favorites in their (home) season-opener, looking to showcase a new scheme offensively and a strong mismatch defensively Dominating the trenches to establish the run and allowing time for Jalen Hurts were the focus in the week leading up.
Washington QB Jayden Daniels returned to Philadelphia as a starter for the first time since the Eagles eliminated the Commanders in the NFC Championship Game 55–23.
The Eagles won the toss and deferred to receive the second-half kickoff.
The Commanders took the opening kickoff to their 36 and moved the ball down to the Eagles' 38, where they made a 55-yard field goal to take an early 3–0 lead with 11:23 left in the first quarter.
The Eagles started their 2026 season struggling on offense. Two drives ended with only one first down and 12 yards on 10 plays. Both offenses seemed to be in pre-season mode.
The home team found its footing on the third drive, including a 64-yard strike to Dontayvion Wicks. They moved the ball 76 yards on five plays that ended with Hurts hitting Dallas Goedert for a 17-yard touchdown pass on third down for Philadelphia’s first TD of the 2026 season, and a 7–3 lead with 14:11 left in the half.
Saquon broke out for a 32-yard gain down to the Washington 12 on their fifth drive, concluding with a 7-yard TD to Dontayvion Wicks, who is quickly cementing himself as a reliable target for Jalen Hurts. Eagles extended their lead to 14–3. Wicks showed off his route-running and ability to create space in the red zone.
The Commanders ended the half with a touchdown with under two minutes left, but Jalen Carter blocked the extra point, 14–9 at the break.
Jayden Daniels appeared reluctant to run at the beginning of the game, but became more committed as the half progressed. Whether he gained confidence or realized he had no other options, he was on the move more often in the second quarter, including a 14-yard scamper that helped lead them to their first touchdown of the season. He had 43 passing yards at the half.
Terry McLaurin ended the half with 0 receptions on 2 targets.
Zack Baun was the best defensive player on either side, making plays everywhere and finishing the half with a team-leading 7 tackles.
The OL had some concerning moments in the first half as Cam Jurgens committed two holding penalties in the first quarter, and Landon Dickerson gave up a sack. Both interior linemen underwent experimental off-season procedures.
The Eagles' first drive of the second half started at their 26 and ended three plays later. The Commanders' first drive of the half had the same fate, aided by a brilliant open-field tackle by Zack Baun.
Washington rookie LB Sonny Styles ran through Saquon Barkley on a sack of Jalen Hurts on the next drive, showcasing the skills and traits that led to him being a first-round pick.
After the Commanders missed a 54-yard field goal on their second drive, the Eagles had another three-and-out that ended with the Commanders' third sack of the afternoon on Jalen Hurts.
Philly ended the third quarter with a Jalen Hurts-to-DeVonta Smith 51-yard reception on third down with less than two minutes in the 3rd quarter to get down to the Washington 24. Jake Elliott finished off the drive with a 35-yard field goal to extend their lead to 17–9.
The third quarter ended with a 14-yard run by Jayden Daniels, who was under pressure, that got the team to the Washington 44-yard line. The drive ended with a ten-yard TD pass from Daniels to Stefon Diggs with 9:59 left in the game to get the score to 17–16. Diggs committed an unsportsmanlike penalty that likely kept them from going for a two-point conversion to tie the game.
The Eagles took over the drive, looking to counter. Jalen converted a huge 17-yard third down with a 22-yard run to extend the drive, then converted another third down with a 43-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert, his second TD of the game. 24–16 with under 6 minutes left in the game.
Washington made things interesting on their ensuing drive, getting down to the Eagles' 10-yard line; they picked up a 4th-and-two with 2:04 left that took the contest to the 2-minute warning and a fresh set of downs inside the Philadelphia five. The Commanders scored a few plays later with 1:01 left and a chance to tie the ballgame with a 2-point conversion.
Jayden Daniels’ pass was completed, but Moro Ojomo stopped the play in its tracks for a loss.
DeVonta Smith recovered the Commanders’ onside kick, and the Eagles ran out the final minute of the game with a couple of knee downs by Jalen Hurts.
Eagles win! 24–22
The Eagles had three; Washington had none.
The big 64-yard reception to Tay Wicks and the 51-yarder to DeVonta Smith that led to ten points, and the 43-yard strike to Goedert to total seventeen.
The Eagles allowed too many sacks, and the Commanders OL, whom many thought the Eagles’ interior DTs would abuse, held up rather well. Jayden Daniels’ ability to extend plays also played a part.
Jalen Hurts was sacked three times and was under pressure all day.
Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens both struggled in the opener. It didn’t cost the Eagles the game this week, but the protection along the OL needs to be cleaned up, or it eventually will.
Zack Baun.
He was all over the field, breaking up a pass, a tackle for a loss, and a team-leading 12 tackles.
Philadelphia left the game without any known injuries.
The Eagles may have decided on QB2, at atleast for one week, as Tanner McKee was listed as QB3 and inactive.
Elijah Moore was also amongst the inactive, which is a mild surprise considering how much of a rapport he had with Jalen Hurts over the summer, but with Lemon and Smith both back practicing and healthy, his role seems to have diminished.
Makai Lemon hauled in his first NFL reception on his first target in the first quarter for three yards. He finished the game with 3 receptions for a very odd stat line of negative five yards.
Better days are likely ahead for an offense that looked as if they were playing together for the first time all year. Outside of the explosive plays, they couldn't create many yards. The offensive line will have to improve, or the offense will keep struggling.
The Eagles travel to Nashville next week to face the Titans, looking for the same or better results.
The Birds have never won at Nissan Stadium, and this is their last chance as Tennessee opens a new stadium next door in 2027. Hopefully they leave Music City with a win.
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