The Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) began the 2026 season with a 24-22 victory over the Washington Commanders (0-1) on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate Philly’s ‘Big 3’ and their outstanding performances on Sunday:
-Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts delivered when the Eagles needed him most. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Hurts also added 46 yards on the ground, including a huge 22-yard scramble on third-and-18 on the team’s final scoring drive. According to Elias Sports, Hurts is just the third NFL quarterback since 1950 to win each of his first six season-opening starts.
-Tight end Dallas Goedert, who caught a career-high 11 touchdown passes last season, had four catches for 77 yards and touchdown receptions of 17 and 43 yards.
-Linebacker Zack Baun was all over the field. He finished with 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, and two passes defended.
Honorable Mention:
-Punter Braden Mann punted seven times for 361 yards (51.6 avg.), including two punts of 64 and 62 yards. Mann finished with four punts inside the 20. You never want to punt the ball seven times, but Mann was a weapon.
-In his Eagles debut, wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks caught two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. His career-long 64-yard reception set up Philadelphia’s first touchdown.
End of the Day:
In the NFL, there are no style points for victories, and the Eagles will definitely not get any style points for this win. The offense made a few big plays, but outside of those big plays, Philadelphia struggled to move the ball consistently, which is somewhat understandable as the players adjust to offensive coordinator Sean Mannion’s system. The Eagles had four three-and-outs. The running game was sluggish. Too often, Saquon Barkley (15 carries, 83 yards) was hit behind the line, and at times, the passing game lacked rhythm. The pass protection was inconsistent, and Hurts was sacked three times.
The offense could struggle early, but that may change as the players become more comfortable with the new scheme. One thing is certain: the defense is still going to be very good. They held Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ offense in check for most of the game. Going forward, the Eagles will want to tackle better and improve against the run after allowing 132 rushing yards, although their run defense improved in the second half.
At the end of the day, it wasn’t pretty, but a win is a win.
What’s Next:
The Eagles go on the road to play the Tennessee Titans next Sunday.
One More Thing:
Philadelphia improved to 6-0 in season openers under Nick Sirianni. The Eagles are the only NFL team to go undefeated in Week 1 matchups since 2021.
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