First In Command

PHILADELPHIA – The energy pulsing throughout Lincoln Financial Field was palpable hours before kickoff between the 7-2 Eagles and resurgent 7-3 Washington Commanders, in a game that carried considerable implications for the NFC East standings.

While much of the game resembled a boxing match, the Eagles ultimately pulled away late, winning 26-18, thanks to a 23-point outburst in the second half.

The Eagles navigated a slow, plodding offense for much of the evening before running back Saquon Barkley eventually broke the dam, with two second-half rushing touchdowns.

The game turned when the Commanders had a chance to retake the lead with 7:55 remaining on a chip-shot field goal but instead elected to put the ball into the hands of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who called his own number but nearly fumbled the snap and was stopped way short of the first down on a run around right tackle.

The Eagles offense capitalized, extending the lead on a five-play, 74-yard drive covering nearly three minutes, capped by a 23-yard Barkley touchdown for a 19-10 lead. Third-year safety Reed Blankenship all but iced the game with an interception of Daniels with 4:50 remaining.

Offensively, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 18 of 28 pass attempts for 221 yards while Barkley churned out 198 total scrimmage yards. Wide receiver A.J. Brown led the way in the receiving game, reeling in five of eight targets for 65 yards. On defense, linebacker Zack Baun collected 12 tackles, including one for loss, and a pass defended.

Eagles RB Saquon Barkley eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark and ran for two more TDs vs. the Commanders on Thursday night.

Let’s get to the observations.

* Eagles inactives: QB Tanner McKee (3rd QB), CB Eli Ricks, S Tristin McCollum, OL Nick Gates, OL Darian Kinnard, and OL Trevor Keegan. This is the third consecutive week in which McCollum has been listed as inactive. With Gates inactive, the contingency plan for a Cam Jurgens replacement would have been Landon Dickerson.

* On the third play of the game, a three-yard Saquon Barkley run, LG Landon Dickerson was shaken up, limping off the field and heading to the medical tent for evaluation. Dickerson returned for the Eagles’ second offensive series.

* Noteworthy opening for Eagles DC Vic Fangio, who deployed only Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis as down linemen. The unit also included the edge pairing of Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith, along with both linebackers, Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean. Baun, by the way, picked up where he left off in Dallas, reading Commanders QB Jayden Daniels perfectly on a short pass over the middle to WR Noah Brown, nearly picking off the pass to force a swift three-and-out.

* On the first quarter 3rd-and-8 Hurts sack that stalled what appeared to be a promising drive, it appeared Hurts had an open DeVonta Smith on a short crosser. As he stepped up and the rush swarmed, however, it looked as though Hurts dropped his eyes, fixating on the pressure.

* Washington RBs Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler gashed the Eagles in the first half, with Ekeler taking a short dump-off in the left flat 34 yards to jumpstart the Commanders’ initial scoring drive. Robinson bullied his way through the teeth of the Eagles defense for 18 yards, with Baun and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson slipping off of him. Robinson on the ensuing play plunged ahead for a 1-yard touchdown.

* While operating in space isn’t necessarily his forte, Dean did an outstanding job in the open field on a 3rd-and-6 Daniels scramble, reading the play, staying patient and making the stop after a gain of only two. He also picked up a pass breakup on a second-quarter 3rd-and-9 pass to Ekeler. Dean continues to fly around and appears increasingly more comfortable and confident each week.

* Rough first half for Eagles K Jake Elliott, who missed field goals of 41 and 51 yards in the first half, both wide left, marking the first time Elliott has missed two kicks in a game since 2019. Elliott connected on a 21-yard field goal in the waning moments of the first half for the Eagles’ first points of the game but he also missed an extra-point attempt.

* Just before the break, Hurts entered the blue medical tent and was being evaluated for a concussion. He jogged back onto the field and onto the sideline to join his teammates to start the second half and was cleared to return.

*Eagles RB Saquon Barkley single-handedly provided the second-half offense. His best play, a 43-yard catch-and-run in the third quarter, led to another Elliott field goal to draw the Eagles within four. Perhaps the most notable dimension to Barkley’s game is his power and contact balance, as it often takes multiple defenders to wrangle him down. Barkley is able to create, even when it looks as though defenders have him dead to rights.

* On a 1st-and-10 from the 35 in the waning moments of the third quarter, Jalen Hurts held onto the ball a tick long, but he had rookie WR Ainias Smith streaking free down the left sideline for a would-be touchdown and A.J. Brown roaming free in the intermediary levels. Hurts eventually pulled the trigger to Brown for 17 yards.

* Eagles rookie RB Will Shipley is becoming a force on special teams. On a third quarter Tress Way punt, Shipley stormed through and nearly got a hand in to block the punt, though Way ultimately got it off cleanly.

* He isn’t mentioned often enough, but RB Kenny Gainwell is just a solid football player who provides an element of steadiness and consistency. On Hurts’ early-fourth quarter 1-yard touchdown surge, Gainwell accumulated 34 yards on three consecutive carries. And on a Hurts scramble just before the break, Gainwell was the lead blocker, springing Hurts with a key hit.

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