Thursday (14th November) night’s match was a thrilling NFC East clash, where the Philadelphia Eagles performed brilliantly after a slow start and defeated the Washington Commanders 26-18. The match looked a bit difficult for the Eagles initially, but Saquon Barkley made it memorable with his strong play in the fourth quarter.
Saquon Barkley’s brilliance
In the match between the eagles and the commanders ,the Eagles’ attack caught up late, but Barkley ensured that the end was strong. In the last five minutes, Barkley scored a brilliant 23-yard touchdown, which gave relief to the Eagles. After this, he demolished the Commanders’ defense.
Just 20 seconds later, after an interception by Jaden Daniels, Barkley scored another brilliant 39-yard touchdown. Overall, he completely won the match with 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Barkley also had another 43-yard catch-and-run play that set up Jalen Hurts’ touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Barkley is currently the NFL’s rushing and scrimmage yards leader and has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark this season. Indeed, the Commanders may now be thinking that stopping Barkley is like stopping a treadmill that hit the wrong button.
Eagles’ Slow Start
The Eagles got off to a slow start, like an old car. Kicker Jake Elliott missed two field goals already, both wide left. He even missed an extra point, limiting the Eagles’ lead to 12-10.
Jalen Hurts, who usually gives the team stability, also struggled in the first quarter. He completed only 4 of his first 10 passes and also took a bad sack.
However, Hurts came back into the game and played brilliantly with 174 yards in the final three quarters. His scrambling and designed runs exhausted the Commanders’ defense in the second half.
Daniels and the Commanders’ Poor Performance
Commanders’ rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels had a blistering start to the season, but Thursday night was a disappointment for him. He repeatedly missed plays against the Eagles’ fast and aggressive defense.
Daniels had just 86 passing yards, and he also threw a costly interception. His wide receivers also let him down. Terry McLaurin, who usually performs brilliantly, didn’t get a single pass target until the third quarter.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Daniels is hitting the “rookie wall.” But it would have been tough for any young quarterback against the Eagles’ strong defense.
Eagles’ defense shined
The Eagles’ defense played a big role in making the contest one-sided. After a quick touchdown drive in the first quarter, they completely stopped the Commanders’ attack.
Cornerbacks Darius Slay and Quinyon Mitchell played well. In particular, rookie Mitchell proved that he is reliable even in high-pressure matches.
Other defensive players, such as Jalen Carter and Brandon Graham, also performed impressively. Jack Baun created a big moment by stopping Jaden Daniels on fourth down.
Commanders’ tired defense
The Commanders’ defense, which looked strong in the beginning, was tired by the fourth quarter. Berkeley’s offensive play affected them badly.
The Commanders’ attack also did not give any relief to the defense. Many drives ended in less than two minutes. If the Commanders want to stay in the NFC East, they will have to improve both defense and attack.
The way forward
For the Eagles, this win strengthens their NFC East lead. Berkeley’s excellent form and the strong performance of the defense are preparing them for the playoffs.
At the same time, the Commanders will now have to bounce back quickly after their second consecutive loss. Their next match is against the Dallas Cowboys, and a better performance will be necessary there.
