From PhillyVoice · · 3m
Ugly, frustrating, and still a Week 1 win
Jalen Hurts dragged the Eagles past Washington 24-22 while a loaded defense left sacks and turnovers all over the field.
In brief
Jalen Hurts dragged the Eagles past Washington 24-22 while a loaded defense left sacks and turnovers all over the field. Hurts wins games without big numbers, but a defense that generates pressure and no takeaways will not survive the Bears and Rams. Originally reported by PhillyVoice.
It was ugly, it was a win
The Eagles opened 2026 with a 24-22 escape over the Commanders. Different names on the roster, same familiar result on the scoreboard.
“It was ugly. It was frustrating. It was a win.”
Sirianni and Hurts stay perfect
The defense nearly gave it away and the offense showed up only in flashes. Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts are still undefeated in Week 1 openers.
Stock up: Jalen Hurts
No MVP numbers, no 300-yard games. After a down 2025, the most criticized quarterback in Philly carried the Birds on talent and willpower.
“the former Super Bowl MVP is a proven winner”
Efficient, not explosive
Hurts went 14-for-25 for 203 yards, delivering on time and on target. Several of those incompletions were deliberate throwaways.
Wicks announces himself
In the first quarter, off a play-action fake, Hurts hit free agent pickup Dontayvion Wicks for 64 yards on a basket catch.
Goedert finds the zone hole
That 64-yard strike set up a Dallas Goedert touchdown. Goedert slid through the Commanders' zone and was wide open on the right side.
A 14-3 cushion
Hurts' second touchdown pass came with a defender in his face, again to Wicks, pushing the Eagles out to a comfortable 14-3 lead.
Toe-drag swag
His best throw came in the third, after back-to-back three-and-outs and a holding call, a touch pass down the sideline to DeVonta Smith. It only produced three points.
“Toe-drag swag”
His legs bailed out the line
With the offensive line struggling badly in the second half, Hurts ran for 48 yards on five carries, including a 22-yard scramble on 3rd and 17 that set up Goedert's second score.
Stock down: the defense
From 10,000 feet the unit looked fine. It held Jayden Daniels to 164 passing yards, 6-for-16 in the first half, and Washington to 295 total yards.
Bright spots in isolation
Jalen Carter blocked an extra point, his fourth career blocked kick. Zack Baun played like a man possessed and was in on every snap.
Sack after sack left behind
Daniels shimmied, skirted and wiggled free all afternoon. Philadelphia generated pressure on nearly every play against a subpar line and finished with one sack for one yard.
“they left a lot of meat on the bone. A lot.”
No takeaways, no impact
Baun was the only player credited with a pass defended or a tackle for loss. Carter forced a late fumble that Washington recovered right back.
The fourth quarter wobble
A 33-yard grab by Antonio Williams set up a Stefon Diggs touchdown, then Washington scored again on a Williams shoestring catch. A missed two-point try saved overtime.
The schedule gets real
Tennessee is another cupcake next week. Then come the Bears, who hung 59 points in Week 1, and the Rams. No sacks and no turnovers against those two means losses.
What to remember
Hurts wins games without big numbers, but a defense that generates pressure and no takeaways will not survive the Bears and Rams.
