​The Washington Commanders came up just short in the 2026 season opener on Sunday, falling 24-22 to thePhiladelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Commanders scored on their first possession of the game when rookie kicker Drew Stevens drilled a 55-yard field goal to give Washington an early 3-0 lead. Thanks to a strong early defensive effort, the Commanders held 3-0 into the second quarter. Unfortunately, some old habits came back to haunt Washington as it allowed a pair of touchdown passes set up by big plays the secondary allowed. Quarterback Jayden Daniels struggled to get going early, but running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt kept the Commanders in the game, rushing for 45 yards and a touchdown in the first half. The third quarter was a defensive battle, with the Eagles scoring the only three points to extend their lead to 17-9. The fireworks finally began in the fourth quarter. Daniels got going, completing 9 of 11 attempts for 100 yards and two touchdowns, but with one minute remaining, the Commanders’ two-point conversion failed, allowing the Eagles to secure the win. Here are six takeaways from Washington’s heartbreaking loss. Jayden Daniels started slow but improvedAt halftime, Daniels completed 6 of his 16 attempts for 43 yards. This is why you need context when discussing numbers. Most of Daniels’ incompletions were throwaways, and he had two drops in the first half. So, don’t let the latest “Twitter analyst” tell you Daniels was awful. Part of the problem was that Daniels was continuously forced off his spot. When he moved off his spot, he kept his eyes downfield, but there were no open receivers. Instead of just taking off and getting a few yards, Daniels wisely threw it away. This is the correct long-term play. You’ll take those throwaways, as they show growth. In the fourth quarter, Daniels finally began looking like himself. It all began on Washington’s first touchdown drive in the final quarter. Daniels avoided the pressure and scrambled 14 yards, spinning, dodging and weaving defenders to get the Commanders near midfield. Daniels also looked much more comfortable throwing the football in the final quarter, as his passes were on target, including a 33-yard completion to rookie Antonio Williams. It wasn’t enough in the end, but Washington’s other mistakes (more on those later) ultimately cost them a chance at a win. The Commanders, specifically Daniels, need to avoid these slow starts. But he needs help, too. Commanders can’t completely make Daniels stop runningDaniels is a special talent. He’s not a run-first quarterback. He’s a pocket passer who can run. He’s proven in college and early in his NFL career that he can win from the pocket. But to best take advantage of Daniels’ immense talent, the Commanders can’t completely make him stop scrambling. It’s one of many things that makes him special. It was clear early in the game that offensive coordinator David Blough has worked with Daniels to