The Eagles look an terrible lot like they did final season—solely in reverse. What began as a struggling workforce by means of the primary 4 video games appears to be like stronger with every recreation since.
The Eagles gained for the sixth-straight time Thursday night time in what was a microcosm of their season—a sluggish begin adopted by an irrepressible push in direction of a 26-18 victory over the visiting Washington Commanders at Lincoln Monetary Discipline.
The Eagles at the moment are 8-2 and should arguably be one of the best workforce within the NFC, behind solely the Detroit Lions. The Eagles now maintain a 1.5-game lead over Washington (7-4) within the NFC East and are a half-game behind 8-1 Detroit to regulate the NFC. 4 of the final 5 Eagles’ video games can be house, with Baltimore (at Baltimore on Dec. 1) and Pittsburgh (at house on Dec. 15) at present posing any threats to the rolling Eagles.
This was a benchmark victory for the Eagles. The Eagles beat their first workforce over .500 since they defeated Inexperienced Bay within the season opener.
The protection has solely given up six touchdowns within the final six weeks and triggered 11 takeaways within the final 4 video games. After dashing for 146 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to Washington, Saquon Barkley is outperforming his big contract, dashing for a median of 131 yards over his final 5 video games, and just like the Eagles, solely appears to be getting stronger because the season progresses.
Jalen Hurts was an environment friendly 18 for 28 for 221 yards in opposition to Washington and led the Eagles to twenty fourth-quarter factors, scoring on every of their fourth-quarter drives. For the fifth time within the final six video games, Hurts didn’t flip the ball over, though, he has now been sacked seven instances over the past two video games for minus-61 yards.
There was a pile of excellent, some dangerous, and a few ugly, within the Eagles’ dominant 26-18 victory over the Washington Commanders.
The Good
Saquon Barkley’s 39-yard landing that sealed the victory with 4:38 to play. It gave Barkley 146 yards dashing on 26 carries and it was his second landing. Barkley now has rushed for 1,137 yards and eight touchdowns this season. With seven video games to play, Barkley is simply 175 yards behind his all-time season finest, when he ran for 1,312 yards in 2022 for the New York Giants.
Security Reed Blankenship’s third interception of the season on the Washington 46 with 4:50 to play. That just about wrapped up the sport. It was the eleventh takeaway within the final 4 video games for the Eagles.
Proper deal with Lane Johnson’s kickout block on Washington defensive finish Dorance Armstrong, heart Cam Jurgens and proper guard Mekhi Becton bottling up defensive deal with Daron Payne and linebacker Bobby Wagner inside, opening a transparent lane for Barkley to go untouched for a 23-yard landing with 4:58 to play.
Linebacker Zack Baun arising with consecutive performs with eight minutes left to play. First, on third-and-one, Baun teamed with Outdated Man River Brandon Graham to stuff Brian Robinson for minus-1 on the Eagles’ 25. Dan Quinn went into Nick Sirianni mode and took a area aim off the board on a fourth-and-two on the Eagles’ 26. Daniels botched the snap, and in a mad scramble rolled proper to get the primary down. Baun was there to greet him, knocking him out of bounds. The Eagles transformed the cease into the primary of Barkley’s two fourth-quarter TDs.
The Eagles’ second drive of the second half. The Eagles chewed by means of the Washington protection for five:27 over 11 performs for 76 yards and their first lead. Over the 11 performs, the Eagles had only one third down. The Eagles solely threw the ball thrice, and it ended when Hurts scored from a yard out with 12:00 to play, giving the Eagles a 12-10 lead.
Rookie nook Quinyon Mitchell’s sterling job on Washington’s main large receiver Terry McLaurin, matched up with McLaurin on 11 of 15 routes, and holding him to zero targets by means of three quarters. McLaurin completed with one catch for 10 yards on two complete targets.
Hurts’ reaching down the sideline for the primary down on a third-and-seven on the Washington 38 on the primary play of the fourth quarter. It preserved a sequence that was later capped by Hurts’ one-yard Brotherly Shove for the Eagles’ first lead.
Edge rusher Nolan Smith’s eight-yard sack on a third-and-five on the Washington 45 on the Commanders’ second drive of the second half.
Defensive deal with Jalen Carter’s knifing by means of the Commanders’ offensive line to take down Brian Robinson for a two-yard loss on Washington’s second play of the second half.
Successive sacks by Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat for a mixed minus-12 yards on Washington’s fourth drive.
Nook Darius Slay coming as much as cease Austin Ekeler on Washington’s first play of its third possession for a two-yard loss. It got here on Washington’s first-and-10 on the Commanders’ 4.
Barkley going over 1,000 yards dashing this season on the primary play of the Eagles’ second drive, an eight-yard acquire to the Eagles’ 18 with 8:04 left within the first quarter. The acquire gave Barkley 1,004 yards dashing.
Baun masking the sector once more. He made the primary deal with of the sport for the Eagles and in Washington’s opening sequence he broke up a Jayden Daniels’ meant go for Dyami Brown.
Brown’s 25-yard reception on a first-and-10 on the Washington 48 on the Eagles’ opening drive. The play regarded like it might get the Eagles’ offense going, solely to have a holding name and Jake Elliot’s 44-yard area aim sail large left.
A really small factor, but a really huge factor. Did anybody discover A.J. Brown dashing to the help of teammate Jahan Dotson after the opening play of the sport, when Dotson took a Hurts’ go eight yards to the Eagles’ 38? Washington nickelback Noah Igbinoghene shoved Dotson whereas he was on the bottom. Dotson, in concern of being flagged for retaliation, received again up and returned to the huddle. However Brown made positive Igbinoghene knew that was not going to be tolerated. He confirmed Igbinoghene and voiced a warning to not do it once more. It’s the form of factor Brown does that always goes unnoticed.
The Dangerous
On the refs for the no-call on Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu grabbing DeVonta Smith below his helmet on a first-and-10 on the Washington 48 within the closing minute of the third quarter. The play was initially flagged for face masking, which it ought to have been however was waved off, regardless of Luvu clearly grabbing Smith below his helmet to take him down.
The Eagles opened the second half with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that absorbed 5:31 off the clock. OK, that was good. The end result was dangerous—one other Elliott area aim. The Eagles had been 0-for-2 in Pink Zone offense, blowing a Hurts-to-Barkley 43-yard connection, which introduced the ball to the Commanders’ 17. From there, the Eagles squandered the chance to attain their first landing with some doubtful decision-making on the next three performs.
One take a look at the halftime stats and you’d determine the Eagles would maintain a lead over the Commanders. By way of two quarters, the Eagles had outgained Washington, 174-124, had 11 first downs to the Washington’s six, ran off 42 performs to Washington’s 26 and had the ball for nearly seven minutes longer than the Commanders (18:29 to 11:31). But, all of the Eagles may give you was a Jake Elliott 21-yard area aim within the closing seconds of the half. What didn’t assist the Eagles had been some dropped passes, some Hurts’ misthrows, some penalties at inopportune instances and two missed Elliott area aim makes an attempt.
Smith and Brown working into one another on the aim line on the Eagles’ third-and-goal on the Washington three within the closing minute of the primary half. It ruined the timing of the play and compelled Hurts into scrambling and throwing the ball away.
Dotson’s drop on a third-and-four on the Eagles’ 42 on the Eagles’ third drive.
DeVonta Smith on a really uncommon drop on the sideline on a first-and-10 on the Eagles’ 36 on the primary play of their third drive.
Becton’s holding name on the Eagles’ first drive. The Eagles had been transferring, with the ball on the Washington 25 confronted with a second-and-12. Becton was caught flattening Washington defensive deal with Sheldon Day as he got here dashing at Hurts. The flag flew and a second-and-12 turned a second-and-22 on the Commanders’ 35.
The Ugly
Elliott had a tough night time, lacking a uncommon two area aim makes an attempt, one in all 44 yards, the second of 51, after which lacking a fourth-quarter further level after the Eagles took their first lead of the sport.
Cornerback Cooper DeJean flagged for go interference on Washington’s first drive of the second half. The ugly half was the penalty got here on a third-and-five at midfield. The penalty prolonged Washington’s drive and led to Zane Gonzalez’s 45-yard area aim with 11:03 left within the third quarter.
The drive chart on the Eagles’ first 5 drives learn: Missed FG, punt, punt, missed FG, punt.
The 13-yard loss on the failed flea flicker on the Washington 36 on the Eagles’ opening drive of the second quarter. Commanders’ linebacker Frankie Luvu simply whiffed out what the Eagles had been attempting to do and took Hurts down. It pressured Elliott right into a 51-yard area aim try, which he missed. This one falls on Nick Sirianni to attempt one thing like that, whereas the working recreation was working.
Baun taking a 33-yard experience on Austin Ekeler’s again on the primary play of Washington’s second drive with 5:12 left within the first quarter. Baun, for pretty much as good as he has been this season, learn this play mistaken. He didn’t catch as much as Ekeler till he was 10 yards down area with the display screen go from Daniels. Then when he did, he may take Ekeler down for one more 15 yards. The play led to the primary rating of the sport and a Washington 7-0 lead. On the identical drive, Baun later missed Brian Robinson reducing by means of the Eagles’ line of defense for 18 yards. Baun was hesitant and paid a value.
The Eagles first drive. You are taking the opening kickoff to the Washington 26 after changing a pair of third downs, and that is what you get—nothing?
