PHILADELPHIA – Just over two weeks ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were in a state of crisis. A humbling loss to the New York Giants marked their second straight defeat, raising questions about their identity. The star running back was ineffective, the star wide receiver was visibly frustrated, and the new offensive coordinator’s play-calling was under intense scrutiny.
That loss, however, now appears to be a turning point. After quarterback Jalen Hurts led a victory over the Minnesota Vikings last week, the Eagles put together their most complete performance of the season on Sunday, dominating the Giants in a 38-20 rematch. In their most balanced and efficient game to date, the offense was a perfect 3-for-3 in the red zone, signaling to the rest of the NFC that a revitalized Philadelphia team is emerging as the season’s second half gets underway.
“The goal is to be playing the best ball at the end of the season, and there’s a focus to do that,” Hurts said. “You saw a lot of guys make big-time plays today.” Reflecting on his own performance, he added, “I think the best is yet to come.”
Sunday’s performance was a significant step forward. Running back Saquon Barkley, who had been contained in recent weeks, broke free for 150 yards, igniting the offense with a 65-yard touchdown run just seconds into the game. Tank Bigsby complemented him with 104 rushing yards of his own. The offensive line, previously hampered by injuries and inconsistency, paved the way for the ground attack, even converting a second-and-26 with a 29-yard run by Bigsby. With A.J. Brown sidelined, DeVonta Smith became the primary target, securing six receptions for 84 yards.
Defensively, the Eagles harassed Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, sacking him five times and preventing him from scrambling for significant gains as he had in their previous meeting. Philadelphia effectively neutralized the energy Dart had injected into New York’s offense since becoming the starter. The Giants’ momentum further faltered when running back Cam Skattebo was carted off with a significant ankle injury in the second quarter. Following the game, Giants head coach Brian Daboll conceded his team was outplayed in every phase.
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