Thursday Night Football Recap: Saquon Barkley and Eagles Dominate NFC East
The Philadelphia Eagles continue their dominance in the NFL.
In their latest game, the Eagles triumphed over the Washington Commanders with a score of 26-18. This victory stretched their lead in the NFC East and marked their sixth consecutive win. They remain undefeated in the division with three straight victories against the Commanders.
While the Commanders have now lost two games in a row, they are still very much in contention for a playoff spot in the NFC.
Here’s a look at the standout performances and disappointing showings from Thursday night’s matchup:
Standouts
Saquon Barkley and the Eagles’ Rushing Game
This season, the Eagles have consistently rushed for over 100 yards per game, a trend that continued in Week 11.
They achieved an impressive 228 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns as part of their ground game.
Barkley shone as Philadelphia’s top offensive player, with a pivotal 23-yard touchdown run that essentially sealed the game in the fourth quarter. Shortly after, he broke through the defense again with a 39-yard touchdown run that confirmed the Eagles’ victory.
Entering Week 11, Barkley was ranked second in the NFL for both rushing yards and total yards from scrimmage. In this game, he amassed 198 total yards and two touchdowns, with 146 of those on the ground, marking his sixth game this season with over 100 rushing yards.
With this performance, Barkley surpassed 1,000 rushing yards, joining Derrick Henry of the Ravens as the only backs to achieve this milestone so far this year.
Eagles’ Defense Performance
The Eagles defense played a crucial role in stopping Washington’s offensive plays. After allowing one touchdown in the first quarter, they held the Commanders scoreless for the remainder of the game until the final moments.
With a solid pass rush and effective coverage, they put pressure on quarterback Jayden Daniels throughout the game.
Philadelphia allowed just 264 yards during the game. Under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Eagles have been performing strongly, leading the NFC in yardage allowed, averaging only 274 yards per game.
Linebacker Zack Baun noteworthy registered a game-high 15 tackles.
Innovative Play Calls
The Eagles executed a variant of their signature “Brotherly Shove,” also known as the “Tush Push,” during the game. Instead of the usual outcome, Hurts pitched the ball to Barkley for a first-down run.
Later in the fourth quarter, they reverted to the standard version of the play, resulting in Hurts’ short go-ahead touchdown run.
This creative approach may give defenses more to consider in future matchups.
Disappointments
Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ Passing Game
Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels faced challenges during his first losing streak in the NFL.
The Washington offense struggled to find a rhythm, and Daniels’ late-game interception with under five minutes left in the fourth quarter ultimately decided the outcome.
Danieled ended the night with 191 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception, recording an 81.6 passer rating.
Commanders’ Receivers
While Daniels had his difficulties, the receivers also failed to contribute effectively.
The Commanders dropped two passes in the first half, and none of their wide receivers made significant impacts, with only one catch each by the receivers.
McLaurin ended the night with just one reception for 10 yards.
Among the Commanders, only running back Austin Ekeler and tight end Zach Ertz caught more than three passes, with Ekeler leading the team with eight catches for 89 yards.
Jake Elliott’s Kicking Struggles
The Eagles kicker had an off night, missing a 44-yard field goal on their first drive and following it with another miss from 51 yards in the second quarter, both attempts going wide left.
He also missed an extra point in the fourth, struggling with his accuracy throughout the night.
It’s notable that the last kicker to miss two field goals and an extra point in one game was Ove Johansson during Week 11 of the 1977 season, according to NFL Research.
The Cowboys and Giants
The Eagles and Commanders currently lead the NFC East, leaving the Cowboys (3-6) and Giants (2-8) trailing significantly. It appears this disparity will persist through the season, as both the Eagles and Commanders have proven to be superior in comparison.