Before this NFL season started, a significant concern surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles was how their new operating again would play behind a new-look offensive line.
That query has been definitively answered.
Saquon Barkley added to his candidacy for the NFL’s Most worthy participant and the Eagles gained their seventh consecutive sport on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” by dominating within the run sport, but once more, and sprinting previous the Los Angeles Rams 37-20.
Just one season after being castoff with the New York Giants, Barkley ran behind an overwhelming offensive line for a career-high 255 yards — the primary time in his profession he has rushed for greater than 200 yards — together with landing runs of 70 and 72 yards during which defenders may barely lay a hand on the again, not to mention cease him.
It was essentially the most particular person speeding yards in a single sport since 2009, and pushed Barkley to 1,392 yards on the season, a brand new career-high set in solely 11 video games.
Already the NFL’s chief in yards from scrimmage, Barkley pushed his lead in that class by additionally catching 4 passes for 47 yards. With the win, the Eagles enhance to 9-2, together with 5-1 on the street, to increase their NFC East division benefit over the Washington Commanders.
“We simply obtained to maintain constructing,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts stated postgame on NBC. “Momentum is the fakest factor on the market as a result of it may finish or start at any second. We simply need to proceed to construct, be taught from our errors and play good ball.”
The Rams drop to 5-6. They had gained 4 of their final 5 video games, however the loss gained’t derail their playoff aspirations, not in an NFC West division that continues to be tightly knotted collectively coming into the season’s residence stretch.
But the story was Barkley and the authentic Super Bowl potential he has created for a crew that, only one 12 months in the past, was enduring a late-season collapse. This season, the Eagles have gotten stronger because the weeks have gone on.
Even with the opening left by the offseason retirement of seemingly future Hall of Famer heart Jason Kelce, the Eagles entered Sunday proudly owning the NFL’s high speeding offense, averaging 181.3 yards per sport.
Against the Rams, Philadelphia rushed for 314. The run-pass mixture saved the Rams’ protection off-balance, as Philadelphia transformed 9 of its 15 third-down alternatives, in comparison with 0-of-8 for Los Angeles.
“He’s a hell of a participant,” Hurts stated of Barkley. “He’s one of the best at what he does.”
SNF weblog: Look again at how the sport unfolded
The consistency of their run sport has allowed Philadelphia to floor down groups in second halves, and that development additionally continued as Philadelphia scored 24 factors after halftime to the Rams’ 13.
The Eagles at the moment are solely the second crew in NFL historical past, and the primary since 1949, to hurry for at the very least 150 yards and a number of speeding touchdowns in six consecutive video games.
“I obtained a contemporary begin,” Barkley stated postgame. “I’m round a terrific group of fellows. The entire group for me, high to backside, has welcomed me in with open arms. I’m having enjoyable. I’m able to go on the market and carry out at a excessive degree and prepare for subsequent week.”
Cowboys beat Commanders in weird trend, plus Packers dominate 49ers
- The Dallas Cowboys beat their rival Commanders 34-26 on the street in one of the weird video games in years. Trailing 27-20 with 21 seconds remaining, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels discovered Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard rating that seemingly would permit Washington to tie the sport. The solely concern? Kicker Austin Seibert’s further level went large left and Dallas (4-7) held on to win the matchup. The sport featured two kickoff return touchdowns, two missed further factors, a blocked punt and a blocked subject aim try, the one time that has occurred in NFL historical past. Washington, as soon as a lock for the postseason, has now misplaced three straight.
- The Green Bay Packers (8-3) established themselves as a authentic playoff contender with a dominant 38-10 win towards the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love threw two touchdowns whereas operating again Josh Jacobs exploded for 106 yards and three scores on the bottom. The 28-point loss is the worst for San Francisco (5-6) since October 2018.
- The Minnesota Vikings withstood a late comeback try by the Chicago Bears to enhance to 9-2. Minnesota led 27-16 with 1:56 left in regulation however Caleb Williams led a profitable landing drive and two-point conversion to make it 27-24 with 22 seconds left. Chicago then recovered the onside kick and Cairo Santos hit a 48-yard subject aim as time expired to push to extra time. After a defensive cease, the Vikings’ John Parker Romo drilled a 29-yarder to win the sport. The total state of Minnesota took a collective sigh of reduction after the sport. It was the Bears’ fifth straight loss.