Jalen Hurts’ late-game heroics lift Eagles past Commanders in season opener

The Philadelphia Eagles opened their season with a 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders on Sept. 13, and the decisive moments belonged squarely to quarterback Jalen Hurts.

Facing a 3rd-and-18 midway through the fourth quarter — with the offense staring at a fourth consecutive three-and-out in the second half — Hurts scrambled for 22 yards and a first down. Two plays later, he connected with tight end Dallas Goedert over the middle, and Goedert turned the catch into a 43-yard touchdown that proved to be the winning points.

Hurts was characteristically brief when asked to break down the conversion. “It’s just playing ball, going out there and playing ball,” he told reporters, repeating the phrase when pressed for detail on the go-ahead score. “Y’all are digging. Y’all trying to figure something out,” he added.

The highlights weren’t limited to the fourth quarter. Hurts hit Dontayvion Wicks on a 64-yard strike to set up the Eagles’ first touchdown — a 17-yard throw to Goedert into double coverage. He also delivered a 31-yard sideline pass that DeVonta Smith corralled while dragging both feet in bounds on his way out of the field of play.

Coach Nick Sirianni praised his quarterback’s versatility. “I think one of the things that makes Jalen such a special quarterback is that he can do it through the air. He can do it running the show,” Sirianni said. “He can do it with his legs when he needs to make plays.”

While Hurts drove the offense, the defense sealed the result. Defensive tackle Moro Ojomo stopped Washington’s two-point conversion attempt in the final minute that would have tied the game, and fellow defensive tackle Jalen Carter blocked an extra point earlier in the contest.

The win comes as the offense adjusts to new coordinator Sean Mannion’s scheme, and the early returns suggest the system’s ceiling still depends largely on Hurts’ ability to extend plays and make game-changing throws.

The matchup also carries broader media significance. Nationally televised NFL games remain a key ratings driver for broadcasters like Fox Corporation, whose sports programming arm relies on marquee matchups and star quarterbacks to anchor its fall schedule. Fox shares were flat in recent trading, changing hands at $65.94, with the company valued at roughly $26.85 billion.

What to watch

• How the Eagles’ offense evolves under coordinator Sean Mannion over the next several weeks.
• Hurts’ health and usage, given the physical toll of his rushing workload.
• Upcoming divisional matchups that could shape NFC East standings.
• NFL broadcast ratings trends, a metric relevant to networks including Fox Corporation as the season progresses.

Source: original release