A messy win that still counted
Philadelphia went three and out four times, three of them in a row to open the second half, and beat Washington 24-22 anyway. The offensive line spent the afternoon learning Sean Mannion’s blocking scheme in public, letting free runners into the backfield far more often than any coach would want.
What saved it were three or four snaps. Saquon Barkley broke off 42 yards to set up a second-quarter score. Jalen Hurts, uneven all day, landed three throws of at least 30 yards, the last of them a 43-yard catch-and-run to Dallas Goedert that decided the game.
Nick Sirianni now has six straight Week 1 wins, the longest active run in the league. Only four head coaches before him won each of their first six openers: Jim Harbaugh, Mike Shanahan, Potsy Clark and George Allen.
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Jayden Daniels took a half to arrive
Through two quarters Daniels completed 6 of 16 for 43 yards. Washington’s new offence under David Blough looked like something being installed rather than run. Then Daniels started using his legs, the quick game opened up, and he guided back-to-back fourth-quarter touchdown drives that turned a comfortable Philadelphia afternoon into a two-point finish.
The conversion that would have tied it was a shovel pass to John Bates. Moro Ojomo blew it up before it developed. Blough will want that call back.
One thing worked for Washington. A line rebuilt twice this year allowed a single sack and two quarterback hits, and Daniels came through his first game back from an injury-hit 2025 upright.
Baun holds the middle, the pass rush stays quiet
Zack Baun finished with 12 tackles, one for loss and both of Philadelphia’s passes defended. Around him the defence was solid without being frightening. Cooper DeJean gave up seven catches on nine targets for 83 yards and a touchdown. The rush disappeared for long stretches against a line that should have been vulnerable.
The interior held. Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Ojomo combined for 13 tackles and two run stuffs, and Washington finished with 295 total yards. That is the 19th time Vic Fangio’s defence has kept an opponent under 300 since he took over in 2024, a total only Seattle have bettered.
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