The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title with a win over the Washington Commanders, marking 20 years since they last won it back-to-back. Despite some early struggles, the team is focused on finding the right ingredients for another championship run, highlighting key plays and the performance of Saquon Barkley.
“I was wondering why pregame J.D. kept saying ‘20 years, 20 years,’ ” Mailata said. “And he said it again post game. I asked him, ‘Why do you keep saying 20 years?’ Then someone from the front office said ‘It has been 20 years since we last won back to back.
’ ”over the Washington Commanders, but he put it on backward.There was once a time when an Eagles’ division title would have been cause for a rowdy celebration inside the locker room and in the city, but a franchise that has been to three of the last eight Super Bowls andThis season, much like last season, has been all about finding the right ingredients to win another championship. Things didn’t always come easy for the 2024 Eagles, but for most of the season they dominated on defense and in the running game and by the time they reached the playoffs they were playing their best football. Nothing — not even the tush push — has come easy for the 2025 Eagles and Saturday night’s game was another example. Thanks to a turnover on the opening kickoff, two missed field goals by and an assortment of other mistakes, the Eagles went into halftime down 10-7 to a shorthanded 4-10 Washington team.and the running game that has lacked the same potency it showed last season for much of this season. Barkley, in fact, had two of his best runs and one of his best games against the Commanders, rushing for 132 yards on 21 carries, including a 12-yard touchdown that Mailata described as “an angry run.” “Oh, yeah, that was crazy seeing that touchdown,” Mailata said. “That was just an angry run by Sa and I kind of expected that from him just by the way he was acting on the sideline. He was very adamant the way he was acting on the sideline. He was like, ‘We’re going to get it, we’re going to get it going.’ So I’m not surprised in seeing that. He wanted it. Angry runs are the best. You just feed off it.” The Eagles’ offense fed off Barkley so often a year ago as he became just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards. Those yards have been much tougher to come by this season, but Barkley did go over the 1,000-yard mark Sunday and that’s still a significant milestone. It was only the 23rd time in franchise history a back has gone over 1,000 yards. Barkley also averaged more than six yards per carry for the second time in three games, a feat he accomplished seven times last season, including twice in the playoffs. He got there with a remarkable 48-yard run that looked like it was going to be a loss before he spun away from a defensive tackle three yards deep in the backfield and went up the left sideline. He also got a huge block from DeVonta Smith on the run. “Apparently Smitty said I have to score, so I have to go back and watch that one,” Barkley said.“Yeah, man, he’s awesome,” Eagles coachsaid when asked about Barkley. “Just everything he brings to the football team is awesome. Obviously first and foremost a super talented guy, but a great leader, a great player to have in the locker room. Guys always get fired up when you have those runs. He brings a lot of energy and a lot of excitement ... and it’s so awesome he’s on our football team.” Barkley’s confidence is clearly on the rise as the playoffs near and that’s a big reason to believe the Eagles can make another deep playoff run.better and the quarterback has been really good during the Eagles’ two-game winning streak. Hurts has completed 75.5% of his passes in his last two games for 360 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions. His passer rating is 135.4 in those games. The quarterback’s two TD passes against the Commanders bailed out his teammates after penalties turned first-and-goal from the one-yard line into much more difficult situations. His first touchdown was a perfectly placed six-yard throw just beyond the goal line to DeVonta Smith and his second was a throw to Dallas Goedert in the back of the end zone on a third-and-goal from the 15-yard line. The touchdown finished off a 17-play, 83-yard drive and gave the Eagles a 14-10 lead late in the third quarter. “It was good to see going out there and earning those yards,” Hurts said. “He played a very physical game. He played a hell of a game.” And, finally, it appears as if the Eagles’ offense might be headed in the right direction with the postseason on the horizon.Bob Brookover has been the Eagles beat reporter at NJ Advance Media since November of 2023. He joined the organization as a Giants beat writer in September 2022 after a 40-year career covering Philadelphia...
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