Olivia Grove
Staff Writer
The Philadelphia Eagles started their 2026 season with a 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The game was close from start to finish, with Washington making a late comeback that almost tied the game. The Eagles were able to hold on because of a big defensive stop on the two-point conversion and an onside kick recovery by DeVonta Smith.
The first half started with Washington taking a 3-0 lead on a 55-yard field goal. The Eagles answered in the second quarter when Jalen Hurts found Dallas Goedert in the end zone for a touchdown. Hurts then found new Eagles receiver Dontayvion Wicks for another touchdown, giving Philadelphia a 14-3 lead. Wicks also had a 64-yard catch earlier in the game, which was his first catch as an Eagle.
Saquon Barkley had a big game on the ground, including a 42-yard run in the second quarter that helped set up the Eagles’ second touchdown. His ability to make big plays was important for Philadelphia, especially when the passing game struggled.
The second half was much harder for Philadelphia. The Eagles went three-and-out on their first three drives, giving Washington a chance to get back into the game. Jayden Daniels found Stefon Diggs for a touchdown, making the score 17-16. The Eagles answered with another touchdown from Hurts to Goedert, who broke away from defenders and ran into the end zone to make it 24-16.
Washington scored again with just over a minute left, but the Eagles stopped the two-point conversion. The Commanders then tried an onside kick, but Smith recovered it to secure the win.
The Eagles had some struggles on offense, but they made enough big plays to win. Hurts and Goedert connected for two touchdowns, and the defense came through when it mattered most. Philadelphia will look to build on this win in their next game against the Tennessee Titans.
