Commanders Came Painfully Close To Finishing Off The Eagles Last Time

In a thrilling encounter at Lincoln Financial Stadium, the Commanders fell just short against the Eagles, marred by a crucial missed block and penalty that ultimately sealed their fate.

The Commanders’ last trip against the Eagles ended with one play standing between them and a tie.

Philadelphia held off Washington 24-22 in Week 1 on Sep. 13, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Stadium, and the finish came down to a failed two-point try after the Commanders had already clawed back from a two-score hole.

Washington made it interesting late. With 1:01 left and the Commanders down 24-16, Jayden Daniels hit rookie receiver Antonio Williams on a one-yard touchdown pass to trim the margin to 24-22. On the conversion attempt, Daniels took the shotgun snap, rolled left, then turned back and fired to John Bates, who tried to catch it and power toward the goal line for the tying points.

He never got there. Starting center Nick Allegretti missed his block, and the Eagles’ Moro Ojomo met Bates before he could even get upfield.

The Commanders still had one more chance, but Drew Stevens’ ensuing onside kick was recovered by DeVonta Smith. From there, Jalen Hurts took two snaps and kneeled twice to close it out.

Philadelphia controlled the opening half and went into the break up 14-3. Washington answered with a 67-yard drive in 12 plays, finished by Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s one-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 14-9, though Stevens missed the extra point.

The Commanders kept pushing in the fourth quarter. Down 17-9, they marched 67 yards in nine plays, and Daniels found Stefon Diggs from 10 yards out to make it 17-15.

Diggs then ran to the goal post and leaped into it, drawing an unsportsmanlike penalty that wiped out Washington’s chance to go for two from the two. Stevens’ kick made it 17-16.

Washington’s defense couldn’t get the stop it needed after that. The Eagles answered with a 74-yard drive in eight plays to stretch the lead to 24-16, setting up the Commanders’ final touchdown and the late two-point miss that decided the game.

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