Baltimore Chop!

BALTIMORE – The aroma of crab cakes and various tailgate items permeated throughout the lots surrounding M&T Bank Stadium, the atmosphere depicting a high-stakes game ahead between the surging Eagles and AFC juggernaut Baltimore Ravens.

In a game that in many ways represented a measuring stick for both teams, the Eagles prevailed, outlasting the Ravens 24-19 for their eighth consecutive victory.

With the Eagles (10-2) leading 14-12 for much of the second half, and the game seemingly hanging in the balance, running back Saquon Barkley extended the lead on 25-yard touchdown run into the right corner of the end zone to cap a seven-play, 71-yard scoring drive for a 21-12 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.

The Eagles, who have won eight straight games, remain one game behind the Detroit Lions (11-1) for the NFC’s top seed with five weeks to play.

While much of the game proved to be tough sledding for the Eagles running back against the NFL’s second-ranked rush defense, Barkley finished with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against the Ravens (8-4).

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, and his high-powered offense accumulated 302 net yards, with Jackson throwing for 206 yards and a touchdown and earning another 40 on the ground. But the Eagles’ swarming run defense dictated the outcome, holding All Pro running back Derrick Henry to 82 yards on 19 carries.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 11-of-19 pass attempts for 118 yards and a touchdown, while adding another 30 and a touchdown on the ground. Wide receiver A.J. Brown led the way in the receiving game, reeling in 5-of-6 targets for 66 yards.

Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert, who left late with a knee injury, caught 3-of-4 targets for 35 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, linebackers Zack Baun (13) and Nakobe Dean (10) reached double digit tackles, while Nolan Smith and Jalen Carter each logged a sack. Baun and rookie Jalyx Hunt shared a sack.

The Eagles also received solid play from a host of reserves, including cornerback Isaiah Rodgers and safety Tristin McCollum. Rodgers started in place of an injured Darius Slay (concussion) while McCollum came on in relief of Reed Blankenship, who exited early with a concussion.

Let’s get to the observations:

GETTY IMAGES: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts’ 1-yard TD run in the second quarter helped the Eagles go ahead after falling behind 9-0.

* Eagles inactives: CB Darius Slay, WR DeVonta Smith, QB Tanner McKee (3rd QB), OL Nick Gates, OL Darian Kinnard, OL Trevor Keegan and WR Johnny Wilson.

* The Eagles, who placed LB/FB Ben VanSumeren on Injured Reserve on Saturday, missed another significant piece of its run-game personnel in Wilson. Newly acquired DE Chuck Harris was active. So was WR Parris Campbell, who on Saturday joined the active roster for the second time this season.

* Eagles passing game again opened clunky, with Hurts going 0-for-2 and missing the mark on both, the first to Campbell and the other a misfire wide and short of the sticks on a 3rd-and-6 to WR Britian Covey. The run game yielded some positives early, with RB Saquon Barkley taking it 12 yards on the opening play and rookie Will Shipley picking up four on the third play of the game.

* Eagles DC Vic Fangio’s defense held firm in the red zone after having a Josh Sweat sack on 3rd-and-5 negated due to a holding call on CB Avonte Maddox and allowing 40-yard completion to WR Zay Flowers, setting the Ravens offense at the Eagles’ 17-yard line. On a 3rd-and-9, QB Lamar Jackson couldn’t connect with TE Mark Andrews, who would’ve had to make a difficult over-the-shoulder catch. Andrews had a step on CB Isaiah Rodgers.

* DLs Josh Sweat, Jalen Carter and Milton Williams gave strong efforts, though the latter missed an opportunity to wrangle Jackson for a sack.

* TE Grant Calcaterra lined up at fullback to start the Eagles’ second offensive series – notable, given the absence of VanSumeren – and cleared the way with a nice block on a 4-yard Barkley run. Calcaterra, by the way, has made strides as a blocker, throwing his body around and willingly mixing it up and doing dirty work.

* Despite a typically stingy Eagles redzone defense, they let the Ravens have their way on an eight-play, 82-yard scoring drive, capped by a 14-yard touchdown strike from Jackson to TE Mark Andrews in the first quarter which Andrews – with S Reed Blankenship in coverage – elevated in traffic to reel in for the 47th touchdown of his career, tying former Ravens RB Jamal Lewis for most in team history.

* Tackling woes and coverage lapses resurfaced on that drive as Blankenship failed to corral RB Derrick Henry on what ended up becoming a long run and, of course, the touchdown. Worth noting that on the touchdown, Eagles DT Jordan Davis generated little push along the interior, more or less appearing to dance with the lineman.

* Three special teams penalties in the first half for the Eagles, with CB Kelee Ringo committing two – one a kick-catch interference and the other an illegal touching infraction. LS Rick Lovato was tagged with a rare holding penalty that probably would’ve otherwise resulted in a blocked punt. Not a great start for STC Michael Clay’s bunch, whose unit took a considerable hit with the loss of VanSumeren.

* The spotty passing game came alive at the midway point of the second quarter, with Jalen Hurts completing a 7-yard pass to WR Jahan Dotson and a 9-yarder to WR A.J. Brown. They came in a six-play, 49-yard drive culminating in a 17-yard connection from Hurts to TE Dallas Goedert, who stiff-armed S Kyle Hamilton en route to the left pylon. That was Goedert’s first target. Hurts seemed to settle in on that drive – the Eagles’ fifth possession – for a timely response after the first four drives resulted in punts.

* There were justifiable questions throughout the week about how the Eagles would sustain a consistent pass rush without EDGE Bryce Huff and, most recently, Brandon Graham (triceps). While it’s only been one week, the defense responded with a collective effort from a host of players, namely DT Jalen Carter and EDGEs Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith.  I’ve written and said that Smith would benefit most from the snap increase and looked primed for the opportunity.

* Saw some good things from Eagles rookie EDGE Jalyx Hunt in an extended workload. The Houston Christian product, particularly coming out of the break, was often around the football, hustling to the action with urgency. On the third quarter Baun sack of Jackson, Hunt was also supplying pressyre. He’s growing up in a hurry.

* Aside from the play early in the game when Andrews had a step on CB Isaiah Rodgers, the effort from Rodgers in place of injured starter Darius Slay (concussion) produced solid situational awareness and toughness. Rodgers came up to stop RB Justice Hill on a short toss to the right on a late third-quarter play, limiting Hill to a two-yard gain. Rodgers also did a good job containing the perimeter on Jackson.

* To put Barkley’s production into perspective, the Ravens’ season-high in yardage surrendered to a running back was 63 (Najee Harris, Steelers). Barkley finished with 107 on the ground and 117 scrimmage yards.

* This was a gritty, grueling win for the Eagles, who received solid play from a host of ancillary contributors, including Rodgers, S Tristin McCollum and the rookie Hunt. That’s a reflection of the preparation throughout the week as well as team chemistry and communication.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.