LOS ANGELES: Operating behind a franchise record-setting performance by running back Saquon Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles beat up on the Los Angeles Rams 37-20 in a game that not as close as the score might indicate.
The Rams scored a garbage time touchdown with 1:07 left in the fourth that was more for pride than anything else.
Barkley rushed 26 times for a franchise record 255 yards and two touchdown. The 27-year-old added four catches for 47 yards.
If Barkley isn't in the lead for MVP of the NFL this year, there should be an investigation.
Listening to his teammates, they would all certainly agree.
All Pro guard Landon Dickerson, who played on a national championship team at Alabama, where they do grow great running backs on trees, had this to say about Barkley, who recorded 302 yards from scrimmage in the win, marking the most by any player in Eagles history and the ninth-most in a game in NFL history.
“[Tonight] was probably the No. 1 performance I've ever seen,” Dickerson said. “I've been around some good running backs, but he might be the best” Dickerson stopped for second to rethink, “he is the best running back I've ever seen.”
Dickerson was reminded that Barkley played at Penn State, a great program, but has won just one outright Big Ten title since 1994.
“I don't care where he went to school,” Dickerson said. “He could have gone to ITT Technical institute, he's a tremendous back.”
Rams Head Coach Sean McVay talked about Barkley's performance.
“He's getting tough, hard-earned yards,” McVay said. “And then you give him a vertical seam, like he got a couple times. He's got the explosiveness and the long speed and the ability to be able to finish. That was really what opened up and really blew the game open for them. He was outstanding tonight.”
Offensive lineman Mekhi Becton, in his first season with the Eagles after spending four seasons with the hapless New York Jets, was asked if he has played on a team that had a running back who could turn in a performance like that.
“I ain't never seen nothing like that before,” Becton said. “Boy, he's different...for sure.”
Rookie defensive back sensation Quinyon Mitchell was asked if Barkley's performance provided a spark for the defense.
“Oh yeah,” Mitchell said. “Any time the offense makes a big play, or scores a touchdown, it gives the defense energy to go out there and try to get a stop, try to get them back on the field. He definitely sparked us tonight.”
Head coach Nick Sirinni on his running back's performance.
"Saquon's a special player," Sirianni said. "The offensive line played special against a very good defensive line. It's a very good defensive line. And we came into this game knowing that we had our hands full with them. So, hats off to our players and that's a good scheme.
“I think Chris (passing game coordinator Christian Parker) did a good job of mixing things up, making it hard for us to get a beat on things. We were able to hit a couple home runs.
“Saquon has that ability to hit home runs, and so sometimes that's how it goes. You get some short game, short game, short game, boom, home run and Saquon's that type of player and our O-line did a good job handling the variations upfront today.”
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, who was 15 of 22 for 179 yards with a seven-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Brown with 1:27 left in in the first half to give the Eagles (9-2) a 13-7 lead they would never relinquish, talked about his running back who is emerging as the leader for MVP of the 2024 NFL season.
“He's a hell of a player. He's a hell of a player and I said that,” said Hurts, “I said that after the Jacksonville game and how blessed he is to do some of many things he's capable of. When you accompany an issue with other issues, you become a problem.
“I think we've got a lot of talent on our team, but I think we're a force when we're all together. I think that's evident out there when we can find our rhythm in how we play and feed off one another.
“He set the tone for us, especially at the end. I think even these last few weeks, we've had some of those games where they kind of played out differently as the course of the game, but you think about these four-minute situations where he takes it over.
“I think back to…I told Saquon this, that two moments where we may have lost a game in the past or maybe mismanaged a four-minute situation where he's truly making things easier for us when it comes to how we handle four-minute situations because of his capabilities, even with a loaded box and being able to hit a home run. It was a big time play from him.”
Brown finished with six receptions for 109 yards. Kenneth Gainwell rushed five times for 22 yards including a bruising 13-yard touchdown run.
C.J. Gardner Johnson said Barkley's outbursts are nothing new.
“He's always been special,” the six-year veteran said. “He just needed a change of scenery. Happy for him.”
Barkley, after the game said he is more concerned about being consistent.
"My whole mantra this offseason and this season, how consistent I can be day-to-day,” said Barkley, who now has 1,602 yards from scrimmage, making him the fastest player to reach that mark through the first 11 games with a new team in NFL history. “Whether I rush for 250 yards or I rush for 50 yards, still come in on Monday and do the same thing.
"My story's not finished and it's going to keep going. When the season's all said and done, we'll look back and smile and be happy with the things I did or didn't do."
Barkley was quick to acknowledge his teammates.
"I can't do it alone,” he said. “I'm surrounded by great players. If you look at every single play that I made today, you see so many other players going above and beyond for me."
DEFENSE MADE ITS MARK ON A GAME DECIDED IN THE THIRD QUARTER
Matthew Stafford and the Rams came into the game having won four of their last five games, getting back in the race for the NFC West title and a home playoff game.
The Rams' offense looked unstoppable in its first drive, moving the ball to the Eagles 17-yard line.
Then Stafford handed the ball off to Kyren Willams who was stripped of the ball by defensive back Isaiah Rodgers. At first, Williams was called down by contact before the fumble. Replays reversed that call.
The Eagles looked solid on their first drive, rolling 80 yards on 12 plays before the effort stalled at the Rams' three-yard line. Jake Elliott made the score 3-0.
The Rams second drive looked just as intimidating from the Eagles perspective as Stafford led Los Angeles on a 70-yard, nine-play drive that ended with Williams diving in from the one to give the Rams a 7-3 lead going into the second quarter.
From the second quarter on though, it seemed like McVay's offense simply ran out of new plays.
The home team was forced to punt on its next three drives.
Mitchell said it was just a matter of the defensive line getting pressure on Stafford in the second quarter. Stafford was sacked three times in the first half.
“We didn't have cover for long,” Mitchell said. “The D-line was getting after him...sack after sack. I felt the pass rush was great tonight.”
Strafford finished 24 of 36 for 243 yards, TD passes, no interceptions. He was sacked five times.
Williams finished with 72 yards rushing on 16 carries and a score.
Mitchell and fellow rookie standout Cooper DeJean combined for 11 total tackles (eight solo) and three defended passes. Mitchell was asked if he is aware NFL teams rarely find two rookie defensive backs who have has the impact they've had on the Eagles season.
“We're just taking it day-by-day,” Mitchell said. “I lean on him, he leans on me. And we're just going to keep getting better.”
The Eagles would go on to build a 37-14 lead with 2:44 left in the fourth quarter. That run was highlighted by a 70-yard run by Barkley on the opening play of the third quarter and a 72-yard run late in the fourth.
The Rams scored a touchdown pass during garbage time with Stafford hitting Cooper Kup with a 27-yard touchdown pass with 1:07 left in the game.
Mitchell said this was not the most complete game of the season for the defense so far this season.
“I wouldn't it was our most complete game, we've got some stuff to clean up, especially on defense,” Mitchell said after the game at his locker. “The offense was rolling, Special teams was rolling. There's always some things we can clean up, but we were able to get the win and keep going.”
EAGLES LOSE BELOVED SUPER BOWL HERO FOR THE SEASON
The Eagles defense was led by four-at least-outstanding performances.
Defensive lineman Milton was credited with two tackles...both sacks. The four-year veteran also registered three quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
Linebacker Nakobe Dean turned in another Pro Bowl caliber game leading the Birds with eight total tackles (five solo), a sack, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and a fumble recovery.
Gardner-Johnson finished with five total tackles (four solo), a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
Was tonight approaching where you want to be?
“We're getting might close,” Gardner-Johnson said.. “We're taking to the coaching, understanding who we are and keep playing football...not taking things for granted while we're out there.”
Gardner-Johnson talked about the job defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and his staff are doing.
“We respect everything coach Vic is telling us,” he said. “He and his staff are doing all this for use so we can continue to play ball with a fast pace...without having to look over our should and second guess.”
But Brandon Graham played so well in the second quarter that if Graham is still thinking about retiring, there should be an investigation.
Graham was a force on the field in the second quarter as the Eagles turned to momentum squarely in their favor.
The 15-year veteran recorded two solo tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, three quarterback hits and a defended pass.
Graham revealed after the game that his season was over after tearing his triceps. The 36-year old more than hinted he wants to come back in 2025, if only to end his career walking out through the front door.
“I know for me, I don't want to go out like this,” Graham said at his locker after the game. “I definitely want to finish a whole season before I'm done. If that's not in the cards, I'm going to continue where I'm at too. I'm just not there yet (retirement).
"Let's finish this, get rehab going and we'll go from there. Me and my teammates, I told them 'I want to make it happen.' I'm going to be around the building anyway. We'll see for next year...whatever position they want to have me in.” *
Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com
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