Eagles' Offense Finds Groove as Saquon Barkley Looks Elite; Defense Remains Shaky
The Philadelphia Eagles finally found their footing in Week 8, cruising to a 38-20 win over their NFC East rivals, the New York Giants. The team's performance was marked by a significant boost from running back Saquon Barkley, who looked like his old self after being bottled up in the first seven games of the season.
Barkley's resurgence was on full display as he averaged 7.5 yards per carry and caught four passes for 24 yards, including the game-sealing touchdown sprint that put the Eagles up by double digits. His performance was a welcome sight for the team, which has struggled with inconsistency this season.
Despite Barkley's impressive showing, the Eagles' defense still looked like a work in progress. The unit failed to generate enough pressure on Giants quarterback Jaxon Dart, allowing him to escape numerous sacks and extend plays with his feet. The defense also struggled with tackling, with multiple instances of letting runners run wild through their ranks.
The Eagles' performance was all too familiar for those who have watched them this season. While the offense has shown flashes of brilliance, the defense has consistently struggled to keep up. With a bye week looming, the team will have 14 days to regroup and refocus before returning to action against tougher opponents on the road.
For now, though, it's hard not to get excited about Barkley's renewed form. After averaging just 3.3 yards per carry through seven games, he finally broke out for a 65-yard touchdown sprint that will go down as one of the most impressive plays of his career. The question is whether this is a sign of things to come, or if Barkley's resurgence is nothing more than a fleeting moment of brilliance.
One thing is certain: with an offense led by quarterback Jalen Hurts and a supporting cast that includes wide receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, the Eagles have all the ingredients they need to make a deep run in the playoffs. Now, it's up to them to put it all together on both sides of the ball.
Stock watch ratings:
* Saquon Barkley (up): 150 yards on the ground, including a 65-yard touchdown sprint, and four receptions for 24 yards.
* A.J. Brown (down): Missed Week 8 with a hamstring injury.
* Tank Bigbsy (stock up): Ran nine times for 104 yards in limited action.
* Defense (down): Allowed 38 points and 278 yards rushing, while also failing to generate pressure on Giants quarterback Jaxon Dart.
The Philadelphia Eagles finally found their footing in Week 8, cruising to a 38-20 win over their NFC East rivals, the New York Giants. The team's performance was marked by a significant boost from running back Saquon Barkley, who looked like his old self after being bottled up in the first seven games of the season.
Barkley's resurgence was on full display as he averaged 7.5 yards per carry and caught four passes for 24 yards, including the game-sealing touchdown sprint that put the Eagles up by double digits. His performance was a welcome sight for the team, which has struggled with inconsistency this season.
Despite Barkley's impressive showing, the Eagles' defense still looked like a work in progress. The unit failed to generate enough pressure on Giants quarterback Jaxon Dart, allowing him to escape numerous sacks and extend plays with his feet. The defense also struggled with tackling, with multiple instances of letting runners run wild through their ranks.
The Eagles' performance was all too familiar for those who have watched them this season. While the offense has shown flashes of brilliance, the defense has consistently struggled to keep up. With a bye week looming, the team will have 14 days to regroup and refocus before returning to action against tougher opponents on the road.
For now, though, it's hard not to get excited about Barkley's renewed form. After averaging just 3.3 yards per carry through seven games, he finally broke out for a 65-yard touchdown sprint that will go down as one of the most impressive plays of his career. The question is whether this is a sign of things to come, or if Barkley's resurgence is nothing more than a fleeting moment of brilliance.
One thing is certain: with an offense led by quarterback Jalen Hurts and a supporting cast that includes wide receiver DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, the Eagles have all the ingredients they need to make a deep run in the playoffs. Now, it's up to them to put it all together on both sides of the ball.
Stock watch ratings:
* Saquon Barkley (up): 150 yards on the ground, including a 65-yard touchdown sprint, and four receptions for 24 yards.
* A.J. Brown (down): Missed Week 8 with a hamstring injury.
* Tank Bigbsy (stock up): Ran nine times for 104 yards in limited action.
* Defense (down): Allowed 38 points and 278 yards rushing, while also failing to generate pressure on Giants quarterback Jaxon Dart.
he's finally back to his old self! 7.5 yards per carry? that's insane 
i remember watching him in the preseason and thinking he was gonna break out like this, but then he got hurt and it all fell apart 
anyway, glad to see him making big plays again! 
with saquon barkley back in form 
he's like a new man out there! 7.5 yards per carry is insane 
and that game-sealing touchdown sprint was pure magic 
. but defense still has work to do 
they need to step up their pressure game and tackle game or they'll get exposed 
. 14 days off will help, tho 
. the question is can they sustain this level of play? 
! He's been holding the Eagles' offense up with those incredible runs 
and I'm loving every minute of it 
The question now is if this is a sign of things to come or just a one-game wonder? 
He's like a new man out there on the field. I mean, 7.5 yards per carry? That's insane! And that game-sealing touchdown sprint was pure magic 
. It's about time he broke out of his shell and started doing what we all know he can do.
. They need to tighten that unit up ASAP if they wanna make some noise.
. The guy's got ice in his veins and he's always making something happen when it matters most.
. I mean, what changed? Was it just a different game plan or a healthier leg? We can't count on one week's worth of solid play from our star RB to carry the entire team 
. Can he keep this up? Or was it just a fluke play from last week? I'll believe it when I see it 
.
, Barkley just looked 
. The offense is looking good, but that defense better step up their game or they'll be sleeping with the fishes 
.
! He's been underperforming all season, but now he's back to his old self 
. The offense is looking strong with Hurts at QB and that receiving corps they've got... I think they can make some noise in the playoffs 
anyway, i'm hyped for the eagles playoffs chances now they've got all the pieces and it's just about putting it all together 
. Guess we'll just have to see how this whole thing shakes out in Week 9 
yesterday i found this cute little spot near my flat that serves the best matcha lattes 
i mean, it's not like i'm a coffee connoisseur or anything, but their barista did an amazing job of making mine just right. and you know what's even better? The vibe of that shop is so cozy! I feel like i could sit there for hours sipping on a cuppa 
️ anyway, back to the eagles... saquon barkley does seem to be getting into his groove 