PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Jalen Hurts ran for the go-ahead signal after being evaluated for a concussion, and the Philadelphia Eagles extended their lead in the NFC East with a 26- 18 win on Thursday evening over Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.
The Eagles (8-2) won their sixth consecutive game since their farewell, although it came with a big upset.
Hurts’ head was stuck into the turf by linebacker Frankie Luvu in the second quarter, and the $255 million quarterback’s head bounced off the ground. Hurts rolled face down and grabbed his helmet. He was examined in the sideline medical tent but stayed in the game and finished with 221 yards passing.
With the Eagles leading 12-10 in the fourth quarter, Washington was in range for a go-ahead field goal and coach Dan Quinn opted to go for it on fourth down. Daniels scrambled and was stopped for no gain, and less than three minutes later Barkley scored on a 23-yard run.
Jake Elliott made the extra point after missing his previous attempt – along with two of his four field goal attempts – to give the Eagles a two-score lead.
Matt Slocum/AP
Daniels, who finished 22 of 32 for 191 yards and a late touchdown pass, was intercepted by safety Reed Blankenship on Washington’s next play, and 12 seconds later Barkley finished off the Commanders (7-4) with a touchdown run from 39 yards.
Washington came in with a chance to take over first place in the division, but left with its second straight loss.
Elliott, who missed field goals of 44 and 51 yards, was left wide left on the extra point after Hurts’ 1-yard rush-push touchdown in the fourth quarter. He made field goals of 21 and 31 yards.
Elliott holds the franchise record with seven field goals of 50 yards or more in a season, but has missed all four 50-and-over attempts in 2024.
The matchup was hyped as the biggest game in this NFC East rivalry in nearly 30 years, but the first 30 minutes had all the excitement of a preseason game.
Perhaps influenced by the big hit he took, Hurts had an ineffective first half. He threw receivers under — most notably to DeVonta Smith a few times — and hung his head when a pass attempt with no open receiver nearby sailed out of bounds.
Brian Robinson Jr. ripped an 18-yard run to the 1-yard line and punched in a touchdown on the next play for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Zane Gonzalez made a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter for a 10-3 lead.
But Gonzalez, promoted from the practice squad while Austin Seibert was dealing with a hip injury, didn’t get another chance late in the fourth. The Commanders were stopped late on second, third and first, and Daniels, the No. 2 overall draft pick, was stuffed at Philadelphia’s 26.
The Eagles took over and Hurts immediately connected with Dallas Goedert for a 31-yard gain. Goedert fumbled but the ball was picked up by fellow tight end Grant Calcaterra.
Barkley scored three plays later.
Injuries
Eagles DT Milton Williams suffered a foot injury.
Next
The Commanders will play four of their next five games at home, starting Nov. 24 against Dallas.
The Eagles will play another evening game against the Los Angeles Rams on November 24.
