Snap Counts: Commanders at Eagles Week 1

The Eagles kicked off the 2026 season with a 24-22 win over the Commanders, surviving an uneven second half that brought back some uncomfortable 2025 memories and a late Washington comeback attempt at the Linc. It wasn’t clean, but a Week 1 division win is a Week 1 division win. Let’s dig into the snap counts, because they tell you a lot about how this game was won and who the Eagles are leaning on early.

Eagles vs Commanders Week 1 Recap: Birds win 24-22 after stuffing late 2-point try

For context, Philadelphia ran just 55 offensive plays against 70 defensive snaps, a direct reflection of Washington holding a 33:20 time-of-possession edge. The Eagles didn’t sustain drives well, but they got timely, back-breaking big plays when it mattered.

Eagles Offense: Hurts and Goedert Carried the Load

Jalen Hurts played all 55 offensive snaps and was efficient, going 14-of-25 for 203 yards, three touchdowns, and no picks, plus five carries for 48 yards. His signature moment was a third-and-18 scramble in the fourth quarter where he gained 22 to extend the drive before hitting Goedert for a 43-yard score.

Those three touchdown passes pushed his career total to 113, tying Carson Wentz for fourth in franchise history. Keep the disrespect coming, everyone.

Saquon Barkley handled 39 snaps (71%) and rushed 15 times for 83 yards, including a 42-yard burst that set up a touchdown. Will Shipley (10 snaps) and Tank Bigsby (6) spelled him, with both also contributing heavily on special teams.

At receiver, DeVonta Smith (52 snaps, 95%) and Dontayvion Wicks (50 snaps, 91%) were the primary guys, and Wicks made an outstanding first impression, catching two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, including a 64-yard bomb that set up the first score and a 12-yard TD. Rookie Makai Lemon played 64% of the snaps in his NFL debut and threw a key downfield block on Hurts’ fourth-quarter scramble. Nice to see the kid trusted right away.

Dallas Goedert (52 snaps, 95%) was a central figure, hauling in four passes for 77 yards and TWO touchdowns. The man has now scored seven touchdowns across his last six home games including playoffs. Goedert is money at the Linc.

The offensive line, Mailata, Dickerson, Jurgens, Steen, and Johnson, all played every single snap, but it wasn’t a clean afternoon. Washington got three sacks, Dickerson allowed three pressures and had a holding penalty, and Dickerson and Jurgens combined for three holds total. That pressure has to get cleaned up.

View this post on Instagram

Eagles Defense: Zack Baun Was an Absolute Monster

The defensive story starts and ends with Zack Baun, who played all 70 snaps and turned in one of the best individual performances you’ll see. Twelve tackles, four run stops, two passes defended, and a tackle for loss. Per Next Gen Stats, he allowed three catches for MINUS-2 yards on six targets, becoming one of only two defenders since 2025 to face at least five targets in a game without giving up a single positive receiving yard.

Jihaad Campbell (67 snaps, 96%) notched the first sack of his NFL career and looks fully entrusted with a three-down role. Jalen Carter played 66 of 70 defensive snaps, but his biggest play came on special teams, where he blocked an extra point, his fourth blocked kick since 2023.

In a two-point game, that block was the entire margin. Moro Ojomo also came up huge, diagnosing Washington’s shovel-pass attempt on the potential game-tying two-point conversion to preserve the lead. Massive.

In the secondary, offseason addition Riq Woolen and Quinyon Mitchell both played all 70 snaps. Woolen’s debut was outstanding: 37 coverage snaps, targeted four times, ZERO receptions allowed, and not a single yard given up in his direction.

Cooper DeJean and Andrew Mukuba also played every snap, though DeJean did surrender a fourth-quarter touchdown to Stefon Diggs, the first slot TD he’s allowed in his career.

Special Teams Decided It

In a game this tight, special teams were the difference. Carter’s blocked extra point and Ojomo’s two-point stop were the two plays that separated the teams. Braden Mann was excellent punting, averaging 51.6 yards on seven punts with two 60-yarders and four inside the 20. Jake Elliott hit his lone field goal from 35.

It wasn’t a masterpiece, and the second-half lull plus the offensive line issues are worth monitoring. But 1-0 is 1-0, and there was plenty to like. Hurts efficient and clutch, Goedert dominant at home, Wicks and Lemon flashing right away, and a defense led by an unreal Baun performance that made the plays it needed to in crunch time.

Join The Chase