# Commanders come up two points short in Philadelphia

> Jayden Daniels started cold, found rhythm too late, and a failed 2-point try handed Washington a 24-22 opening loss.
- Title: Commanders come up two points short in Philadelphia | Shortify
- Summary: Jayden Daniels started cold, found rhythm too late, and a failed 2-point try handed Washington a 24-22 opening loss. The game turned on one two-point play…
- Keywords: commanders, eagles, jayden daniels, nfl week 1, defense, news, local, come, two, points, short, Philadelphia
- Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/sports/commanders-nfl/commanders-eagles-analysis-two-point-conversion-WD7POSMWBZGJDDPD7XA722YQ5I
- Author: Kevin Reynolds
- Published: 2026-09-13T23:50:47.174+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: commanders, eagles, jayden daniels, nfl week 1, defense, news, local
## Two points from overtime
Washington hung around in the season opener in Philadelphia but lost 24-22. Its offensive problems were finally too big to climb out of.

> Washington held in as long as it could in the season opener.
## The passing game stalled
The Commanders did not clear 100 passing yards until early in the fourth quarter. Terry McLaurin, their best receiver, caught two balls all day.
## One play from a tie
Daniels found rookie Antonio Williams for a 1-yard touchdown with a minute left. Philadelphia then smothered a shuffle pass to tight end John Bates on the 2-point try.

> the Eagles shut down a shuffle pass to tight end John Bates, ending the upset bid
## A rushed, off target start
Dan Quinn spent the offseason selling Daniels' accuracy. On the opening snap he missed a wide open McLaurin low and away, then underthrew Stefon Diggs on a third down.

> Quinn called it Daniels’ superpower.
## Hurts set the pace
Daniels opened 3-of-9 for 19 yards. Jalen Hurts started 5-of-9 for 91 and a touchdown. Already short on talent, Washington needed an edge at quarterback and did not get one.
## Daniels finds it late
He hit Diggs over the middle for a 10-yard score to cap a nine-play, 67-yard drive, then led 12 plays to the Williams touchdown. Final line: 18-of-34, 164 yards.

> McLaurin was supposed to be Daniels’ security blanket.
## Jones delivered the blueprint
New coordinator Daronte Jones played zone on more than 80% of snaps and blitzed on more than 35%. Exactly the aggressive mix he promised in the spring.

> That’s above league average, which is what you’d expect from the Brian Flores-style defense Jones installed.
## Wicks exposed Mike Sainristil
Hurts targeted the veteran corner twice, the same way both times. Sainristil stopped in his zone drop and gave up a 64-yard corner route, then hesitated again in man coverage in the end zone.

> It was an easy 9-yard touchdown.
## Key takeaway

The game turned on one two-point play, but the real problem was an offense that did almost nothing for three quarters.