First place in the NFC East was on the line Thursday night in Philadelphia, and the Eagles -- the 2022 division champs and regular playoff participant -- reminded the new kids on the block in the Washington Commanders that they have a ways to go.
Despite Eagles kicker Jake Elliott leaving six points on the table with two missed field goals and a missed extra point, running back Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia defense dragged the Eagles to a 26-16 victory.
Elliott missed two field goals in a game, from 44 and 51 yards out in the first half, for the first time since the 2019 season. The Eagles were clinging to a two-point lead, 12-10, until Barkley exploded off the line of scrimmage on a shotgun handoff and sprinted his way into the end zone for a 23-yard rushing touchdown. Elliott hit on the extra point, which put Philadelphia up nine, 19-10 with just under five minutes left to play -- a lead that would hold en route to its Week 11 win.
Commanders rookie sensation Jayden Daniels threw an interception to Eagles safety Reed Blankenship on Washington's first play from scrimmage following Barkley's 23-yard touchdown, which swung momentum heavily in Philly's favor.
Barkley put the final nail in the Commanders' coffin two plays later when he took a toss to the right, cut back to the middle and hit the gas pedal until he wound up in the end zone again, this time for a 39-yard rushing score. Barkley totaled 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in a winning effort. Thursday night marked Barkley's fourth game with at least 140 rushing yards this season, which is already tied for the most such games in a single season in Eagles history along with franchise rushing leader LeSean McCoy, who did so in 2013.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who threw for 221 yards on 18 of 28 passing in addition to rushing for 39 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, went into the blue medical tent prior to the half as he was being evaluated for a head injury. At halftime, Hurts jogged out of the blue medical tent and into the locker room before eventually being cleared to return to action. His solo rushing touchdown came on a 1-yard tush push despite being evaluated for a concussion earlier in the game.
Daniels finished with 191 passing yards, a touchdown (a 5-yard strike with 28 seconds left to tight Zach Ertz) and an interception on 22 of 32 passing in the loss.
Five of the Commanders' 10 offensive possessions, excluding the end of the first half, ended in punts while two others concluded with a turnover on downs and an interception. Safe to say it was an off night for a squad that entered Week 11 with the NFL's No 3 scoring offense, averaging 29.0 points per game.
Saquon Barkley is the best player on the Eagles, and he's their closer, and he threw the team on his back and delivered. Both of his rushing touchdowns came in the fourth quarter as did 76 of his 146 rushing yards (52.1% of his yards Thursday night), and he racked up his second game of the season with over 50 rushing yards and multiple touchdowns in a fourth quarter this season.
No one else in the league has even done that once this season. Barkley has 738 rushing yards rushing yards and averages 7.2 yards per carry in the second half this season. If you're facing Philadelphia, you better knuckle down after halftime. Otherwise, Barkley will run you over, which is exactly what he did to Washington Thursday night.
Their defense wore down and their offense failed to keep pace. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn builds his defenses to get ahead of the sticks and rush the passer. Their longstanding weakness has been defending the run. Unable to get his pass rusher to pin their ears back and rush Hurts, they faded down the stretch.
Daniels' inability to find top target Terry McLaurin was also a factor. He only targeted his Pro Bowl option twice, completing a single pass for 10 yards. That's simply not enough to consistently keep the chains moving for Washington offensively.
Barkley's first touchdown run of 23 yards immediately followed by Daniels' interception. Philadelphia's lead felt very much vulnerable at 12-10 following Elliott's missed extra point. Barkley erupting for his 23-yard score untouched felt like the game swung decisively in the Eagles' favor following that moment up two scores on a night that felt like grind for both teams.
Blankenship caught Daniels making a rookie mistake in staring down wide receiver Noah Brown. He read the second overall draft pick's eyes to easily undercut the throw for the takeaway. This will be a crucial learning moment for the Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite.
Barkley's final rushing touchdown of the night just two plays after Daniels' interception. He put the entire Washington defense on skates by taking a toss play to the right and then smoothly cutting back to the middle of the field in a move that evokes memories of Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.
The Eagles are now 8-2 and in control of first place in the NFC East, and they are also the sixth team in the last 30 years to start 8-2 or better through their first 10 games in three consecutive seasons, joining some elite company: John Elway's Denver Broncos (1996-1998), "The Greatest Show on Turf" Rams (1999-2001), Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts (2005-2007), Tom Brady's New England Patriots (2014-2017) and Drew Brees' New Orleans Saints (2017-2020).
Philadelphia will hit the road in Week 12 to face the Rams in Los Angeles on "Sunday Night Football."
Washington has now lost two in a row after its initial 7-2 start to the season, and has also lost six of its last seven games against the Eagles. The Commanders will return home to host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12.
Saquon Barkley has four games of 140+ rushing yards.
He's the first player to have 4 140+ yard rushing games in the first 10 games since Shawn Alexander in 2005.
Alexander won MVP that season.
Another TD for Saquon Barkley after the Jayden Daniels interception. This guy is so good when you give him an offensive line.
26 carries, 146 yards -- 2 catches, 52 yards
What a night
Jayden Daniels tonight
13-of-21, 146 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 62.8 rating
6 carries, 13 yards
This Eagles defense.
Saquon Barkley with the exclamation point. 24 carries for 100 yards after that 23-yard TD. Barkley has 152 scrimmage yards on the night. Just shows up every week.
Eagles up 19-10, 4:58 left.
Dallas Goedert up to 5 catches for 60 yards after that 42-yard catch.
Grant Calcaterra with the play of the day (the recovered fumble)
Zack Baun stops Jayden Daniels on 4th-and-1 from the Eagles 25. Jalen Carter almost got Daniels before that. Baun is an All-Pro through 10 games. He's been incredible.
Milton Williams (foot) questionable to return, per the Eagles.
Jake Elliott has missed 2 FG and an extra point tonight. That's 7 points off the board.
The Eagles score the go-ahead TD on the "tush push."
That's the 52nd career rush TD for Jalen Hurts.
11th rushing TD on the year. 23rd total TD this seaosn.
Jake Elliott misses the extra point. Eagles up 12-10 12:00 left.
The Eagles are back in the red zone. 0-for-2 so far tonight.
End of the third quarter with a lot of loud boos from the fans after a missed face mask call by the officials. Eagles trail 10-6.
This was the missed face mask. DeVonta Smith was tugged.
Nolan Smith with the third-down sack on Jayden Daniels. 3.5 sacks last 6 games.
The Eagles were stalled in the red zone and settle for a 31-yard FG by Jake Elliott. 0-for-2 in the red zone tonight.
Don't capitalize off the 43-yard catch by Barkley. 10 play, 74-yard drive stalled in red zone
Commanders 10, Eagles 6
Saquon Barkley up to 113 scrimmage yards after that 43-yard catch.
Jayden Daniels has 103 passing yards.
Only 4 have gone to a WR.
That drive was expended by a pass interference penalty by Cooper DeJean, but you make the call here. Gav ethe Commanders na incomplete pass on third down into a first down.
Zane Gonzalez hits the 40-yard FG, but the Commanders had a delay of game penalty.
Gonzalez will try from 45 yards out. And make that one. The Commanders go on an 8-play, 42-yard drive to open the third quarter. Take a 10-3 lead.
Jalen Hurts has been evaluated for a concussion and has been cleared to return.
Jalen Hurts went into the blue medical tent prior to the half as he was being evaluated for a head injury. At halftime, Hurts jogged out of the blue medical tent and into the locker room. This was the play that led to the evaluation.
This is the fewest points at half for the Eagles at home since 2022 vs. the Saints. Gardner Minshew started that game.
Kenneth Gainwell with a massive block on 3rd down to set up Jalen Hurts to run for the 1st.
A.J. Brown and Frankie Luvu getting into a shouting match after a defensive holding call by Mike Sainristil.
Eagles in the red zone.
The Commanders 5 possessions
Punt
TD
Punt
Punt
Punt
How rare is it Jake Elliott misses 2 FGs?
Elliott hasn't missed 2 in a game since 2019. Elliott is 0-for-4 on 50+ yard FGs this season.
Brandon Graham is up to 75.5 sacks in his career. A 0.5 sack behind Clyde Simmons (76.0) for third in Eagles history.
Going for it on 4th-and-7 wasn't an option. The Eagles trust Jake Elliott to make 51-yard kicks. He misses his second one of the half. That's 6 points off the board. Still 7-0 Commanders.
Eagles aren't moving the bal well, but well enough to have 6 points.
Don't know what Kellen Moore was thinking on that razzle dazzle, but Frankie Luvu blew past his assignment to get the sack. Loss of 13 for the Eagles created a 2nd-and-24. Not on Jalen Hurts or DeVonta Smith.
Another missed FG for Jake Elliott from 51 yards.
Commanders 7, Eagles 0
Eagles outgained WSH 78-70 in yards, but Commanders averaged 7.0 yards per play compared to Eagles 3.9.
Good tackle by Nakobe Dean on Jayden Daniels on 3rd down, preventing a 1st down run.
That's 3 tackles for Dean in the first quarter.
Two drops on that 3-and-out.
One by DeVonta Smith. One by Jahan Dotson.
Eagles starting slow. 0 points on first 3 possessions.
