The Eagles righted a wrong of a few weeks ago with a commanding 38-20 win over the overmatched New York Giants on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
The victory gives the Eagles a 6-2 record going into
the bye week, and it may have finally given the 2025 Eagles the identity that they had been searching for—or possibly had to rediscover.
Saquon Barkley had his first breakout game of the season, rushing for 150 yards, the first time he rushed for over 100 yards this season, opening with a 65-yard TD run on his first carry of the game. Jalen Hurts was a very efficient 15 for 20 for 179 yards and four touchdowns.
The 38 points was a season-high for the Eagles, who for the first time this season outgained their opponent with another season-high 427 yards of total offense to the Giants’ 246.
Barkley and Tank Bigsby combined for 254 yards rushing, averaging 8.4 yards a carry. It marked the first time two Eagles rushed for over 100 yards in a game since Week 16 of 2013, when Shady McCoy and Bryce Brown combined for 248 yards in a 54-11 win over the Chicago Bears.
The Giants were reduced to using two practice squanders in their secondary, safety Raheem Layne and cornerback Korie Black, who had not played an NFL down until the third quarter when he replaced injured Giants’ corner Cor’Dale Flott. The Eagles played without go-to receiver A.J. Brown, center Cam Jurgens, and corner Jakorian Bennett.
Just 17 days ago, the Eagles were splattered by the same New York Giants, 34-17, in a game in which the Eagles were manhandled, held to 73 yards rushing and an average of 3.7 yards-per-carry.
This was a complete turnaround.
There were mounds of good, some bad, and pinch of ugly in the Eagles’ dominant 38-20 victory over the New York Giants.
The Good
Saquon Barkley setting the early tone, with the 65-yard touchdown run on his first carry of the game. In one play, Barkley rushed for more yards than he had in six of his previous seven games. What made the play possible was no one touched Barkley. Hurts was under center, center Brett Toth and left guard Landon Dickerson doubled Giants’ tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr., Dickerson then slid off Nunez-Roches to the second level to seal off Giants’ linebacker Darius Muasau, while left tackle Jordan Mailata pushed out Kayvon Thibodeaux. Up field, DeVonta Smith occupied Giants’ cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. By the time Barkley reached midfield, New York safety Tyler Nubin had no chance. Nubin hesitated, and then took a poor angle on Barkley, who bolted down the sideline with no one even close to him. If we had a ‘Great’ category, this play would have been under it. It is the kind of explosive play the Eagles had been looking for the entire season. Barkley scored his second TD on a nine-yard pass from Hurts for a 14-7 lead with 11:38 left in the first half. It marked Barkley’s eighth career game with a rushing and receiving touchdown. Barkley had 131 total yards on 14 touches, including 10 carries for 107 yards rushing, in the first half. It marked the first time Barkley had rushed for over 100 yards this season. Barkley finished with 150 yards rushing on 14 carries. After his 28-yard carry closed the third quarter, Barkley, unfortunately, came up grimacing, requiring him to go under the blue tent. It was determined he had a groin injury though should be okay moving forward with the bye ahead.
Hurts throwing four touchdowns and completing 15 of 20 for 179 yards. At one point, he completed seven of eight when the Giants were in man coverage. He was accurate, poised and did it without A.J. Brown. He seems, now, to be on the same page as offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo. Hurts hit five different receivers.
Dallas Goedert’s two catches on two targets for two touchdowns. He has a career-best seven TD receptions this season.
Jahan Dotson climbing over Giants’ practice squad replacement Korie Black for a 40-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
Moro Ojomo and Joshua Uche’s sack on a third-and-10 with 10:29 to play. It forced the Giants into a fourth-and-11 at the Giants’ 32 and pretty much sealed the game.
Jalen Carter’s first sack of the season on the Giants’ first play of the second half, taking down Jaxson Dart for an eight-yard loss. Again, Dart seemed to have time to throw, but could not find anyone open. The Eagles threw an occasional zone at Dart, who was pressured into thinking more than reacting.
Smith’s 26-yard reception on the first play of the second quarter. It set up Barkley’s second TD and a 14-7 Eagles’ lead. Smith later made consecutive catches for 23 yards, setting up Dallas Goedert’s first touchdown with 21 seconds left in the first half (Goedert’s career-best sixth TD in a season). Smith hauled in an 11-yard tip-toe reception on the sideline on a third-and-four at the Giants’ 44 on the Eagles’ first drive of the second half. Smith caught a game-high six passes for a game-high 84 yards.
Jordan Davis’ two-yard sack on a second-and-four with 3:40 left in the first half, forcing the Giants into a third-and-six at the Eagles’ 29. The Giants had to settle for a 46-yard Graham Gano field goal.
Hurts’ five-yard scramble on fourth-and-three at the Giants’ 41 on the last play of the first quarter, preserving a drive and enabling the Eagles to go up 14-7. Hurts later converted a fourth-and-one on a Tush Push play at the Giants’ nine. Hurts completed nine of 12 for 82 yards passing and two touchdowns—and there was not one mention about A.J. Brown being out in the first half. It seemed Hurts had some freedom, not feeling compelled to get Brown his mandatory touches in the first half, but rather connecting with four different receivers over the first two quarters.
The Eagles’ first half offense. The Eagleshad 222 yards of total offense and 12 first downs in the half, converting two-of-two fourth downs, though going 0-for-4 on third-down conversions. The Eagles averaged 7.4 yards a play, and gained 75 yards through the air and 147 yards rushing. The Eagles rushed the ball 16 times and passed 12 times, showing some balance.
Will Shipley’s 41-yard kickoff return in response to the Giants’ first score of the game. It gave the Eagles good field position at their 47, and led to a 14-7 Eagles’ advantage on Barkley’s second TD of the game.
Edge rusher Jalyx Hunt taking down Jaxson Dart from behind on the Giants’ second play of the game. Hunt showed great determination in chasing down Dart, who has rarely been tackled from behind this season. It forced the Giants into a third-and-10 on their opening possession. Hunt later had a three-yard sack on the Giants’ only third-quarter possession, when they ran off 15 plays over 6:44. It caused the Giants into a 34-yard Graham Gano field goal.
Linebacker Zack Baun doing what he does best, reading and reacting to a play, stopping the Giants on their opening drive by coming up and taking out Theo Johnson on a third-and-10 at the Giants’ 30.
Tank Bigsby popping a run for 17 yards on the second play on the Eagles’ second drive. The Eagles took advantage of no one setting the edge for the Giants, and again it was an Eagles’ running back going untouched in the second and third levels. Bigsby somehow, someway managed a 29-yard run on a second-and-26 on the Eagles’ first drive of the fourth quarter. Bigsby finished with 104 yards rushing on nine carries.
This is rare we go here with this, but kudos to the Eagles, and Eagles’ fans for showing a lot of class in standing and clapping for the injured Cam Skattebo, who looked like he may be lost for the season with an injured right leg on a second-and-16 play at the Giants’ 42 with 8:07 left in the first half. You know if Eagles’ fans had booed Skattebo being taken off the field by a cart that it would have stirred a national commotion. It was a jolting blow to the Giants.
Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. knifing through to take down Jaxson Dart for a one-yard loss inside of three minutes to play at the Eagles’ three on a third-and-goal.
The Bad
The Eagles’ fourth drive—and their first and only three-and-out of the game. The Giants’ Darius Alexander took down Hurts for New York’s second sack on a third-and-seven. The play forced the Eagles to punt for the only time, which came from their nine giving New York good field position. Right guard Tyler Steen initially picked up Alexander, and lost him when Hurts stepped up in the pocket.
Right tackle Lane Johnson getting flagged for holding on the Eagles’ second drive, wiping out a first down.
Right guard Tyler Steen going offsides on fourth-and-three on the Giants’ 35 on the Eagles’ second drive. It took away a doable fourth-and-three and forced Jake Elliott into trying a 58-yard field goal, which ponged off the right upright—giving the Giants good field position.
Jake Elliott missing a 58-yard field goal that hit the right upright that ended the Eagles’ second drive.
The Ugly
The Eagles’ first defensive drive of the second half. The Eagles allowed a third-and-eight, a third-and-12 and a third-and-seven and could only muster a Gano field goal.
Dart hitting tight end Daniel Bellinger with a 21-yard pass at the Eagles’ 33 on the Giants fourth drive of the game. Eagles’ safety Reed Blankenship came over late to get Bellinger, but it was not his fault as much as it was the Eagles’ defensive front, which had no pressure on Jaxson Dart. The Eagles rushed four, and all four were blocked one-on-one.
The Eagles getting flagged three times for 20 yards, one flag wiped out a holding call.
The Eagles’ second defensive series. Dart converted a third-and-seven with a scramble, and it ended with Dart hitting Cam Skattebo for an 18-yard touchdown when Eagles’ linebacker Patrick Johnson could not cover Skattebo out in the flat. Johnson slipped, reacting late to Skattebo flying out of the backfield.
