Eagles Outlast Ravens to Extend Win Streak in Gritty Battle
The Eagles pulled away with a pivotal victory in Baltimore to stretch their winning streak to eight games. Saquon Barkley came away with the finisher in the fourth quarter with his rushing touchdown. Barkley once again eclipsed 100 yards rushing and is a real candidate for MVP. His surge in Philadelphia has exceeded all expectations, and the offensive line has taken Barkley’s game to another level. Jalen Hurts had a quiet day in the air for the most part, throwing for less than 125 yards. Before the game, DeVonta Smith was ruled out, which certainly affected the passing game. In his absence, A.J. Brown managed to have a solid day with 66 yards. It was also ideal to see Dallas Goedert find the offense to get the Eagles’ offense rolling. Nevertheless, Hurts had another game of zero turnovers to his credit. His poise to simply manage the game and scramble for positive gains when necessary has been a recipe for wins. With that being said, it would be foolish not to mention how serious the Eagles’ defense stands to be.
After letting up nine points early in the first quarter, the defense adjusted quickly. Although Justin Tucker ended up leaving seven points on the board with two missed field goals and an extra point, the Eagles let up 18 points to a top-tier offense on their field. That is a plausible performance. Zack Baun and Cooper DeJean were all over the field, making numerous key stops. General manager Howie Roseman truly hit home runs with these additions. Before the game, it was stressed that the key to a road victory was to keep Lamar Jackson in the pocket. With five sacks and constant pressure, the Eagles defensive line answered the call. The defense had complete control all game, making Jackson and Derrick Henry have rather stagnant performances. The Eagles’ defense stands to be a real force in the success of the Eagles’ run waiting to be unveiled. They are dominant in all three phases of the field.
With the Eagles trailing the Lions by one game for the top seed, all hands are on deck for the Super Bowl. They are 10-2 and are playing their best football of the season. They have an MVP candidate at running back and perhaps the best defense in the NFL. Of course, the great equalizer will come down to Jalen Hurts’ performance when the lights will shine brightest. After today, it is worth amplifying the belief that the Eagles' season could end up being one to remember.
