The Philadelphia Eagles kicked off their 2026 season with a nail-biting 1-0 win over the Washington Commanders, narrowly avoiding a brutal division loss right from the jump. Forget the overall team performance for a sec, because what absolutely jumped off the screen was Jalen Hurts, who put the team on his back and delivered exactly when they needed him.
QB1 Stepped Up Big Time
This guy was straight-up carrying the offense, plain and simple. We’re talking 14 completions on 25 attempts for 203 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions, all while racking up a 122.2 passer rating. And don’t even get me started on his legs: 7 carries for 46 rushing yards. That’s a huge deal, especially when you remember he only hit that 46-yard mark in two out of 17 games last year.
But it wasn’t just the numbers. Think about that fourth quarter, 3rd-and-18 conversion. The offense had been sputtering, putting up just 67 yards and three points over their previous five drives on 21 plays. They needed a spark, and Hurts delivered it, pure and simple. His first touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert? From 3rd-and-goal at the 17, squeezed into a tiny window up the seam. That’s elite stuff. Then he hits Dontayvion Wicks deep on a clear out route, an anticipatory ball thrown with admirable aggression. And that deep completion to DeVonta Smith along the right sideline? Absolutely gorgeous. When your QB1 plays like that, it just makes you feel good about what’s ahead. This was an encouraging performance, no doubt about it.
It gets better, too. According to Brandon Lee Gowton, Jalen Hurts now stands with Roger Staubach and Johnny Unitas as the only NFL quarterbacks since 1950 to start their Week 1 games with a 6-0 record. That’s Hall of Fame company! And if you look at the film, per Deniz Selman, Hurts had an NFL-high 33% non-target rate in Week 1, which means 11 non-targets across 33 dropbacks, including 5 scrambles, 3 throwaways, and 3 sacks. He was scrambling for big gains, and those sacks weren’t even on him. The guy was out there making magic happen, nullifying major protection issues that could’ve totally derailed the game plan.
Defense Stood Tall When It Counted
While Hurts was putting on a clinic, Moro Ojomo came through with the kind of clutch play that wins you games. With the Commanders pushing for a two-point conversion to tie things up, Ojomo sniffed out their shovel pass to John Bates and wrapped him up short of the line of scrimmage, sealing that narrow victory. It’s a shame the NFL doesn’t officially credit him with a TFL for a two-point conversion stop, or even that sack he created for Jihaad Campbell. Seriously, the stats don’t tell the whole story, but everyone watching saw the impact. Ojomo is in a contract year and looks absolutely poised for a massive season. And shoutout to Zack Baun, another winner in this opening week battle.
Starting 1-0 is huge, especially in a division game. But seeing Jalen Hurts perform under pressure, carrying the load and delivering highlight-reel plays, that’s what really gets you hyped for the season. With guys like Ojomo making critical plays when it matters most, this team’s got the fight. What does this mean for the season? It means the QB is locked in, the defense can make game-winning stops, and there’s a whole lot to look forward to.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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