Jalen Hurts has never lost a season opener as the Philadelphia Eagles’ starting quarterback, and he believes the record reflects Philadelphia’s work long before kickoff. Since replacing Carson Wentz, Hurts is 5-0 in Week 1 starts entering Sunday’s opener against the Washington Commanders
at Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia has defeated Atlanta, Detroit, New England, Green Bay and Dallas in its past five openers.“Keeping the main thing the main thing. Having the time to prepare. And playing together,” Hurts said, via Zach Berman. “It’s a reflection of the work and the preparation that we’ve had.”
Hurts also pointed to the confidence and clarity that preparation created. Those qualities will be particularly important Sunday as Philadelphia
unveils Sean Mannion’s offense against a division opponent familiar with the Eagles’ personnel. The circumstances surrounding each opener have changed, but Hurts has consistently helped Philadelphia navigate Week 1 uncertainty. He passed for three touchdowns in a 32-6 victory over Atlanta in 2021 and accounted for 333 total yards in a win over Detroit the following year. Philadelphia’s past three opening victories were decided by one score, including last season’s 24-20 win over Dallas. Hurts ran for two touchdowns as the Eagles overcame an early deficit.
Jalen Hurts on the Week 1 success in his career: "Keeping the main thing the main thing. Having the time to prepare. And playing together. It's a reflection of the work and the preparation that we've had. It's a confidence going into the game, and clarity...."
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) September 9, 2026
That history does not guarantee success against Washington. The Eagles have changed offensive coordinators, reworked portions of their receiving corps, and installed new concepts throughout the offseason. Hurts’ approach, however, remains unchanged. Preparation creates clarity, and clarity allows the Eagles to play confidently together when Week 1 arrives.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Jalen Hurts credits preparation for his perfect Week 1 record
