PHILADELPHIA — The seven-word message became the Washington Commanders’ game-day creed in 2024 and has hung around ever since — literally. “WE WILL OUT HIT EVERY TEAM WE PLAY,” written in block letters and surrounded by the signatures of Commanders players, is stamped on a small sign that always hangs inside Washington’s locker room, at home and on the road.From city to city, the sign followed the team through its deep playoff run two years ago and its steep fall in 2025, constantly reminding of the identity Washington has been trying to build.On Sunday, in the Commanders’ 24-22 season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, that creed became the crux of a defense that showed marked improvement from last season, but that has plenty of work ahead.“I think we showed that we’re good enough to beat them,” cornerback Rasul Douglas said. “We just didn’t. But (Daronte) called a great game plan, and I think we know what is required.”The Commanders’ opener displayed the beginnings of what the team hopes will be a season-long progression for its defense under first-year coordinator Daronte Jones. The longtime defensive backs coach, who came to Washington from Minnesota, was tabbed to overhaul a unit that was a liability in numerous games over the last two years thanks to a stagnant pass rush and leaky secondary.Jones’ system is multiple but predicated largely on Brian Flores’ high-press scheme, with plenty of pre-snap disguises, overloaded fronts and interchangeable assignments.Top Plays from Commanders @ EaglesFacing Philadelphia’s vaunted offensive line and its multiple playmakers, Washington held the Eagles to only 10 first downs, half as many as the Commanders’ offense. That was the lowest total in the league through the first 15 games of Week 1.The physicality coach Dan Quinn has preached since he arrived in Washington two seasons ago was evident throughout, with 13 total “havoc” plays — takeaways, tackles for loss, sacks and pass breakups — the Commanders’ fourth-most in a game since the start of the ‘24 season.Rookie linebacker Sonny Styles, who wore the green dot in the second half when Frankie Luvu was sidelined with a groin injury, showed his mettle in the third quarter when he trucked Eagles running back Saquon Barkley on the way to his first career sack. On the next drive, he stuffed Barkley for a three-yard loss on a run.Just as promising as the production was much of Washington’s process: It sent five-man pressures on 12 of the Eagles’ 33 dropbacks and generated pressure on two-thirds of them.The Commanders’ defense was a primary reason the game stayed close when Washington’s offense struggled to find a rhythm. But there were still costly miscues — and such mistakes could cost the Commanders much more this season if the defense can’t eliminate them.“Those are the ones that can change field position and make such a big difference,” Quinn said. “… I like our speed, I like our hitting, I like our physicality, I like being in and out of pressure for us, but let’s (eliminate) these explosive plays as best we can. … There were too many of them tonight.”The Commanders gave up seven explosive plays, all of which either helped set up Eagles scores or were the scores themselves.The first was a 64-yard catch by Dontayvion Wicks with just under two minutes left in the opening quarter. After coming up with stops on third-and-longs in each of the Eagles’ first two series — Douglas had a pass-breakup on a third-and-8 and Luvu had a nine-yard sack of Jalen Hurts on a third-and-12 – Washington let the Eagles flip the field on a busted coverage. Three plays later, Hurts connected with tight end Dallas Goedert on a 17-yard touchdown pass.Later in the second quarter, Barkley manufactured a long run when Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson and linebacker Leo Chenal collided as they converged near the line of scrimmage. Barkley cut to the right to dodge Mike Sainristil and slipped past safety Jeremy Reaves to pick up 42 yards. Hurts found Wicks for a touchdown two plays later.The costliest mistake, though, was on a 22-yard scramble by Hurts on third-and-18 in the fourth quarter. Washington’s offense had started to find a rhythm and had just trimmed the Eagles’ lead to 17-16.“That third-and-18 play was killer,” outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson said. “That’s something as the D-line, we got to make sure we manage that and have control of that.”The Commanders had wanted to go for two after Stefon Diggs’ touchdown catch on the previous series, which would have tied the score if successful, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Diggs for bear-hugging the goalpost forced them to settle for an extra point.A defensive stop would have put the Commanders in position to try to claim the lead. Instead, their defense let Hurts sprint through a wide gap in the middle of the line for a first down.Three plays later, after the Commanders loaded the line of scrimmage to disguise pressure, they gave up a 43-yard touchdown. Styles and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh both seemed to think Goedert jumped forward before the snap. But the officials didn’t call anything and Goedert turned a short catch on a slant into the game-winning score.“On that one, there’s a lesson for us too, whether it was or was not (a false start): We still have to finish,” Quinn said.Among the lessons:“I just think that we just know that we gotta come out faster,” Douglas said. “Can’t get punched in the mouth, but then want to fight. When somebody tells you they’re gonna fight you all day at school, when you see them, you gotta go punch them. You can’t just wait. … We didn’t start fast, and we didn’t do what we’re supposed to do.”