Well, that was certainly intense! That, youngsters, looked like NFC East football used to look. It was stressful and hard to watch at times. It was somewhat irritating for both fan bases. Ultimately, the Philadelphia Eagles hung on. A long, five-minute, 12-play touchdown drive by the Washington Commanders led to a failed two-point attempt.
DeVonta Smith recovered Washington's onside kick attempt to keep their hopes for a win alive. The Eagles finished things with a quarterback kneel in the victory formation.They escaped their home opener with a 24-22 win and a 1-0 record. They also have an early tie-breaker now over their NFC East rivals from our nation's capital.
The Eagles got the result they wanted by surviving a scare. How they got there is
another discussion entirely. As for the performance itself? There was plenty to like, plenty to criticize, and more than a few moments that left everyone reaching for the antacids.
The good things we saw during the Eagles' win over the Commanders
The Eagles appear to have something in Dontayvion Wicks. His first two receptions as an Eagle produced 73 yards and a touchdown, continuing a strong summer that generated optimism throughout training camp. Philadelphia will need more games like this if the passing attack is going to reach its potential.
Dallas Goedert looked rejuvenated as well. Four receptions resulted in 77 yards and two touchdowns, including a 43-yard catch-and-run that helped swing momentum back toward Philadelphia late. When the Eagles needed a play, Goedert provided it. The secondary deserves recognition too.
Riq Woolen and Quinyon Mitchell largely erased opportunities on the outside, while Terry McLaurin was held without a reception until fewer than five minutes remained in the game. He finished with just two catches for 14 yards.
Jalen Carter also reminded everyone why he remains one of the NFL's most disruptive defenders, blocking an extra point and creating problems throughout the afternoon. Meanwhile, Braden Mann quietly played one of the best games of his Eagles career. Seven punts averaged 51.6 yards, and four landed inside the 20-yard line. Field position mattered in this game, and Mann consistently tilted it in Philadelphia's favor.
Marcus Epps left the game early with a shoulder injury and was questionable to return, but he worked his way back onto the field later on. Perhaps most importantly, the Eagles didn't turn the ball over. Winning football often begins there.
The bad news from the Eagles' win over Washington
For long stretches, the offense looked stuck in neutral. Sean Mannion's debut as offensive coordinator featured four three-and-out possessions, and Philadelphia struggled to sustain drives consistently. The Commanders won the time-of-possession battle. Their offense kept the Eagles' defense on the field far longer than anyone would have preferred.
Jayden Daniels' mobility also created headaches. Washington's quarterback repeatedly escaped pressure and converted situations that should have favored the defense. One sequence in particular stood out when Daniels turned a third-and-15 into a 14-yard gain with his legs after Philadelphia appeared to have the Commanders backed into a corner.
The Eagles eventually recorded a sack, but not until the fourth quarter. The pressure was there. The finishes often weren't. Cooper DeJean also endured an uneven afternoon. An illegal-contact penalty extended one drive, and he later surrendered a touchdown reception to Stefon Diggs in the fourth quarter.
It wasn't a disastrous performance, but it wasn't his sharpest outing either. How did Makai Lemon do, you ask? Try three receptions for -5 yards on for size. His longest catch went for three yards. Philadelphia also struggled to get DeVonta Smith involved; he finished with 53 yards on three catches, but he had a big one: a 31-yarder on third down that led to a Jake Elliott field goal conversion.
The downright ugly
The offensive line has earned the benefit of the doubt over the years. Still, Sunday's performance left legitimate questions. Penalties, pressures, and protection breakdowns appeared far too often for a unit expected to be among the league's best.
Cam Jurgens committed costly early penalties. Landon Dickerson endured a difficult stretch that included pressures that threatened Jalen Hurts and a drive-killing sack. Jordan Mailata's fourth-quarter false start put the offense behind the chains at a critical moment. Fortunately for Philadelphia, Jalen Hurts bailed everyone out with a 22-yard scramble on third-and-18 two plays later.
3rd and 18? No problem for Jalen Hurts 💨
— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2026
WASvsPHI on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/JZ3ltUv3v5
The bigger question is whether this was simply Week 1 rust or a sign the post-Jeff Stoutland transition may take longer than many expected. Against Washington, the Eagles escaped. Against a stronger opponent, similar mistakes could produce a very different outcome.
That's the part worth remembering as the celebration begins. Good teams win games when they aren't at their best. The Eagles did exactly that Sunday. They left Lincoln Financial Field with a victory, a division win, and sole possession of a valuable early tiebreaker. The challenge now is making sure this game becomes a lesson rather than a warning. Because while the Eagles won, they also showed exactly how much work remains ahead.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Good, bad, and ugly from Eagles' Week 1 win over Commanders
