Frank Schwab Senior writer Updated Mon, November 2, 2026 at 5:10 AM UTC About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this story It's not like the Washington Commanders are suddenly good, but they might still be in the playoff race. That's what happens when you play in the NFC East.
The Commanders, who had one win as the calendar flipped to November, can't be counted out yet. They improved to 2-4-1 by beating a far more inept Philadelphia Eagles team in a Sunday night game that almost everyone, presumably including Eagles and Commanders fans, wished had been flexed out of prime time. There was sloppy play on both sides, but the Commanders outlasted the Eagles for a 27-10 win. Jayden Daniels had 217 yards and a touchdown on a night when not many players stood out.
The New York Giants lead the division at 4-2-1, but their success seems tenuous unless J.J. McCarthy really is their answer at quarterback. If the Giants take a step back, the Commanders could be a factor in the division race. The Eagles or Dallas Cowboys certainly don't look like much of a threat.
This is the 2026 NFC East. The division has fallen hard over the past couple of seasons. It is the worst division in the NFL this season. And we'll still get plenty more chances to watch the four teams in prized television spots for the rest of the season.
It wasn't a big surprise that two NFC East teams gave everyone a messy first half in prime time.
The start was particularly wretched for the Commanders. There were bad penalties, sloppy mistakes and a fumble by tight end Chig Okonkwo that led to a Saquon Barkley touchdown and the Eagles taking a 10-0 lead.
The Eagles weren't a good team before injuries hit, and the injuries hit hard. Jalen Hurts is the top injury but far from the only one. It was surprising to see them take an early lead, but eventually they faded. The Eagles wouldn't score again after that early flurry in the first quarter.
The Commanders got it going later in the first half as Daniels hit Stefon Diggs for an 8-yard touchdown to tie the game 10-10. The Commanders got a field goal late in the first half. After a terrible start, Washington still led 13-10 at halftime.
It wasn't a pretty game from either side, but at least Washington had the lead.
The biggest difference in the game was the Commanders' pass rush. There was a time, not long ago, when the Eagles' offensive line was unquestionably the best in the NFL. That time has since passed. Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson retired. Respected offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland stepped down. Philadelphia's line is a shell of what it used to be. Tanner McKee was pressured all night, which made the assignment even tougher for a young quarterback. The line also couldn't get anything blocked for Saquon Barkley and the run game, which in turn put even more pressure on McKee.
Give the Eagles credit — or the Commanders discredit — for Philadelphia staying in the game despite its myriad issues. In the fourth quarter, it seemed like the Eagles had made a field goal to cut Washington's lead to three points, but they were called for an illegal formation because tackle Jordan Mailata lined up too far back and had to kick again. On his second attempt, Jake Elliott hit the left upright, and the attempt was no good. That summed up the Eagles' night, and their season.
The Commanders put up a field goal after that for a 19-10 lead, and an Eagles team that hadn't scored since the first quarter had to put up two scores to win. McKee was picked off on fourth-and-25, in case Philadelphia had any hopes of a comeback.
Rachaad White scored a touchdown after that to make the Eagles' night even more miserable.
It wasn't pretty football that a large television audience got to experience on Sunday night. The Commanders got the win, which hasn't been easy for them or anyone else in the division this season.
The Commanders put up 27 unanswered points to pick up their second win of the season. The Eagles, still without quarterback Jalen Hurts, have now lost six straight.
What's one more? Rachaad White punched in a 1-yard score, and the Commanders have pushed their lead to 17 points.
Now we're done. Tanner McKee threw up a ball on fourth and long, and Rasul Douglass easily picked it off.
Drew Stevens hit a 42-yard field goal after Jayden Daniels was tripped up on third down, so the Commanders are now up by 9 with 3:43 left.
The Commanders aren't wasting any time after that missed field goal. They're already in Philadelphia territory threatening to score.
Well that may have cost them the game. The Eagles were rolling on what ended up being a 15-play drive, but back-to-back penalties and a missed 41-yard field goal absolutely killed their shot to take the lead.
The Commanders lead 16-10 now with 8:58 to go. They have a chance to end this.
The Commanders nearly intercepted McKee there after Dallas Goedert bobbled the ball, but it was called off after a roughing the passer penalty. The Eagles got lucky.
The Commanders still lead at the end of the third.
Well, that gain only resulted in a field goal for Washington. Daniels threw two incompletions — one that Okonkwo nearly pulled off in the corner of the end zone — and Austin Eckler was stuffed at the line.
They lead 16-10 now with 1:33 left in the third.
Treylon Burks easily got past Quinyon Mitchell there to land the 53-yard reception, and the Commanders are suddenly in scoring position.
Tanner McKee lost the football! After a very promising drive, he had it poked out from behind in the pocket, and the Commanders recovered.
What a turn here late in the third quarter. Washington will take over at their own 40.
Well, Okonkwo's catch didn't matter. The Eagles stopped Washington quickly after that, and Jayden Daniels was sacked easily on third down.
The Eagles will take back over with 6:20 left in the third.
What a catch from Chig Okonkwo! He fought through a holding penalty and somehow managed to make the one-handed grab. Incredible.
McKee got the Eagles moving to start the second half, but the drive quickly stalled out around midfield. Dallas Goedert was pushed back on a short toss up the middle on second down, and then Elijah Mitchell was stuffed at the line on third-and-3.
So the Commanders will take over at their own 4.
The Commanders are up by a field goal at the break, though Jayden Daniels appears to be struggling after that last drive.
The Eagles will receive the ball to start the third quarter.
Jayden Daniels had a wide open Okonkwo on third down, but he sent it over his head while scrambling to avoid the sack.
Drew Stevens instead hit a 39-yarder, so the Commanders are up 13-10 with just 19 seconds left in the half.
Jayden Daniels took a huge shot in the backfield there, and he was very slow to get up. It appears that Daniels was able to walk it off and will remain in the game, but it didn't look great.
After two short runs, Tanner McKee nearly got it in there for Lemon deep up the left side. But Lemon couldn't quite hold on between a pair of defenders, so it's a second straight three-and-out.
Washington will take over at midfield after another huge return from McCaffrey.
It looked like Rachaad White had picked up the first down there, but a review determined he was just inches short of the line. So instead of pushing it, the Commanders opted to just punt it away.
The Eagles will take over with about 90 seconds left before half.
Barkley got stuffed at the line, and then a delay of game penalty backed the Eagles up even more early on this drive.
Tanner McKee then completely missed Mitchell short on third down, so they'll have to punt. The Commanders will get the ball back with a perfect opportunity to get points on the board before halftime.
Source: Sports
