Two touchdown runs by the running back give the victory to the Eagles, who move away from the Commanders at the top of the NFC East
Philadelphia is scary again. Washington wins 26-18 on Thursday Night which opens the 11th NFL day, achieving their sixth consecutive success and extending their lead to the top of the division, the NFC East, to the detriment of the Commanders. The man of the match is running back Saquon Barkley who runs for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns, both in the last quarter, and adds 52 yards on reception. The Eagles defense (8-2 record) does the rest by neutralizing the opposing attack. Washington (7-4) downsizes a bit, with its second consecutive defeat. The team’s frame is promising and the playoffs are more than possible, but the Commanders, much like their intriguing freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels, still have a lot of growing to do. Too early to ask for everything right away.
philly ride
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Coach Sirianni’s team isn’t spectacular, but it’s damn solid. After all, with a quarterback like Jalen Hurts, more comfortable when he runs than when he throws, these will always be the characteristics of the team. The Eagles ran for 228 yards, inexorable, overflowing in the last period of the game, exhausting the good opposing defense, counting on a phenomenon like Barkley who who knows why the New York Giants let go, among other things to strengthen a division opponent. Vic Fangio’s defense does the rest: 3 sacks on Daniels, solid tackles and the interception of the usually priceless Reed Blankeship. Philly is not as fascinating as Detroit, but it is perhaps its first alternative in the NFC as a candidate for the Super Bowl. If the 49ers don’t wake up, at least.
washington piange
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The mess was caused by coach Quinn, an excellent defensive coach, loved by the players, but a terrible strategist in the game, as usual. In a game that remained close until 5′ from the end, his absurd gamble on 4th down, played by “forgetting” to kick the overtaking field goal, made the difference. The first turnover of the game changes everything. The defense, exhausted, suddenly collapses, the attack, forced to force, makes and undoes, always on the edge of the cornice. You pay for it against a top-class opponent, away. The Commanders console themselves with the great game of tight end Zach Ertz, the former, who forgets his 34 years and shows off a performance of 6 catches, the touchdown and the acrobatic 2-point conversion which in the end deceive the guests before the on side kick covered by Philly closes the score.
the match
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Jake Elliott misses a 44-yard field goal, Barkley reaches 1000 rushing points for the season. Brian Robinson, the opponent’s equal role, returning after two games of absence, scored the first touchdown of the game to make it 7-0 Washington at the end of the 1st quarter. Elliott misses another kick, this time from 51 yards, but scores the one discounted from 21 to 19″ from the break. It’s 7-3 for the visitors at half time. First half in which the defenses prevail over the attacks. Then 10-3 Washington at the start of the second half with a 45-yard kick by Zane Gonzalez. Elliott responds with a 31-yard field goal to make it 10-6, the score at the end of the 3rd quarter. Hurts’ now classic “tush push” puts Philly ahead for the first time at 12-10 (Elliott misses the additional point). Coach Quinn tries to close a 4th down by giving up an easy kick to get back in front, on the opponent’s 26 yards: Washington doesn’t convert, he returns the oval to the opponents. Barkley punishes the Commanders with the 23-yard run for 6 points and then rages with the further 39-yard touchdown run. Lincoln Financial Field explodes, the notes of Fly, Eagles Fly begin. Philadelphia is partying.
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