Jalen Hurts’ ability to protect the football could give Philadelphia one of its clearest advantages against Washington in Week 1 of a critical 2026 season.
While winning another divisional title in 2025, Hurts threw a career-high 25 touchdown passes in 2025 while being intercepted only six times. He completed 64.8% of his passes for 3,224 yards and posted a 98.5 passer rating. His production extended beyond the passing game. Hurts rushed for eight touchdowns and now has 63 in his career, the third-highest total by a quarterback in NFL history.
Washington struggled to create turnovers last season. The Commanders generated only 10 takeaways, ranking 31st in the league, and finished with a minus-13 turnover margin. Philadelphia committed only 15
giveaways, tied for fourth-fewest in the NFL. The Eagles finished with a plus-6 turnover margin despite an offense that was inconsistent in other areas. Hurts passed for 185 yards and two touchdowns in the most recent meeting with Washington. He will face a defense that allowed 26.5 points and 384.3 yards per game last season.
If Hurts continues to avoid negative plays, Washington may have difficulty creating the short fields needed to keep pace. His decisions against pressure will be one of the most important factors in the opener.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jalen Hurts’ ball security gives Eagles major advantage over Washington
