4 eye-opening observations from Eagles' Week 1 win over Commanders - Eagles Wire
The Philadelphia Eagles won't earn style points for Sunday's 24-22 victory over the Washington Commanders, but they earned something far more important. They earned a win, an early tie-breaker over the Commanders, and momentum to carry them into Week 2.
Philadelphia's season opener was equal parts encouraging and frustrating. The offense showed flashes and offered cause for concern. The defense delivered timely plays despite running out of gas after spending too much time on the field.
The special teams unit contributed winning moments. Kudos are for Braden Mann, the punter. Most importantly, the win gives an early share of the lead in the NFC East race. As the dust settles, several interesting nuggets emerged from Sunday's victory.
The Eagles have developed a habit of starting fast under Nick Sirianni. Sunday's victory improved Sirianni and Jalen Hurts to 6-0 in season openers together, a remarkable accomplishment considering how difficult it can be to navigate Week 1 uncertainty.
Hurts has now thrown for 1,310 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions in season openers. He has scored 12 total touchdowns and boasts a 98.2 passer rating. The win also placed Sirianni in rare company. Only five head coaches in NFL history have won each of their first six career season openers: Potsy Clark, George Allen, Mike Shanahan, Jim Harbaugh and Sirianni.
For all the criticism he occasionally receives, Sirianni's teams continue to be ready when the games begin to count. The Eagles have made a habit of testing their fans' blood pressure. Fortunately for Philadelphia, they have also made a habit of winning close games under Sirianni.
Sunday's two-point victory added another chapter to an already impressive reΜsumeΜ. Sirianni now owns a 35-14 record in one-score games, giving him the third-best winning percentage in one-score contests in NFL history. That's not luck. That's a pattern.
Good coaches find ways to navigate chaos. Great coaches consistently come out on the winning side. Whether it's clock management, situational football, or maintaining composure in pressure-packed moments, Sirianni's teams have repeatedly shown they can finish games. Sunday provided another example.
The Eagles entered the season believing they had one of the NFL's most athletic linebacker duos. Week 1 offered plenty of evidence supporting that belief. Zack Baun led Philadelphia with 12 tackles, finishing just four shy of crafting a new career high.
He was active against the run, effective in coverage, and involved in nearly every significant defensive sequence. Jihaad Campbell wasn't far behind with nine tackles while adding a sack, a tackle for loss, and another quarterback hit.
Combined, the duo accounted for 21 tackles and consistently helped clean up plays before they became bigger problems. If this becomes the weekly standard, or close to it, opposing offenses will have a hard time attacking the middle of Philadelphia's defense.
The Eagles didn't dominate offensively, but they capitalized when opportunities presented themselves. Philadelphia converted two of its three trips inside the red zone into touchdowns, a success rate any coaching staff will gladly accept. Dallas Goedert scored the first touchdown of the Eagles' season, while Dontayvion Wicks added another later in the game.
The offense remains a work in progress. Too many drives stalled, and too many possessions ended before they truly began.
Still, red-zone efficiency often separates wins from losses in tightly contested games. The Eagles weren't perfect Sunday, but they were productive enough where it mattered most.
Week 1 revealed plenty of areas that need improvement, but it also reinforced several truths Eagles fans have seen before. Hurts and Sirianni continue to start seasons well. Sirianni continues to thrive in close games. Philadelphia's linebackers appear poised for big years, and the offense showed it can finish drives when opportunities arise.
The Eagles may not have played their best football Sunday. The encouraging part is they still found a way to win anyway.
