The Philadelphia Eagles capitalized on an early defensive play to take the lead in the first half over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night, with Nakobe Dean’s timely fumble recovery setting the tone in what as for a time a defensive battle at SoFi Stadium.
But then Saquon Barkley happened.
In the second half of what would be a 37-20 win, Barkley jetted to two TD runs of 70-yards plus on the way to 255 rushing yards in the game - a franchise record.
Said Barkley, who came to Philly from the Giants this offseason via free agency: "A big reason why I wanted to come here, me and my family, my fiancée, had a conversation of, 'Hey, I think this is a spot where I can kind of rewrite my story and feel like I can show everyone what type of player I feel like I can be and was meant to be.'"
What he might be is ... NFL MVP.
This all of course came after a first-half foundation was set.
The game’s momentum shifted early when Dean recovered a Kyren Williams fumble at the Eagles’ 17-yard line, halting a promising Rams drive. The turnover proved pivotal, as Philadelphia turned the ensuing possession into a Jake Elliott field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
Despite the early edge, the Eagles’ offense struggled to convert red zone opportunities into touchdowns for much of the first half. After moving the ball effectively on several drives, Philadelphia settled for field goals, allowing the Rams to seize momentum briefly. Los Angeles took a 7-3 lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by Kyren Williams, who redeemed himself after his earlier fumble.
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However, the Eagles displayed their championship mettle during the two-minute drill before halftime. Jalen Hurts, who finished the half with 101 passing yards, orchestrated a 10-play, 62-yard drive capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown. The score, initially ruled incomplete before being overturned on review, gave the Eagles a lead they carried into the break. Brown has been Hurts’ go-to target, hauling in four receptions for 69 yards and the touchdown.
Philadelphia’s first-half defense was key to containing the Rams’ typically potent offense. Matthew Stafford was held to just 67 passing yards and sacked three times, with Josh Sweat and Dean contributing sacks alongside Dean’s pivotal turnover.
On the ground, Barkley was a steady force, rushing for 73 yards on 13 carries (5.6 yards per attempt) in the first half ... until he was so much more.
