The much-anticipated showdown between Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry didn’t materialize as expected in the Philadelphia Eagles’ 24-19 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. While Barkley ended the game with 107 rushing yards, including a 25-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, Henry was limited to 82 yards and three catches for 29 yards.
The primary story of the game, however, was Philadelphia’s defense, which kept Baltimore’s high-powered offense in check, including Lamar Jackson, who managed just 237 passing yards and 79 rushing yards. The Eagles’ defensive strategy, as described by head coach Nick Sirianni, was to impose their physicality, a goal they achieved successfully against the Ravens.
The Eagles’ defense stood strong in the face of adversity, particularly in the second half, despite Baltimore initially taking a 9-0 lead. The Ravens capitalized on early mistakes from the Eagles, including six penalties in the first quarter. However, the Eagles bounced back in the second quarter, with Jalen Hurts throwing a touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert and then running for a 1-yard touchdown. This shift in momentum allowed Philadelphia to take a 14-9 lead by halftime, despite a 50-yard field goal from Ravens kicker Justin Tucker just before the break.
Justin Tucker’s struggles continued throughout the game, as he missed two critical field goals, including attempts from 47 and 53 yards in the second half. His missed kicks proved costly, as the Ravens were unable to capitalize on opportunities to stay in the game. Despite these struggles, Tucker’s teammates remained supportive, with safety Ar’Darius Washington expressing confidence in the veteran kicker, acknowledging his greatness despite the recent setbacks.
Barkley’s 25-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter gave the Eagles a crucial 21-12 lead and a subsequent field goal extended their advantage. The Ravens made a late push, with Jackson throwing a touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely with just three seconds left, but it was too little, too late. The Ravens fell to 8-5 on the season and 1 1/2 games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, while the Eagles improved to 10-2, extending their winning streak to eight games.
The game was also marked by significant injuries on both sides. The Eagles were without wide receiver DeVonta Smith due to a hamstring issue, and several key players, including safety Reed Blankenship and wide receiver Britain Covey, left the game with injuries. On the Ravens’ side, safety Kyle Hamilton was briefly in concussion protocol but returned to the game, while wide receiver Rashod Bateman suffered a knee injury. Despite these setbacks, the Eagles’ overall dominance, especially on defense, was the key factor in securing the win.
