Eagles open NFL season with narrow win as new offence faces early questions
Philadelphia beats Washington 24–22 after Jalen Hurts’ three touchdown passes and a late defensive stop, but Fox Sports identified inefficiency in the Eagles’ new running scheme.
The Philadelphia Eagles began their NFL season with a 24–22 home victory over the Washington Commanders, surviving a late push after Moro Ojomo stopped a two-point conversion attempt with 1:01 remaining.
Jalen Hurts passed for 203 yards and three touchdowns, with Dallas Goedert catching four passes for 77 yards and two scores. Philadelphia’s major passing plays drove four scoring possessions, while the offence stalled for extended periods between them.
The game marked Sean Mannion’s debut as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator. Fox Sports said the new system produced explosive gains, but also noted that Hurts struggled to consistently find open receivers downfield outside those plays.
Philadelphia’s new outside-zone running game was another concern in the analysis. Saquon Barkley’s under-centre runs averaged 2.3 yards per carry, according to Fox Sports, with his 42-yard gain coming from an inside-zone play from the gun.
The running game nevertheless helped reduce pressure on Hurts and allowed him to operate from clean pockets. Fox Sports attributed several of Philadelphia’s decisive gains to coverage errors by Washington, leaving questions about how the offence will perform against stronger opposition.
The Eagles next face the Titans and Bears before hosting the Rams in Week 4.
