PHILADELPHIA — In a thrilling matchup against the Giants, Saquon Barkley showcased his skills after fans commemorated his past by burning his jerseys. Jalen Hurts maintained control of the ball for the second consecutive week, and Coach Nick Sirianni opted to focus on executing impactful plays, such as converting on two crucial fourth downs, instead of addressing critical commentary from the audience.
When the Eagles eliminate distractions and hone their performance, they reveal their potential to be a dominant force in the league. As Philadelphia progresses into the season, Barkley is exhibiting the form of a franchise running back that the team desperately needed. Hurts, while not replicating his MVP-caliber performance from two seasons prior, is effectively managing the game and contributing to the scoring with his signature “tush-push” touchdowns.
The defense is also stepping up, finally looking formidable enough to raise concerns among rival teams. Yet, while back-to-back victories over weak opponents like the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants may not offer the best gauge of Philadelphia’s capabilities as a potential Super Bowl contender, the team’s confidence and established habits gained through these winning moments are crucial indicators of a successful franchise. Despite shadows cast by last season’s disastrous finish, the Eagles can still emerge as one of the league’s top teams. “I love this team,” Sirianni expressed confidently.
On Sunday, Barkley was a standout performer, rushing for 176 yards and a touchdown in a highly charged game against his former team. Hurts completed a sound 10 of 14 passes for 114 yards but made up for it with two quarterback sneak touchdowns and a 41-yard connection with A.J. Brown for a touchdown. Barkley’s impressive total of 658 rushing yards marks the highest by any Eagles running back through the first six games of a season. “I think we won convincingly, but we still left some opportunities out there, and that’s the beauty of it,” Barkley noted.
The Eagles (4-2) managed the victory smoothly, despite again being scoreless in the first quarter, an ongoing trend that has yet to see any team score in the first 15 minutes against them this season.
What’s working for the team is their defensive pressure. The Eagles’ defensive unit continuously pressured Giants quarterback Daniel Jones throughout the game until he was replaced in the fourth quarter. The defense recorded eight sacks overall while allowing a mere 119 total yardage, split between 43 passing and 76 rushing. During the first half, five players contributed sacks: Nakobe Dean, Jalen Carter, Bryce Huff, Josh Sweat, and Nolan Smith. Sweat has managed to secure a sack in three consecutive games, while Jalyx Hunt achieved his first career sack with a strip-sack on Jones late in the game. “Felt like we captured some momentum in that pass rush,” Sirianni commented.
On the flip side, special teams are appearing to be a point of concern under the guidance of coach Michael Clay. Oren Burks received a penalty for offside during the opening kickoff, followed by another illegal block penalty later on. Although these infractions were not as severe as previous ones, they continue to highlight an unsettling pattern of poorly timed mishaps. The Eagles have encountered blocked punts and field goals leading to scores against them in earlier games.
In terms of individual performances, Nakobe Dean shone brightly with two sacks and a team-high 11 tackles, marking the first full sack of his career. In contrast, receivers DeVonta Smith and Jahan Dotson struggled. Smith recorded just one catch for minus-two yards, while Dotson was targeted only once, failing to catch the ball, highlighting a concerning trend for the receiving corps. Although the offense heavily relied on Barkley’s talents, the area outside of A.J. Brown needs to step up as tougher matchups approach.
The Eagles also faced a setback, with right guard Mekhi Becton suffering a concussion, leading to Tyler Steen stepping in during the game.
Key metrics include the Eagles holding the second-best road winning percentage in the NFL at .690 since Sirianni became head coach in 2021, placing them just behind Kansas City (.741). With two of their next three games slated to be on the road, the Eagles are set up for continued challenges.
Looking ahead, the Eagles’ favorable schedule persists as they prepare to face the Cincinnati Bengals (3-4) next Sunday. Following that matchup, they will play against Jacksonville and travel to Dallas, with neither team boasting a winning record. Notably, the game against the Jaguars originally set for the Sunday night prime-time slot has been rescheduled to kick off at 4:05 p.m. on November 3.