Eagles blog

How instincts powered Moro Ojomo to game-sealing play in Week 1

Moro Ojomo used his instincts to make a game-sealing play against the Commanders in Week 1.

By Dave Zangaro • Published September 14, 2026

Moro Ojomo didn’t have time to think. 

He had to react.

And with the opener hanging in the balance on Sunday against the Commanders, that’s exactly what he did.

"You gotta play fast, man,” Ojomo said after the Eagles’ 24-22 win. "And you can’t play indecisive. I’m pretty sure I got off on the ball, I saw (Sam) Cosmi pull, spun out of it, saw that the tight end was coming, made the play.”

After the Eagles’ defense gave up two fourth quarter touchdowns to the Commanders on Sunday at the Linc, Washington was down 2 points with just over a minute left to play. So they lined up for a 2-point conversion attempt to tie the game and called a shovel pass to tight end Jake Bates.

When Ojomo noticed that the Commanders’ right guard began to pull to the left, he was able to shed his blocker by spinning back inside. He then engulfed Bates after he caught the shovel pass. The Eagles fielded the ensuing onside kick cleanly and escaped Week 1 with a 1-0 record.

Moro said NOPEEEE pic.twitter.com/yhEgQ3vobu

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 13, 2026

"I don’t know,” Zack Baun said. "Moro is just really good and he sniffed it out. It was good to see.”

Those are next-level instincts for Ojomo, who has been known for his football IQ during his first three years in Philly. We’ve seen other examples before and he has earned the nickname "Coach Mo” from his teammates.

"It was amazing but it was more amazing because we did it together,” Ojomo said. "All those guys on defense, they help me every single day. We’re trying to be the best defense, right? So you gotta go at it every day.”

On that play, Ojomo took away a couple of points from the Commanders. And the only reason the Commanders even had to attempt a 2-point conversion was because earlier in the game Jalen Carter blocked an extra point.

So Carter and Ojomo basically took three points off the board in a two-point win. As Andy Reid once said, "You can do the math.”

Carter blocked that point-after attempt in the second quarter and the missing point loomed large the rest of the game. This is not the first time we’ve seen Carter show the ability to get his hands on the football — whether that be a pass or a kick.

"Jalen just has a knack for the ball,” Ojomo said. "He makes great plays. There was another one where he missed it but if you look at that clip, there’s no way he would have made it if he kicked it straight. I think he was just scared.”

Ojomo, Carter and Jordan Davis form one of the best trios of defensive tackles in the NFL. Both Carter and Davis got big-time contract extensions this offseason and it seems like Ojomo will be in line to get paid after this season — although it’s hard to imagine the Eagles can afford him too.

The Eagles drafted Ojomo in the seventh round out of Texas back in 2023 and he has blossomed into a big-time player for them. He was second on the team in sacks with 6 in 2025 and nearly got his first one of 2026 on Sunday.

In fact, Ojomo had Jayden Daniels in his grasp in the fourth quarter but Daniels escaped before being brought down by Jihaad Campbell for a one-yard loss. Ojomo was visibly upset with himself after missing that sack.

And even though he sealed the game a bit later, Ojomo wasn’t exactly over it in the locker room.

"Man. Uggghhhhh!” Ojomo said. "Yeah, you only get there so few times. You’ve got to work at it and Jayden Daniels is a helluva player. I think we all saw that today. We’ve got to improve. I told him I’m going to get him next time. So watch out for that.”

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/moro-ojomo-jalen-carter-instincts-commanders-week-1-shovel-pass-nfc-east/751134/