The Commanders’ mistakes and big plays cost them the 2026 opener, as Washington fell 24-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia.
Not sure what this was from Mikey Sainristil. He flips his head to find the ball and stopped running.
Gives up a 64 yard bomb. pic.twitter.com/Xs9et083GS
— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) September 13, 2026
- Rookie kicker Drew Stevens had an extra point blocked. As a result, the Commanders were down two points at the end instead of one and had to go for two to tie the game in the final minute.
- Stefon Diggs caught a 4th-quarter touchdown pass from 10 yards, bringing Washington to within 17-15 with 9:59 remaining in the game. Diggs, a long-time NFL veteran, then inexcusably leaped into the goalpost, drawing an unsportsmanlike penalty. Rightly so: the rule has been in place for years, and for good reason, because some players had been knocking the goalpost off center. The rule is so clear, and Diggs has known it for years, hasn’t he? The 15-yard penalty forced Washington to kick the extra point instead of going for two from the two-yard line to tie the game at 17-17. A rookie would be reprimanded, and Diggs should be as well, by the coaches and players.
- Trailing 17-16, the Commanders had Philadelphia in a 3rd & 18 at the Eagles’ 31. Then they gave up a 22-yard run to Eagles QB Jalen Hurts for a 1st & 10 at the Washington 47. Hurts then connected with Dallas Goedert for a 43-yard touchdown on what appeared to be a missed call by the officials. Did the Eagles not have a false start on the play? The result was the Eagles now leading 24-16 with 6:02 remaining.
3rd and 18? No problem for Jalen Hurts 💨
WASvsPHI on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/JZ3ltUv3v5— NFL (@NFL) September 13, 2026
- Washington trailed 7-3 in the second quarter. The Eagles faced a 3rd-and-2 at their 46; the Commanders surrendered a 42-yard run by Saquon Barkley. Two plays later, Mike Sainristil was beaten badly in man coverage for an Eagles 14-3 lead.
- Leading 3-0 in the opening quarter, the Eagles had a 2nd-and-4 at their own 30. Commanders CB Mike Sainristil was beaten badly deep; he looked lost, unaware of what was transpiring or where the ball was. It was a very bad look for Sainristil as Hurts completed a 64-yard pass to Dontayvion Wicks. This set up Jalen Hurts’ 17-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert for a 7-3 lead.
In summary, each time the Commanders surrendered a big play, the Eagles scored. The Commanders’ misses mentioned above also cost them points.
Thus, Washington falls to 0-1 and travels to Dallas next week. The Eagles (1-0) travel to the Tennessee Titans.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Big plays cost Commanders in 24-22 loss in Philadelphia
