Run Returns

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles (6-2) exacted revenge in their rematch with the New York Giants, upending them 38-20 and heading into the bye week on a high note. The game opened with fireworks from the offense, with running back Saquon Barkley ripping a 65-yard touchdown run on the second play of game and not looking back.

GETTY IMAGES: Philadelphia Eagles RB Saquon Barkley returned to form with 150 rushing yards in the team’s 38-20 victory.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 15 of 20 for 179 yards and four touchdowns (141.5 QBR), while adding another 22 yards on the ground. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith snared six of his nine pass targets for 84 yards and fellow wide receiver Jahan Dotson hauled in a 40-yard touchdown late in the game.

Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart completed 14 of 24 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown. Running back Cam Skattebo, a rookie sensation, suffered a gruesome ankle injury early in the contest and was carted off.

Defensively, the Eagles collected five sacks and held the Giants to under 250 yards of total offense. Linebacker Zack Baun led the unit in tackles (6).

Inactive for the Eagles were CB Adoree’ Jackson, WR A.J. Brown, OLB Azeez Ojulari, QB Sam Howell (3rd QB) and C Cam Jurgens.

The Eagles elected to not elevate anyone this week from the practice squad.

Let’s get to the observations.

*After weeks of forecasting, the much anticipated “Saquon Barkley game” finally happened. Barkley, who hadn’t rushed for more than 88 yards (Week 2) all season, churned out 107 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in the first half alone. The Giants burned 6:44 of time in the third quarter, playing into why Barkley had only three third quarter carries, but the offensive line did a nice job paving running lanes and taking advantage of a favorable matchup. Barkley, who came up gimpy following a 28-yard fourth quarter run, finished with 150 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and another 24 yards and a touchdown as a receiver. After exiting early in the fourth quarter, Barkley was replaced by the tandem of Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley.

*The Giants won the opening coin toss and elect to defer to the second half, giving an early look at the A.J. Brown-less Eagles offense. On the second play of the game, Barkley ripped a 65-yard touchdown, accelerating through a crease to the left and jetting down the sideline, putting the Eagles on the board 17 seconds into the contest. Barkley received great blocks from LT Jordan Mailata and LG Landon Dickerson.

*The Eagles opened in base defense, with Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean at linebacker and Jihaad Campbell joining Jalyx Hunt at edge rusher. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were the cornerbacks. Strong series for Hunt, who held Dart to a pickup of one and flowed to the football to help Baun stop TE Theo Johnson for a loss of a yard on third down.

*Positioned to go for it on a fourth-and-three from the Giants’ 35, C Brett Toth was called for a false start, setting up a 4th-and-8. Jake Elliott‘s kick clanged off the upright, giving the Giants the ball at their own 48. The Giants capitalized on the short field, capping a 6-play, 52-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Dart to Skattebo, who slipped past OLB Patrick Johnson. There were multiple issues on that play, with Dean charging through the line and apparently losing his footing.

*When the Eagles needed him most, Toth stepped up in a big spot. The veteran lineman, starting his first game at center, ably directed traffic and complemented the other four lineman, fueling an Eagles rushing attack that produced two 100-yard rushers. What shouldn’t be overlooked is that Toth responded despite plenty of outside skepticism questioning his viability as a capable fill-in. He proved a lot of people wrong — and his coaches right.

*The Eagles were called for three penalties in the first quarter: holding (Lane Johnson), false start (Toth) and another false start (Dickerson). They finished with four first half penalties.

*Some depth chart notes: RB Tank Bigsby is the clear No. 2, carrying the ball twice for 18 yards on the Eagles’ second offensive series. WR Darius Cooper entered the game before John Metchie, aligning outside, withSmith moving inside. In the first three games of the season, before suffering the shoulder injury that landed him on injured reserve, Cooper slightly out-snapped Metchie.

In other news, the kick return tandem, for the second consecutive week, was RB Will Shipley and WR Xavier Gipson. Gipson also served as the team’s punt returner Sunday afternoon, presumably due to Dotson’s elevated role on offense. Shipley recorded returns of 41 and 32 yards, respectively, in the second quarter

*Tough break for Skattebo, whose foot appeared to twist under Baun following an incomplete pass over the middle. The injury was gruesome, and evident, enough thatDeJean signaled over to the Giants’ sideline. The cart immediately came out to transport him to the locker room. Lost in the sequence was that OLB Josh Uche provided pressure on Dart on the play, nearly corralling him for a sack. He has flashed the past two weeks.

*The Eagles notched five sacks this afternoon, with Baun, Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Hunt and Moro Ojomo responsible for them. With his late sack, Ojomo has retaken the team-lead in sacks (4).

*Only five Eagles caught passes Sunday: Smith, Barkley, Dallas Goedert, Xavier Gipson and Dotson. Smith, Barkley and Goedert accounted for all but three yards.

*If there was a turning point late in this one, you could say it occurred on what should have been a 68-yard touchdown to WR Darius Slayton, which would have narrowed the Eagles’ lead to 11 with just over 9 minutes remaining. Instead, Slayton was called for offensive pass interference in what was a questionable call.

*Another strong showing from the Eagles’ red zone offense, converting on all three occasions. Conversely, it was not a good day for the offense on third-down, as the group converted 2 of 7 opportunities. Defensively, the Eagles held the Giants to 5 of 12 on third down.

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