Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley dominated Jacksonville’s defense in the Eagles’ (6-2) 28-23 victory over the Jaguars (2-7) Sunday, combining for 225 yards and two touchdowns rushing and connecting three times for 40 yards and a score through the air.
Perhaps no play better encapsulated Philadelphia’s offensive success against Jacksonville than Barkley’s instantly viral reverse hurdle.
Barkley forced three missed tackles on a second-quarter, 3rd and 6 catch-and-run for 14 yards and a first down. He ended the play by jumping over Jaguars cornerback rookie Jarrian Jones, backwards.
SAQUON BARKLEY IS NOT OF THIS WORLD.
📺: #JAXvsPHI on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/UtCENDw6no— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
Barkley later scored a 19-yard rushing touchdown on 3rd and 17, going untouched by Jaguars defenders who appeared unprepared to face a run. It gave the Eagles a 16-0 lead — although it was followed by the first of Philadelphia’s three failed two-point conversion attempts throughout the game — with 22 seconds until halftime.
Jacksonville, without wide receivers Christian Kirk and Gabe Davis and left guard Ezra Cleveland, could not keep up with Philadelphia offensively in the first half. The Jaguars netted only 31 yards, marking the second-fewest in the first 30 minutes of a game in franchise history.
But the Jaguars’ offense found some life in the second half. It took extended third and fourth-quarter drives deep into the red zone with quarterback Trevor Lawrence finding the end zone on the ground to cap each series.
Jacksonville edge rusher Travon Walker returned a Barkley fumble 35 yards for a touchdown between those scoring drives, at that time narrowing the deficit to six points, 22-16, with 5:26 remaining in the third quarter.
Hurts found Eagles wide receiver Devonta Smith for an incredible, toe-tapping 25-yard touchdown reception with 7:43 left in the fourth quarter, re-establishing a two-possession lead that Lawrence’s second score cut back into.
Incredible, DeVonta Smith.
📺: #JAXvsPHI on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/it2xzBFwf8— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
Jacksonville had a chance to steal the win from Philadelphia after Eagles kicker Jake Elliott doinked a 57-yard field goal attempt off the right goal post.
Lawrence and the Jaguars stalled to open the drive but were saved on 3rd and 10 by a defensive pass interference on Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox, with tight end Evan Engram as the intended target on the play.
Lawrence pitched a 22-yard pass to wide receiver Austin Trammell, a Week 9 practice squad call-up, on the next snap, moving Jacksonville into the red zone and making an improbable comeback momentarily look possible.
Then Lawrence was intercepted by Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean in the end zone on 1st and 10, overthrowing Jaguars running back D’Ernest Johnson on a wheel route.
Hurts removed two yards from his rushing total over the next three snaps, making a worthwhile trade to line up in victory formation.
The Jaguars will return to Jacksonville for Week 10, scheduled to host the Minnesota Vikings (5-2) at 1 p.m. ET next Sunday.
