The Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Washington Commanders 26-18 to take control of the NFC East

On By Littum

The Philadelphia Eagles secured an important division win on Thursday night, beating the Washington Commanders 26-18.

After a slow start, the Eagles scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter after trailing for most of the game. Saquon Barkley ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns — Philly’s final two scores of the night.

Jayden Daniels, the Commanders’ rookie sensation, was kept in check. He completed 22 of 32 passes for just 191 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Daniels fumbled the snap and couldn’t run for a first down on a fourth-down attempt late in the fourth as Washington trailed just 12-10. Barkley ran for his first touchdown shortly after the failed conversion, then Daniels was picked off on Washington’s next possession, leading to another Barkley score.

The Commanders added a touchdown and a two-point conversion with under 30 seconds left, but it proved to be inconsequential.

The defense dominated most of the night as Washington held a 7-3 halftime lead.

The Commanders scored on their second drive thanks to a relatively short 58-yard field. Meanwhile, the Eagles had two three-and-outs and two missed field goals in the first half before finally making a 21-yard field goal shortly before the end of the second quarter.

The teams traded three points to start the half before Philly finally took the lead early in the fourth on an 11-play, 76-yard drive that ended in a Jalen Hurts tush-push touchdown. Jake Elliott missed the extra point, but on their next drive, the Commanders tried to pick up a fourth-and-2 instead of kicking a 44-yard field goal. Daniels couldn’t run after it, and Washington’s defense collapsed soon after.

Philadelphia is now 8-2 with a 2½-game lead over the Commanders in the NFC East. The Eagles have won six in a row and will play the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12.

Washington has lost two in a row to fall to 7-4. It will play the Dallas Cowboys next.