The Philadelphia Eagles wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in their Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. With 10:22 remaining in the opening quarter, star running back Saquon Barkley found the end zone on a 20-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Jalen Hurts, giving the Eagles an early lead at Lincoln Financial Field.
The scoring play was set up by an impressive effort from the Eagles’ special teams unit. Rookie safety Sydney Brown jarred the ball loose on a punt return by Jacksonville’s Austin Trammell, and the fumble was swiftly recovered by Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo to give Philadelphia excellent field position in Jaguars territory.
Capitalizing on the prime opportunity, Hurts dropped back on a 2nd down play and delivered a perfectly placed pass down the right sideline. Barkley, known primarily for his elite rushing abilities, showcased his versatility as a receiver by hauling in the well-thrown ball in stride and cruising into the end zone untouched for the score.
Barkley’s Fast Start to the Season
The touchdown grab marked Barkley’s second receiving score of the young season, as he also found pay dirt through the air in the Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Green Bay Packers. The dynamic playmaker entered Sunday’s contest ranked second in the NFL in both rushing yards (766) and yards per game (109.4) while reaching the end zone five times on the ground.
“Saquon is such a special talent,” Hurts said of his teammate following the Week 1 victory. “He can do it all – run, catch, block. It’s a blessing to have him in our offense.”
Barkley’s quick strike against Jacksonville also helped the Eagles achieve an elusive milestone. Prior to the running back’s trip to the end zone, Philadelphia was surprisingly the only team in the NFL that had failed to score a single point in the first quarter through the first eight weeks of the 2024 campaign.
Eagles Offense Looks to Stay Hot
While the Eagles’ offense had been noticeably sluggish in the early stages of games, the unit led by Hurts and Barkley still entered Week 9 ranked in the top 10 in scoring, averaging a robust 26.4 points per contest. The duo will look to keep Philadelphia’s attack humming against a stingy Jaguars defense allowing just 19.8 points per game, good for ninth-best in the league.
The Eagles and their fans are undoubtedly hopeful that Barkley’s first quarter fireworks are a sign of things to come as they aim to improve upon their 5-3 record and keep pace in a highly competitive NFC playoff picture. If the multifaceted back can continue to thrive as both a runner and receiver, Philadelphia’s offense has the potential to be one of the most explosive and difficult to defend in all of football.
