The Commanders overcame an array of early miscues on Sunday night, scoring 27 unanswered points to defeat the division rival Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in primetime.
Washington opened the game with a display of inefficiency that left onlookers puzzled.
With a shot at third-and-one from Philadelphia’s 27-yard line on the game-opening drive, points seemed almost guaranteed. But quarterback Jayden Daniels was called for a false start. Then guard Sam Cosmi committed the same penalty. A third-and-11 resulted in an incomplete pass and forced rookie kicker Drew Stevens to attempt a 55-yard field goal.
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He missed.
The miscues became a theme. After Philadelphia kicked a field goal to take a 3-0 lead, Washington’s Rachaad White misplayed the kickoff and touched it before it hit the end zone. The following touchback only took the Commanders to the 20-yard line, instead of the 35.
Their next play featured a penalty for an ineligible man downfield. Then came a false start. Then tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo fumbled the ball, giving the Eagles possession at the Commanders’ 26-yard line.
Washington’s defense joined the penalty parade on the next play. But Philadelphia declined the illegal contact foul, settling for a 24-yard pass to a wide-open Saquon Barkley on a busted coverage.
Barkley scored a three-yard touchdown off a direct snap just two plays later.
Washington woke up in the second quarter, though. Daniels led a dink-and-dunk offense on a methodical 11-play, 89-yard drive. After lacking any chemistry with receivers in the first quarter, he found them in stride on his first possession of the second quarter.
He punctuated the efficient march down the field with an eight-yard score to veteran receiver Stefon Diggs to tie the game at 10.
Another slick operation — this time with less than a minute remaining in the half — allowed Washington to kick another field goal to steal a 13-10 advantage before halftime. It came at a cost. Eagles pass rusher Nolan Smith delivered a hard hit on Daniels with 28 seconds remaining. The dual-threat quarterback struggled to get up as he appeared to grab at his right ribs. Washington took a timeout to discuss the blow and decide whether to keep Daniels in the game or swap him for backup quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Daniels remained in the game.
Washington’s franchise quarterback battled back from the early missteps. He finished with 217 passing yards, completing 16 of his 29 attempts with a touchdown and no interceptions.
The defense bent without breaking through the first three quarters, thanks in large part to clutch third-down play that forced five punts on the night.
Late in the third quarter, Washington’s defenders made a splash. With Philadelphia driving into Washington territory, Commanders end Dorance Armstrong flipped momentum with a strip-sack of quarterback Tanner McKee. Teammate Charles Omenihu grabbed the loose ball to complete the turnover.
McKee completed 23 of 34 passes totaling 212 yards with a late interception.
The Commanders took the top off the Eagles’ secondary to start the next drive with a 53-yard strike to receiver Treylon Burks.
Stevens added another field goal after Washington failed to convert the goal-to-go opportunity.
The Commanders struggled to avoid penalties throughout the affair, though. A third-quarter interception was overturned due to a controversial roughing the passer call on Washington’s K’Lavon Chaission. It was his second flag of the night after a similarly borderline flag in the second quarter.
Philadelphia didn’t capitalize. A 15-play drive stalled in the red zone. The Eagles planned to attempt a fourth-down conversion at the 13-yard line, but a false start pushed them back and forced a field goal attempt. An illegal formation flag on the kick made it a 41-yard try.
Eagles kicker Jake Elliott slammed it into the right upright, allowing it to bounce harmlessly onto the grass while the Commanders maintained a 16-10 lead.
Washington added another field goal from Stevens with less than four minutes remaining to make it a two-possession game. White added a one-yard rushing touchdown with less than two minutes left to seal the victory and send Commanders fans home happy.
The victory marked Daniels’ first win since Oct. 5, 2025.
The Commanders, now 2-4-1, return to action at home next Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. The Eagles (2-6) host the NFC East-leading New York Giants on Sunday.
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