QB Report Cards for 2026 NFL Week 1

Typically, the start of a new NFL season sets the bar for expectations, specifically the quarterback position. The lineup for Week 1 serves as the preview of how a team is supposed to look throughout the campaign and who will be leading the group. The 2027 already looks different after one game.

The reigning Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks, will be without Sam Darnold for a "couple games" due to a glute injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport . In the same opener, life became far more difficult for the New England Patriots' Drake Maye since his top target, AJ Brown, has been placed on injured reserve with an expectation of missing at least six weeks. Kyler Murray began the season as the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback but suffered a concussion and didn't finish his debut with the team. The Atlanta Falcons didn't even make it to Week 1 before they were down to QB3 upon facing the Pittsburgh Steelers. Each week, Bleacher Report will grade every quarterback performance no matter how their play shakes out throughout the action.

Score : 26-14 win vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Stat Line : 27 of 37 for 277 yards and a touchdown

The Cardinals were written off by everyone outside of their building before the 2026 campaign began. Arizona's locker room wasn't ready to concede the season, though. In the most surprising outcome of the opening weekend, the Cardinals handled the Los Angeles Chargers.

Last season, Jacoby Brissett posted impressive passing statistics, albeit in losing efforts. On Sunday, the veteran quarterback operated Mike LaFleur's system efficiently for the most part, expect for an ill-advised, late second-quarter heave that was nearly intercepted near the goal line.

Otherwise, the Cardinals coaching staff placed Brissett and the offense in a position to succeed, as the group accumulated 393 yards.

"[Coach LaFleur] was great today," Brissett said in a postgame interview with CBS' Melanie Collins . "Me and him, I felt like we were in-synch from Play 1."

Score : 20-13 loss vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Stat Line : 12 of 22 for 143 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions

The Falcons placed Cooper Rush in a near-impossible situation. Neither of Atlanta's top-two quarterbacks were able to play Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Thus, it fell on the squad's QB3 to open the season as the Falcons' starter.

To make matter worse, Rush suffered from back spasms leading into the contest. Now, go face the Steelers defense. Good luck.

Still, the Falcons feature significant offensive skill talent. But Rush and Co. couldn't get the passing game off the ground. In fact, the team's wide receivers caught only three passes. The majority of Rush's 12 completions went to running back Bijan Robinson. The quarterback targeted tight end Kyle Pitts only once.

It's' difficult to give Rush a failing grade because of extenuating circumstances. At the same time, he didn't play well.

Score : 41-23 win vs. Indianapolis Colts

Stat Line : 17 of 25 for 324 yards, a touchdown and a fumble lost; seven carries for 40 yards a score

A different version of Lamar Jackson showed up Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. No, he's still as much of a playmaker as he's been throughout in his career. In this case, the dual-threat quarterback's deployment was different.

As noted by Sumer Sports' Shawn Syed , Jackson posted the highest career percentages working from under center and dropping back from center. Jackson and Co. shredded the Colts defense and amassed 506 yards. Baltimore basically did whatever it wanted, with Jackson leading the way.

As this offense continues to evolve under the supervision of coordinator Declan Doyle, the quarterback's usage will be watched closely. Initial returns are quite promising, though.

"It's just football at the end of the day," Jackson said during an postgame interview with CBS Sports' AJ Ross . "But you know we've been preparing, been prepping. Coach Declan's been out of this world when it comes to details."

Stat Line : 20 of 29 for 334 yards and two touchdowns; six carries for 23 yards and two scores

The Houston Texans lacked kryptonite and shouldn't have pulled on Superman's cape. Instead, Josh Allen once again proved to be the standard at quarterback due to his combination of size, arm strength, mobility and playmaking ability.

Allen scored a pair of rushing touchdowns. The Bills were trailing in both instances. After the Texans secured a late fourth-quarter lead, Buffalo's quarterback led a seven-play, 96-yard scoring drive against the game's best defense. Ultimately, Allen connected on a 34-yard pass to Josh Palmer. Interestingly, Allen executed the play despite it not being by design.

"You want the absolute truth?" Allen said during a postgame interview with CBS Sports' Evan Washburn . "We call this a horseshoe. That wasn't where the ball was supposed to go. We have never once repped the ball going there. I just felt those safeties started cheating toward DJ (Moore) a little bit. Josh ran a great route. I put in on a line for him and he did the rest."

Stat Line : 23 of 37 for 361 yards, three touchdowns and an interception; two carries, 10 yards and a score

The version of Bryce Young that showed up Sunday will finally validate the the Panthers' decision to select him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Young had his moments during his previous three seasons, but he hasn't consistently looked like a true franchise quarterback. During Sunday's action, the Panthers quarterback went punch for punch with Caleb Williams and the Bears' high-flying offense. Young looked comfortable and made some outstanding throws, sans an interception due to the defensive back undercutting an out pattern.

"Every game, I'm impressed by him," wide receiver Jalen Coker said of Young . "He's a dog. Gritty. Throwing on the run. I cannot say enough good things about him. Unfortunately, Young and the Panthers offense didn't receive any help from Carolina's defense, which marred an outstanding performance.

Stat Line : 21 of 29 for 269 yards and two touchdowns; 10 carries for 65 yards and two scores

The Bears offense is already humming to the tune of 552 yards in the team's season-opener against the Carolina Panthers. Chicago's 59 points were a franchise-best in a season-opener. For context, the Bears organization has existed since 1920.

Caleb Williams continues to grow in Ben Johnson's offensive scheme without limiting his natural playmaking prowess. In fact, the opposite is happening. Williams is expanding an already proven offensive system and making it more dynamic.

The 2024 first overall draft pick can drop an impressive opposite-hash dime between two defenders to tight end Cole Kmet between for a score, while also scampering for a pair of touchdowns in the same contest.

Williams is maturing into his final form.

"I could kind of tell [Saturday] night, we were doing our quarterback meeting one last time, and I mean, he was on top of it," Johnson said after the game . "Everything he was rattling out, just where (his) eyes need to be, what (he's) thinking. I slept really well with that in mind."

Score : 33-27 win vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stat Line : 25 of 35 for 254 yards, a touchdown and an interception; five carries for 20 yards

Joe Burrow wasn't perfect against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he was definitely good enough for Cincinnati to accumulate 351 yards and score on six of its nine drives, including the final series to run out the clock.

Technically, Burrow led seven scoring drives. The quarterback helped Tampa Bay score a touchdown when he threw a pick-six to rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter.

"Terrible. Terrible from me," Burrow told reporters. "Y'know, I had an out-route to the field. The defender got underneath it. I tried to throw to the replacement, and the guy made a good play. I can't make that throw."

Those types of mistakes aren't typical. Usually, Burrow displays tremendous touch and accuracy. The quarterback still spread the ball around, with nine different receivers catching passes and none with more than five grabs.

Score : 34-10 loss vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Stat Line : 16 of 22 for 205 yards, a touchdown and an interception; six carries for 38 yards

The sentiment within the Cleveland Browns fanbase is one of complete dismay, with no hope of this season being productive. The reason is simple: Deshaun Watson shouldn't be the franchise's starting quarterback. His performance Sunday showed exactly why.

Watson looked uncomfortable in the team's offense. He had no feel for the pocket, which made life so much harder on a brand new offensive line.

The decision to start Watson already felt out of place and forced due to the circumstances of him still being on the roster. The Browns simply need to get past the previous trade and terrible contract extension. They're sunk cost. The organization must move forward with someone else behind center. Otherwise, Watson's status will be the primary discussion point each and every week.

"I'm sure as hell not firing me. I'm not firing our staff. I'm not getting rid of all our players. He happens to be one of 53," head coach Todd Monken said when asked about whether Watson will start in Week 2. "So, we'll evaluate everything. We just didn't play good enough...didn't coach well enough."

Stat Line : 22 of 34 for 175 yards, two touchdowns and an interception

The Cowboys offense was supposed to be difficult to stop this season. The team was supposed to get help from a much-improved defense. Neither proved to be true during Dallas' season-opener against the New York Giants.

To make matters worse, quarterback Dak Prescott has been the team's most reliable performer. However, the game turned late in the second quarter when Prescott attempted to throw away a pass only for Giants safety Jevón Holland to grab the interception. Six plays later, New York scored a touchdown and never looked back.

"That was crucial," Prescott told reporters . "I was trying to throw the ball away. The guy made a hell of a play. I got to make sure that it's out of bounds, though. I was surprised. It's one I want back, obviously. I think that was a huge point in the game."

Score : 31-30 win vs. New Orleans Saints

Stat Line : 26 of 39 for 206 yards and two touchdowns

Jared Goff's and the Lions' performance would have looked rather different if not for a rules quirk where a fumble/lateral somehow didn't equate to a turnover.

The New Orleans Saints could have built first-half momentum with a scoop-and-score that was called back instead of waiting until the second half before they came roaring back from a 21-point deficit.

Now, everybody knows that a fumble isn't a fumble if a quarterback intends to throw the ball forward after starting his throwing motion. [Insert confused GIF .]

Anyhow, Goff led a 10-play, 70-yard drive in overtime, where he completed five of six passes, including the game-winning score.

"We just weren't shooting ourselves in the foot," Goff said of Detroit's final offensive possession . "Positive play after positive play, staying ahead of the chains, getting in third-and-short. … When we stay on track, we score points."

Score : 39-22 loss vs. Minnesota Vikings

Stat Line : 21 of 42 for 387 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and a fumble lost

Jordan Love had the unenviable task of facing Brian Flores' defense in Week 1. Everyone knows what they're going to get against Flores scheme and it's a lot of pressure.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats (h/t Benjamin Solak ), the Minnesota Vikings blitzed Love on 78.2 percent of his dropbacks, which created a 58.2 pressure rate. Minnesota sacked Green Bay's signal-caller four times and hit him 15 more times.

Pressure will rattle any quarterback. Love still delivered in multiple instances. However, he was forced into mistakes as well. The quarterback's interception was a direct result of him throwing off his back foot and behind his receiver because pressure had affected him.

"There were a couple of plays I wish I could get back," Love told reporters . "That's part of the game. You have to find ways to overcome those. You have to handle the pressure and find answers, but that's how it is when you play this defense."

Stat Line : 26 of 38 for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two fumbles lost.

This season is built around whether CJ Stroud is actually the Houston Texans' answer at quarterback. When Josh Allen is playing in the same game, it's difficult to say Stroud is a franchise quarterback, especially with how Sunday's game ended. Stroud had his moments. He completed multiple passes of 20 or more yards and threw a pair of touchdowns. However, the turnovers became the real problem. Stroud fumbled twice. Both occurred after the quarterback tried to climb the pocket and keep his eyes downfield. Unfortunately, he didn't secure the football. The second turnover ended the game. The Texans were in scoring position with 16 seconds left to play. Though Houston did lack a timeout and the game would have likely ended with just a sack. Either way, ball security must become a priority for Stroud if the Texans plan to compete and win against the game's best teams.

Stat Line : 19 of 31 for 166 yards, a touchdown and an interception

Almost everything went wrong for the Colts after the opening series against the Baltimore Ravens. A slight silver lining may exist, though. Daniel Jones was back on the field and didn't appear drastically limited despite coming back from an Achilles tendon tear he suffered nine months ago. Clearly, the Colts' offensive coaching staff built a gameplan to ensure Jones wasn't forced to continually test the previously injured leg. The quarterback was asked to primarily line up in shotgun, get the ball out quickly and not drive it down the field. Each serves as an indication that Jones isn't 100 percent. Meanwhile, Indianapolis' defense was completely unprepared for the Ravens and allowed over 500 yards. Jones may not be what he was during the first half of the 2025 campaign, but the Colts offense can still move the ball and score some points.

Stat Line : 18 of 23 for 245 yards, 245 yards and four touchdowns

Trevor Lawrence learned how to play fast and loose last season under head coach/offensive play-caller Liam Coen. In doing so, he finally looked like the quarterback so many expected when the Jaguars chose him with the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. His performance during Week 1 served as an extension of the player he has become.

Lawrence was allowed to get comfortable in the pocket and picked apart the Browns' defense. His 0.7 EPA per dropback ranked among the 98th percentile, according to Sumer Sports' Shawn Syed . The 26-year-old signal-caller spread the ball around to nine different receivers, with four different targets catching a touchdown. The Jaguars' quarterback has an opportunity to enter elite status if he continues a similar level of play in the coming weeks against the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals.

Stat Line : 21 of 30 for 160 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions

Kirk Cousins is a seat-warmer for this year's No. 1 overall draft pick, Fernando Mendoza. Any victory with Cousins at the helm is a positive as the team builds toward Mendoza's eventual first start, whenever that may be. Cousins' role until then is obvious. He needs to be efficient, particularly when operating the quick passing game, because the attack will complement Ashton Jeanty's role as the offensive focal point. Last year's sixth overall draft pick carried the ball 23 times for 102 yards and caught six passes for 45 more yards. Sunday's performance did show Cousins isn't nearly as effective when trying to drive the ball down the field. He threw two poor passes over the middle of the field that resulted in interceptions. Even so, the Raiders will take similar performances if they result in more wins than losses.

Score : 26-14 loss vs. Arizona Cardinals

Stat Line : 17 of 27 for 209 yards, a touchdown and an interception; five carries for 29 yards

The Chargers offense failed to muster much of anything in Mike McDaniel's debut as the play-caller. Los Angeles managed 268 yards. The designed run game, not including Justin Herbert's contributions, averaged 3.3 yards per carry. The passing game failed to surpass 200 yards. Plus, the rebuilt offensive line didn't hold up consistently.

Herbert only compounded the problem by trying to force matters, which led to a bad downfield interception after throwing into double coverage. Mistakes happened over and over again.

"We just have to execute … to not have penalties," Herbert told reporters . "We've got to score in the red zone. We didn't execute those third downs, and we didn't move the ball that we needed to. They played well, but it's on us to play better. It's on us to go score points, make sure that we're doing everything we can on third down in the red zone and limiting turnovers."

Score : 27-7 loss vs. San Francisco 49ers

Stat Line : 15 of 25 for 155 yards and an interception

Did everyone hear that Coyote using another Acme product to catch the Roadrunner-like thud all the way from Australia? It was the sound of all the preseason expectations placed on the Rams crashing down.

The reigning NFL MVP, Matthew Stafford, played nothing like last season. Stafford threw a touchdown pass in every season regular-season contest a year ago. He failed to do so against the San Francisco 49ers. In fact, Stafford ended the game on the bench watching his team, because the Rams played so poor for three-plus quarters.

"We didn't play well enough, obviously," Stafford told reporters . "Never got into a rhythm. Only had probably two good drives, to be honest with you, the entire day…So not enough good stuff on offense. We didn't do the things that we are accustomed to doing; that's just communicating, operating, being on the same page. Too many times we're on different pages. That starts with me. I'm the guy that's communicating all that stuff, so I've got to make sure I do a better job, make sure we're all on the same page, and we can rock and roll out there and go play the game."

Score : 27-13 loss vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Stat Line : 15 of 27 for 220 yards and an interception; six carries for 39 yards and a score The Dolphins will be fighting an uphill battle all season, because the team's roster remains the league's least talented. Quarterback Malik Willis isn't under the tutelage of Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers' supporting cast anymore. Willis should be excited to serve as a starting NFL quarterback, even though he's being set up to fail. The Raiders were able to slow Miami's biggest threat, running back De'Von Achane. Third-round rookie receiver Caleb Douglas played well in his NFL debut, with game-leading 94 receiving yards. But the Dolphins lack a legitimate threat on the outside to worry opposing defenses. Willis can offset some of Miami's offensive woes thanks to his athleticism and running ability. At the same time, he will try to extend plays and run himself into pressure. The Raiders sacked Willis on five different occasions and hit him 11 more times. If things don't come together for Willis and Co., the Dolphins could easily find themselves as owners of a top three draft pick with quarterback still in question.

Stat Line : 12 of 19 for 133 yards and three touchdowns

The Vikings were ready to hand the franchise keys to Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback. Unfortunately, Murray suffered a concussion in the first quarter Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

With Murray out of the contest, veteran Carson Wentz took over the Vikings offense and helped lead the squad to a victory. Head coach Kevin O'Connell knew exactly what to expect of Wentz if he was placed in this exact situation, hence why he was named the team's backup QB.

"Carson, he's got almost 100 career starts, what he was able to do last year from a stand point of very limited reps, but being able to apply a careers worth of experience, that's kinda what you need to do as a backup quarterback," O'Connell told reporters last week. The comment was somewhat prophetic, with Wentz leading the offense to all 39 points. The 33-year-old veteran attempted only 19 passes, but he connected on three touchdowns and didn't commit a turnover.

Stat Line : 23 of 33 for 178 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions; seven carries for 47 yards

Much like the previously discussed Matthew Stafford, Drake Maye didn't look like the MVP-caliber player seen a season ago. Instead, he three three interceptions, including the game-clinching turnover with 21 seconds left to play.

Once again, the Seattle Seahawks and head coach/defensive player-caller Mike Macdonald constructed an excellent gameplan to confuse Maye in multiple situations, as they did in Super Bowl LX. Second, the Patriots' quarterback wasn't always on the same page with his receivers. AJ Brown's injury certainly didn't help matters.

"I lost patience, and it cost us," Maye told reporters . "They were decisions that cost us the game, on my part, on my end."

Stat Line : 35 of 56 for 410 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions and a fumble lost

Tyler Shough did everything possible to help his Saints come roaring back from a 21-point third-quarter deficit against the Detroit Lions except for make the final play in overtime to secure a victory. To the second-year quarterback's credit, he made some excellent tight-window throws and posted big numbers. He also made some poor throws from a clean pocket and committed three turnovers. The large variance seen in his game has to close where the Saints get more consistency from last year's second-year draft pick. In this particular contest, Shough played poorly during the first half then came on strong after his team was down multiple touchdowns in the second. When the Saints get a complete effort from Shough, they'll be difficult to beat.

Stat Line : 23 of 29 for 230 yards, three touchdowns; 11 carries for 54 yards

John Harbaugh's hire as the Giants' head coach was meant to stabilize the organization and provide the team with credibility. He's the same coach who helped Lamar Jackson become a two-time NFL MVP. No one is saying that Jaxson Dart is the next Lamar Jackson. However, the Giants appear to have something special in their second-year quarterback.

Dart's performance during Sunday Night Football against the rival Dallas Cowboys was nearly flawless, which portends bigger and better things for the quarterback and his team.

"For him to have all this on his plate and to execute the way he did, to me, was just tremendous and very impressive," Harbaugh told reporters . "It was a great performance by Jaxson."

Dart added, "I felt very comfortable. I thought that we just did a really good job of staying in progress throughout the game. I thought (offensive coordinator Matt Nagy) called an awesome game, and I thought the guys just played really, really hard. So it made my job a lot easier, and guys all over the place made a ton of plays, so I'm excited about that."

Stat Line : 19 of 24 for 215 yards Geno Smith deserves significant credit for stepping into the Jets' starting quarterback job and helping in the victory. A year ago, Smith was in the same position with the Las Vegas Raiders, who were looking for a veteran presence. Instead, Smith was the league's worst quarterback. The Jets' decision to trade for the 35-year-old this offseason came across as a team settling at quarterback, because the organization knew its wasn't in position to draft a top prospect. Furthermore, Smith returned to the same franchise that originally drafted him and eventually viewed him as a bust.

Ten seasons after leaving the Jets, the 2013 second-round draft pick didn't make any critical mistakes and successfully led a run-heavy, ball-control offense. The Jets ran the ball 39 times and held the ball for over 38 minutes. This formula can make New York highly competitive during Aaron Glenn's second year as head coach.

Score : 24-22 win vs. Washington Commanders

Stat Line : 14 of 25 for 203 yards and three touchdowns; seven carries for 46 yards

AJ Brown is gone, and he's not coming back to the Philadelphia Eagles. After last season's continued in-fighting and stagnant offensive effort, the Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts started fresh this fall.

Despite Browns' departure, Hurts was particularly effective driving the ball down the field. As Victor Williams of The Eagles Wire noted, Hurts completed six of nine passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns when attempting passes 10 or more air yards down the field.

Philadelphia's offense is built around a talented offensive line and an effective ground attack. Hurts struggled to make opponents pay off the play-action game in 2025. He looks to be back on track for the start of the current campaign.

"Jalen has worked extremely hard at that portion of his game," head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters . "He really can throw. He just puts the ball on the money in those situations, which helps you be explosive."

Stat Line : 24 of 40 for 221 yards and a touchdown

The idea of Aaron Rodgers carrying an offense is long gone. However, the league's oldest player understands the Steelers are close to clicking, even if the unit didn't quite reach that level against the Atlanta Falcons.

"We had a chance to be really, really explosive," Rodgers said during a post-game interview with FOX Sports' Pam Oliver . "We had a couple drops. A couple off targets. A couple non-calls that looked like penalties. ... We were just a little bit off." The comments allude to the small margin of error the Steelers offense will have on a weekly basis. Rodgers can get the unit into the right play and still make some precise throws. However, he needs his playmakers to consistently do their job in order for the group to maximize this season.

Stat Line : 24 of 34 for 205 yards, three touchdowns and an interception

Maybe Brock Purdy suffered from a west-coast delay before he finally realized the 49ers were ahead of schedule when playing the rival Los Angeles Rams in a different time zone.

The Niners quarterback started somewhat slowly, looking like he was just trying to get the ball out quickly and avoid the Rams' pass rush. During San Francisco's third offensive possession, Purdy completely missed a dropping Quentin Lake and threw a poor interception .

From that point, the 49ers' signal-caller completed 12 of 14 passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns. The 26-year-old veteran also quickly established a rapport with his new top target, Mike Evans, and adjusted when standout rookie De'Zhaun Stribling suffered an injury that subsequently placed him on injured reserve.

Score : 13-10 win vs. New England Patriots

Stat Line : 16 of 22 for 187 yards and a touchdown

The Seahawks enjoyed five plays with Sam Darnold behind center before the team's Super Bowl-winning starting quarterback was injured and ruled out of the game.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport , Darnold suffered a glute injury, which will likely keep him out of the next game or two. Drew Lock was thrust into the lineup and did exactly what's needed of a backup quarterback unexpected called to service. He didn't lose his team the game by making significant mistakes and did enough to ensure a victory. Seattle's defense dictated the outcome, which is par for the course. But Lock played well enough for the the Seahawks not to be rattled as they prepare for the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders over the next two weekends.

Score : 33-27 loss vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Stat Line : 23 of 28 for 216 yards and three lost fumbles

Baker Mayfield is whirling dervish of combustible energy when he plays the game. His approach often keeps the quarterback (and his team) on the razor's edge throughout contests.

Case in point, the Buccaneers offense moved the ball Sunday and nearly averaged the same yards per play as the Cincinnati Bengals. Three lost fumbles by the quarterback is simply inexcusable. Yes, he was trying to make plays and extend drives. Ball security must become a much higher priority.

"This one falls on me," Mayfield told reporters . "I think they had 17 points alone off my turnovers. It turned out to be a one-score game. Offensively, it's frustrating you do something like that when you're moving the ball."

Stat Line : 19 of 32 for 140 yards and a touchdown; four carries for 21 yards Cam Ward showed slow, incremental growth during his rookie campaign. Last year's No. 1 overall pick did nothing during his Year 2 opener to think he remains on that trajectory. To be fair, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh pieced together an outstanding defensive game plan that didn't allow Ward to get into any kind of rhythm. Still, the sophomore signal-caller never looked comfortable. His lone touchdown pass came when the Titans were trailing 23-3 with under three minutes remaining. Ward made multiple poor decisions and missed throws. He finished the contest with a 34.4 QBR. For comparison, he finished with a 33.2 QBR last season. Tennessee's growth this season depends on Ward showing far more than he did during Sunday's outing.

Score : 24-22 loss vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Stat Line : 18 of 34 for 164 yards, two touchdowns; five carries for 31 yards

A healthy Jayden Daniels returning to the Washington Commanders was supposed provide the franchise with booster fuel after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Instead, Daniels and the Commanders weren't able to shift into top gear and failed to surpass the rival Philadelphia Eagles.

Daniels did get going during the fourth quarter, where he led a pair of touchdown drives and provided Washington with an opportunity to tie the game. Though the Commanders failed to convert the two-point attempt.

Despite the loss, Daniels provided promising improvement.

"It was good to see him also learn some lessons from '25—making a play, get down, throw the ball away," head coach Dan Quinn told reporters . "Those are things that, as a coach, I don't really know until we get into the games. He's such a competitor. I thought, man, it's good to have him back into this space."