Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is facing a ton of pressure entering their Week 1 game against the Washington Commanders, but his opponents are giving him what he needs right now.
Hurts faced a ton of offseason criticism for how the Eagles' offense performed in 2025. He received the brunt of the blame for struggles that included the team finishing in the bottom 15 in total offense, passing, rushing, and scoring. Some criticism was that Hurts is unwilling to do things that make him uncomfortable, including his lack of running and his reluctance to change plays in the huddle.
Entering 2026, things seem different, as he is being praised for being more personable with his teammates and working well with new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. The interceptions in training camp, though, have many worried that Hurts won't play clean football this season. It's a good thing the Commanders are first on their schedule.
Jalen Hurts could get momentum booster he needs in Eagles-Commanders Week 1 game
Washington had one of the worst secondaries in the NFL last season. The Commanders were ranked 28th against the pass, allowing 242.5 yards per game.
When looking at their secondary now, though, it really doesn't feel like they upgraded much. Rasul Douglas is there now, with Trey Amos on IR at cornerback. The Commanders also have Mike Sainristil and Amik Robertson at cornerback.
If anything, this feels like Hurts has a major advantage against the Commanders. Last year, Hurts completed 73.3% of his passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns in their Week 16 win over the Commanders.
In his career against the Commanders, Hurts has consistently succeeded, throwing for 2,152 yards and 14 touchdowns with just three interceptions in 10 regular-season meetings. He is 7-3 overall against the Commanders, not including the NFC Championship win from back in 2024.
Hurts knows what it takes to beat the Commanders and has always succeeded against them, no matter what. With new offensive weapons and a new scheme in 2026, he has a chance to throw off Washington's game with new wrinkles that they are not used to.
Read more: Jalyx Hunt is playing for more than just snaps in Eagles' Week 1 showdown
This is the perfect opportunity for Hurts to start fast in the 2026 season by taking down the Commanders. It may not stop all the noise surrounding him, but it will at least lower the volume so he can focus on dominating the rest of the 2026 campaign.
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