Saquon Barkley strengthens MVP candidacy, plus Cowboys and Vikings survive late comeback attempts

[ad_1] Earlier than this NFL season started, a significant concern surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles was how their new working again would play behind a new-look offensive line.

That query has been definitively answered.

Saquon Barkley added to his candidacy for the NFL’s most respected participant and the Eagles gained their seventh consecutive recreation on NBC’s "Sunday Evening Soccer" by dominating within the run recreation, but once more, and sprinting previous the Los Angeles Rams 37-20.

Only one season after being solid off from the New York Giants, Barkley ran behind an overwhelming offensive line for a career-high 255 yards — the primary time in his profession he has rushed for greater than 200 yards — together with landing runs of 70 and 72 yards wherein defenders might barely lay a hand on the again, not to mention cease him.

It was probably the most particular person speeding yards in a single recreation since 2009, and pushed Barkley to 1,392 yards on the season, a brand new career-high set in solely 11 video games.

Already the NFL’s chief in yards from scrimmage, Barkley pushed his lead in that class by additionally catching 4 passes for 47 yards. With the win, the Eagles enhance to 9-2, together with 5-1 on the highway, to increase their NFC East division benefit over the Washington Commanders.

"We simply obtained to maintain constructing," Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts mentioned postgame on NBC. "Momentum is the fakest factor on the market as a result of it might finish or start at any second. We simply wish to proceed to construct, study from our errors and play good ball."

The Rams drop to 5-6. That they had gained 4 of their final 5 video games, however the loss gained’t derail their playoff aspirations, not in an NFC West division that continues to be tightly knotted collectively getting into the season’s house stretch.

However the story was Barkley and the legit Tremendous Bowl potential he has created for a crew that, only one 12 months in the past, was enduring a late-season collapse. This season, the Eagles have gotten stronger because the weeks have gone on.

Even with the outlet left by the offseason retirement of middle Jason Kelce, a possible future Corridor of Famer, the Eagles entered Sunday proudly owning the NFL’s high speeding offense, averaging 181.3 yards per recreation.

Towards the Rams, Philadelphia rushed for 314. The run-pass mixture stored the Rams’ protection off-balance, as Philadelphia transformed 9 of its 15 third-down alternatives, in comparison with 0-of-8 for Los Angeles.

"He is a hell of a participant," Hurts mentioned of Barkley. "He is one of the best at what he does."

SNF weblog: Look again at how the sport unfolded

The consistency of their run recreation has allowed Philadelphia to floor down groups in second halves, and that development additionally continued as Philadelphia scored 24 factors after halftime to the Rams’ 13.

The Eagles are actually solely the second crew in NFL historical past, and the primary since 1949, to hurry for at the very least 150 yards and a number of speeding touchdowns in six consecutive video games.

"I obtained a contemporary begin," Barkley mentioned postgame. "I am round an incredible group of men. The entire group for me, high to backside, has welcomed me in with open arms. I am having enjoyable. I am able to go on the market and carry out at a excessive degree and prepare for subsequent week."

Cowboys beat Commanders in weird style, plus Packers dominate 49ers The Dallas Cowboys beat their rival Commanders 34-26 on the highway in probably the most weird video games in years. Trailing 27-20 with 21 seconds remaining, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels discovered Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard rating that seemingly would enable Washington to tie the sport. The one concern? Kicker Austin Seibert’s additional level went extensive left and Dallas (4-7) held on to win the matchup. The sport featured two kickoff return touchdowns, two missed additional factors, a blocked punt and a blocked subject objective try, the one time that has occurred in NFL historical past. Washington, as soon as a lock for the postseason, has now misplaced three straight. The Inexperienced Bay Packers (8-3) established themselves as a legit playoff contender with a dominant 38-10 win in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Inexperienced Bay quarterback Jordan Love threw two touchdowns whereas working again Josh Jacobs exploded for 106 yards and three scores on the bottom. The 28-point loss is the worst for San Francisco (5-6) since October 2018. The Minnesota Vikings withstood a late comeback try by the Chicago Bears to enhance to 9-2. Minnesota led 27-16 with 1:56 left in regulation however Caleb Williams led a profitable landing drive and two-point conversion to make it 27-24 with 22 seconds left. Chicago then recovered the onside kick and Cairo Santos hit a 48-yard subject objective as time expired to push to additional time. After a defensive cease, the Vikings’ John Parker Romo drilled a 29-yarder to win the sport. The whole state of Minnesota took a collective sigh of aid after the sport. It was the Bears’ fifth straight loss. [ad_2] Source link