The Philadelphia Eagles showcased their resilience and firepower in a pivotal NFC East showdown Thursday night, defeating the Washington Commanders 26-18 to stretch their division lead. Saquon Barkley, who ran for 146 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, delivered a commanding performance to seal the Eagles’ sixth straight victory.
The game took a dramatic turn in the second quarter when Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had his head slammed into the turf by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu. Hurts lay face down momentarily, clutching his helmet before being evaluated for a concussion. Remarkably, Hurts returned to lead the Eagles’ offense, joking afterward, “I guess I beat the protocol.”
After a sluggish three quarters from Philadelphia’s offense, Hurts and Barkley sparked a 20-point fourth-quarter explosion. Hurts, who ran for the go-ahead touchdown, finished with 221 passing yards and inspired the crowd by jogging out of the tunnel to start the second half.
“Jalen showed why he’s our leader,” Barkley said. “When he’s on the field, we all feed off his energy.”
The Eagles’ defense came up clutch in the fourth quarter with Philadelphia clinging to a 12-10 lead. Washington had advanced deep into Eagles territory when head coach Dan Quinn opted to go for it on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels scrambled but was stopped for no gain.
On the ensuing drive, Barkley broke free for a 23-yard touchdown, giving the Eagles a two-score cushion. While kicker Jake Elliott struggled throughout the night, missing two field goals and an extra point, he converted this time to push the lead to 19-10.
Daniels, who completed 22 of 32 passes for 191 yards, saw his next play intercepted by safety Reed Blankenship. Just 12 seconds later, Barkley delivered the knockout blow with a 39-yard touchdown run, leaving the Commanders and their playoff hopes staggered.
“Critical errors hurt us tonight,” said Daniels, whose late touchdown pass only narrowed the deficit. “We can’t leave opportunities on the table against a team like the Eagles.”
Barkley’s dominant performance moved him ahead of Baltimore’s Derrick Henry for the NFL rushing lead with 1,137 yards through 10 games. Both were marquee free-agent signings this offseason, and Barkley’s impact on the Eagles has been undeniable.
“Saquon is the ultimate closer,” said Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni. “When the game’s on the line, we trust him to make the plays.”
With an 8-2 record, the Eagles have built a commanding lead in the NFC East, leaving Washington (7-4) to regroup after back-to-back losses.
Despite the setback, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn praised his rookie quarterback’s poise in a hostile environment. “Jayden’s learning every week,” Quinn said. “We’re still in the hunt, and we’ll bounce back.”
The Eagles will look to keep their streak alive next week against the Seattle Seahawks, while the Commanders face the Dallas Cowboys in another critical division matchup.
For Philadelphia, Thursday night was about perseverance, and with Barkley and Hurts leading the way, the Eagles proved why they are a team to beat in the NFC.
