As the events of Week 1's Philadelphia Eagles 24-22 win over the visiting Washington Commanders unfolded, the game showed the usual ebb and flow of a physical, back-and-forth NFC East battle.
And while the electric performances of stars such as Jalen Hurts and Zack Baun warranted plenty of recognition, field position also played a vital role in helping Philadelphia seal the deal. That's where veteran punter Braden Mann took center stage, as the Houston native blended power and precision to pin the visitors deep in their own territory time and again.
Fresh off a 2025 season which saw Mann deliver a strong 49 yards per punt, Mann picked up right where he left off in the season opener, pinning the Commanders deep on numerous occasions, including a critical coffin-corner punt late in the first half, all while providing the Eagles with his usual reliable, top-flight punting prowess.
Braden Mann helps Eagles control battle for field position in Week 1
Mann averaged 51.6 yards per punt, unleashing seven punts, four of which landed inside the 20, including a booming 64-yarder. In a down-to-the-wire game where the fight for field position was constant, he once again gave Philadelphia a major advantage in the third phase.
The seventh-year veteran, who inked a new deal last March to remain in Philadelphia for the next four years, is off to a rousing start this regular season. His counterpart in the Week 1 matchup, three-time pro bowler Tress Way of Washington, boomed several of his own to 53 yards per punt but failed to pin the Eagles inside the 20 even once.
Meanwhile, Mann accomplished the feat a remarkable four times in Week 1. In each of his last two seasons, Mann has done so 20 times over 17 games, making this a blazing start to the punter's 2026 campaign.
While Mann led the special teams charge, other standout efforts emerged in the third phase as well. Of course, Jalen Carter's blocked PAT late in the first half would loom large down the stretch, and wideout Darius Cooper also excelled, notching four tackles on coverage units.
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Meanwhile, Eagles kicker Jake Elliott wasn't called upon too much, but he got the job done in this one. The 10-year veteran split the uprights on his lone 35-yard field goal attempt and nailed all three extra points.
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