In a season already full of surprises, the Philadelphia Eagles delivered perhaps their biggest statement yet on Thursday night. Hosting the upstart Washington Commanders in a crucial NFC East clash, the Eagles used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to pull away for a 26-18 victory at Lincoln Financial Field.
Entering the game just a half-game ahead of the Commanders in the division, the Eagles knew they needed a strong performance to create some breathing room. And while it wasn’t always pretty, Philadelphia got exactly that thanks to the sensational play of running back Saquon Barkley and a suffocating defensive effort.
Barkley’s Brilliance Fuels Fourth-Quarter Surge
On a night when quarterback Jalen Hurts struggled to find his rhythm, it was Barkley who carried the Eagles’ offense. The dynamic back finished with 198 total yards, including 146 rushing yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns that turned a nail-biter into a comfortable victory.
Barkley’s first score came on a bruising 23-yard run that saw him break multiple tackles before powering into the end zone. Just 20 seconds later, after an interception by safety Reed Blankenship, Barkley struck again—this time on a 39-yard sprint down the right sideline to put the game out of reach.
“Saquon was just unbelievable tonight,” Hurts said after the game. “When we needed a big play, he was there. That’s what great players do.”
– Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts
Defense Delivers Another Dominant Performance
While Barkley stole the show offensively, it was the Eagles’ defense that once again set the tone. Facing off against Washington’s impressive rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, Philadelphia held the Commanders to just 267 total yards and forced two turnovers.
The Eagles’ pass rush, led by linebacker Zack Baun, made life miserable for Daniels all night. Baun had a key fourth-down stop in the fourth quarter that snuffed out a promising Washington drive and set the stage for Philadelphia’s late offensive explosion.
“Our defense is playing at an extremely high level right now,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “They’re flying around, making plays, getting off the field on third down. It’s a lot of fun to watch.”
– Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni
Commanders’ Playoff Hopes Take a Hit
For the Commanders, Thursday’s loss was a bitter pill to swallow. After a surprising 7-2 start had them in the thick of the NFC playoff race, back-to-back defeats to the Steelers and Eagles have brought Washington back down to earth.
While Daniels has been a revelation in his rookie campaign, the last two weeks have shown that he still has room to grow. Against Philadelphia, he completed just 18 of 31 passes for 184 yards and an interception, and he was unable to use his legs to create plays like he has so often this season.
“This one stings, no doubt about it,” Daniels admitted afterward. “But we can’t let it define our season. We’ve got to learn from it and get better.”
– Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels
Eagles Soaring Toward Postseason
With the win, the Eagles improved to 8-2 on the season and increased their chances of winning the NFC East to 81%, according to ESPN Analytics. They’ll have some extra time to savor the victory before a Week 12 matchup with the Rams.
Given the way Barkley is running and the defense is dominating, it’s hard not to view the Eagles as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. If they can keep this level of play up, there may be no limit to how far they can go.
“This team has a different feel to it,” said veteran center Jason Kelce. “We’ve got all the pieces—offense, defense, special teams. When we play our game, we’re tough to beat.”
– Eagles center Jason Kelce
The NFC East gauntlet is far from over, with matchups against the Cowboys and Commanders still to come. But after Thursday night’s statement win, the Eagles have firmly established themselves as the team to beat in what is shaping up to be the NFL’s most fascinating division.
