Saquon Barkley, crucial fourth down stop power Eagles to win vs. Commanders: Key takeaways

By Ben Standig, Brooks Kubena and Amos Morale III

The Philadelphia Eagles picked up their sixth straight victory with a 26-18 win over the Washington Commanders on “Thursday Night Football.”

The Eagles trailed 10-6 heading into the fourth quarter but scored three touchdowns in the final frame to secure their eighth win of the season and improve their lead in the NFC East.

Running back Saquon Barkley finished with 146 rushing yards and 52 receiving yards to go along with two fourth-quarter touchdown runs of 23 and 39 yards.

This is a scheduled Saquon Barkley TD tweet actually @saquon | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/zDRIu7hXsv

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 15, 2024

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had the other score, which came via Philadelphia’s signature “tush push.”

Baun, Eagles defense step up

Linebacker Zack Baun made the play of the game. On fourth-and-2 at the Eagles 26 in a two-point game, Baun stopped Commanders QB Jayden Daniels for no gain. The turnover on downs launched a major swing. The Eagles quickly scored on the following drive on a 23-yard run by Barkley.

Philadelphia’s defense played stout all game. Entering that fateful fourth down, the Eagles had held the Commanders to -1 yard on seven short-yardage rush attempts (three yards to go or fewer). Commanders coach Dan Quinn will have to answer for his aggressiveness when the lead was available with a field goal. The Eagles held Daniels to 191 yards passing and 18 yards rushing. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio fielded yet another game plan that limited an opponent to fewer than 20 points. — Brooks Kubena, Eagles beat writer

Kicking a concern?

The fourth-down stop covered up an off night for Jake Elliott. The eighth-year veteran and reliable placekicker who signed a four-year, $24 million extension in the offseason, missed a 44-yard field goal, a 51-yard field goal and an extra point — all wide left. The point-after attempt was most egregious. It left the window open for the Commanders to take the lead in a 12-10 game with 12:04 left in the fourth quarter. Elliott has been a safeguard for the Eagles for his entire career. Tonight, the Eagles defense saved him. Elliott has never missed more than five field goals in his career. He’s now missed five through 10 games. — Kubena

Barkley covers for sputtering offense

The box score will show another mammoth game for Barkley. But the Eagles had a difficult time scoring for most of the game. The Commanders locked down their downfield options in the passing game. Barkley was averaging fewer than four yards per carry entering the fourth quarter. They twice failed to score touchdowns in the red zone — even when Hurts had A.J. Brown in one-on-one coverage with cornerback Mike Sainristil, who stopped Brown’s route in the end zone on an incomplete pass.

Nick Sirianni and Kellen Moore will face questions for a curious trick play call in the first half that lost significant yardage and squandered great field position. But, in the end, the Eagles flexed their star power, and they fielded explosive plays when momentum mattered most. — Kubena

Like this if you love Saquon Barkley.
RT this if you love Saquon Barkley.
Reply that you love Saquon Barkley.@saquon | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/e4TKKo3rSN

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 15, 2024

Quinn’s gamble busts

Washington’s offense labored throughout against Philadelphia and yet had the opportunity for a go-ahead field goal from the Eagles’ 26 with roughly eight minutes remaining. Quinn chose the aggressive route and kept his offense on the field. Maybe the sight of the home team delivering scoring drives of 82 and 74 yards on its two previous possessions spooked the head coach. Then again, the Commanders offensive line wasn’t controlling the line of scrimmage.

We’ll never know what happens if Daniels doesn’t bobble the snap. Once he did, the Eagles defenders cut off the quarterback’s outside running lane. The zero-yard carry ended that drive. When they regained possession after Barkley’s first touchdown, the hope of winning was on life support.

Letting kicker Zane Gonzalez attempt a go-ahead field goal seemed like the prudent move in a low-scoring game. Instead, Quinn went for the big play on a night Daniels and the line weren’t sharp, and the offense came up small. — Ben Standig, Commanders beat writer

Defense falls in final round

Don’t put this loss on Washington’s defense, even if the group went from bending to cracking to breaking in the second half. Frankie Luvu (two sacks), Jeremy Chinn and Sainristil were among the players flying around the field in the first half. They hit hard and covered well while holding the Eagles to three points before halftime.

But as the game progressed, Philadelphia’s offense began delivering jabs and haymakers. The Commanders stood tall, but eventually, the blows were too much for a unit tasked with being on the field for far too long since the offense finished 3 of 12 on third downs. Instead of keeping Philly’s playmakers mostly in check, Barkley hurt them late. The defenders won’t use tired as an excuse, but the game evolved like a team gasping for breath. — Standig

Required reading

(Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)