The Philadelphia Eagles will be without tight end Dallas Goedert for at least the next four weeks due to a knee injury sustained in their 24-19 victory over Baltimore. Goedert will be placed on injured reserve, which will sideline him for the immediate future. The team is considering holding him out until the playoffs, depending on his recovery progress.
Goedert’s injury occurred late in the Week 13 win, forcing him to exit the game. Early reports suggested that the injury wasn’t severe, and Eagles’ management hoped for a quicker recovery. However, after an MRI on Monday and a missed week of practice, it became clear that Goedert would need to sit out for a period, with the regular season finale against the Giants being the earliest possible return date.
Dallas Goedert (NFL)
Before the injury, Goedert had been having a productive season, with three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown in the Baltimore game. His season totals now stand at 38 receptions for 441 yards and two touchdowns. With the Eagles preparing for their upcoming games, including a critical matchup against the Steelers in Week 15, the team will have to adjust their offense in his absence.
To fill the void left by Goedert, the Eagles will rely on backup Grant Calcaterra, who is capable of stepping up. The team has also signed tight ends C.J. Uzomah and E.J. Jenkins to the active roster from the practice squad to provide additional depth at the position. The Eagles will likely adjust their game plan to compensate for the loss of their star-tight end.
DeVonta Smith celebrates after a touchdown in the 2nd half
Let’s start with the positive news from Philadelphia. The Eagles are on a nine-game winning streak, Saquon Barkley is making a strong push for the NFL season rushing record, and they have secured a playoff spot for the fourth year in a row under coach Nick Sirianni.
Now, let’s talk about the concerns.
In Philadelphia, fans, media, and social media often have something to complain about, even during good times for the team. This time, the frustration came from within the Eagles’ locker room. Wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, as well as quarterback Jalen Hurts, voiced their concerns about the decline of the passing game.
They let it be known that it’s time to get the offense firing on all cylinders, especially with two 1,000-yard receivers heading into the playoffs.
Sirianni himself agreed, admitting that it’s fair to question the offense after Smith and Brown combined for just eight catches and 80 yards in their recent win over Carolina.
The issue this week? “Being on the same page,” Smith said.
Smith, who has had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, hasn’t gone over 100 yards in a game this season. Brown has had four 100-yard games, which is far below last season’s performance, where he surpassed 100 yards in six consecutive games and seven times overall.
Saquon Barkley reacts in the 2nd half
Hurts threw for only 108 yards with two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. Should the Eagles (11-2) be worried about getting their offense in sync after 13 games?
“No. I just say no,” Hurts said. There are reasons for the drop in numbers.
One reason is that the Eagles, usually a pass-heavy team, have relied on Barkley and his 1,623 yards this season to carry the offense. Hurts also takes part of the blame, as he sometimes holds onto the ball too long.
He was sacked four times and missed opportunities to hit Smith and Brown deep on a few occasions. Hurts didn’t throw to Brown on one play where he was open, which would have been a touchdown to Smith.
“We have to find a way to come together and sync as a unit and play complementary ball,” Hurts said.
Hurts has only surpassed 300 passing yards once this season, and in his last three games, his passing yards were 179, 118, and 108. However, he has thrown only five interceptions this season and just one during the winning streak.
The Philadelphia Eagles have placed tight end Dallas Goedert on injured reserve due to a knee injury sustained during Week 13’s victory over the Baltimore Ravens. NFL Network insiders reported that the Eagles aim for Goedert to be fully recovered in time for the playoffs. The team confirmed the news, noting that Goedert had already been ruled out for the upcoming game against the Carolina Panthers. This move underscores the team’s focus on ensuring the star player’s readiness for postseason play rather than risking further injury during the regular season.
By being placed on injured reserve, Goedert will miss at least four of the Eagles’ remaining five regular season games. While this creates a temporary setback for the team, Philadelphia’s focus is on a long-term strategy to maximize Goedert’s contributions during the playoffs. With the Eagles currently holding a strong 10-2 record and leading the NFC East, their playoff chances are promising, though they still have work to do to officially clinch their spot. A win on Sunday would strengthen their position, but other outcomes around the league involving teams like the Falcons, Buccaneers, and Cardinals could also influence their postseason scenario.
Dallas Goedert (NFL)
In Goedert’s absence, the Eagles will rely on third-year tight end Grant Calcaterra and veteran C.J. Uzomah to fill the void. Calcaterra, who is enjoying a career-best season with 17 receptions for 216 yards, will have an opportunity to further showcase his skills. Additionally, the team promoted E.J. Jenkins from the practice squad to provide additional depth at the position, ensuring they are equipped to handle the final stretch of the regular season without their starting tight end.
Goedert has been a key component of the Eagles’ offense, tallying 38 catches for 448 yards and two touchdowns in nine starts this season. However, injuries have been a recurring challenge for him in 2024, with a hamstring injury already sidelining him for three games earlier in the season. Despite his injury-plagued year, Goedert’s value as a reliable and versatile player makes his eventual return crucial for the Eagles’ postseason aspirations.
As the Eagles pursue their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, the team remains focused on securing their postseason spot while carefully managing player health. The organization is confident in its depth and adaptability to navigate Goedert’s absence effectively. The plan to have Goedert at full strength for the playoffs highlights the team’s commitment to long-term success and the importance of his role in their pursuit of a championship.
Saquon Barkley knew that he could break the Eagles’ single-season rushing record on Sunday with a performance like the one he has become known for in his first season in Philadelphia.
However, Barkley wasn’t sure when exactly he would reach that milestone—until the “MVP!” chants filled the air after a 9-yard run in the fourth quarter.
“The records are great, they put a smile on your face,” Barkley said, “but the season is far from over.”
Barkley needed 109 yards to break LeSean McCoy’s record, and he ran for 124 yards, bringing his season total to 1,623 yards in the Eagles’ 22-16 win over Carolina.
It only took Barkley 13 games to surpass McCoy, who rushed for 1,607 yards in 2013. He also passed Wilbert Montgomery, who had 1,512 yards in 1978.
Jalen Hurts runs with the ball in the 1st half
“I never wrote the goal down to break it,” Barkley said. “You’re always aware of it. That’s how I train. That’s how I operate in the offseason. I want to be great.”
Barkley is also on track to break Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, which was set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams.
“That would be extremely cool to do,” Barkley said. “If it happens, it happens, and not with the mindset of, I’m scared to go try to do it. Whatever it takes to win football games.”
Barkley is averaging 124.8 yards per game. If he keeps up this pace and plays one more game than Dickerson did, he could become the top single-season rusher in NFL history. He needs 483 yards in the final four games to break Dickerson’s 40-year-old record.
He averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 20 attempts against the Panthers, helping the Eagles win their ninth consecutive game.
McCoy, who was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame this season, is still the franchise’s rushing leader with 6,792 yards. McCoy, referencing his old uniform number, congratulated Barkley on social media, saying “a lot of love, coming from 2-5.”
“Being a fan of Shady’s growing up, and seeing the spectacular things he was able to do with the ball in his hand, to be able to have my name mentioned with him definitely means a lot,” Barkley said.
Barkley left the New York Giants in the offseason and signed a three-year deal worth $26 million guaranteed with the Eagles, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
At 27 years old, Barkley has lived up to the money.
Barkley is one of the favorites for league MVP, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was the only player with better MVP odds before Sunday’s games.
Barkley has set a franchise record with nine 100-yard rushing games in a season. Though he didn’t score a touchdown on Sunday, he entered the game leading the league with four rushing touchdowns of 25-plus yards.
Saquon Barkley reacts in the 2nd half
Barkley, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, has rushed for more than 1,000 yards three times in his six seasons with the Giants. He finished with 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022 and ran for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, who had been hesitant to spend on top-tier running backs, moved quickly to sign Barkley, and the decision has been widely celebrated in Philadelphia since the start of the season.
Barkley rushed for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in the season opener against Green Bay. His three touchdowns were the most by an Eagles player in his debut since Terrell Owens in 2004.
Barkley has continued to impress with his performance and popularity, highlighted by a memorable reverse leap over a Jacksonville defender last month.
He has now passed every running back ahead of him on the Eagles’ rushing list and is on track to make NFL history.
The mood in the Eagles’ locker room wasn’t as happy as it should have been, considering they had just won their ninth game in a row and set a franchise rushing record.
DeVonta Smith, the former 1,000-yard receiver, caught a touchdown pass but wasn’t happy with the lack of offense. A.J. Brown, who holds many team receiving records, didn’t have much to say in his frustrated postgame interview, much like how he didn’t have much of an impact on the field when he only had four catches.
This was the attitude of a team still fighting for a top NFC playoff spot?
The good news for the Eagles: Saquon Barkley rushed for 124 yards, breaking the Eagles’ season rushing record, and Jalen Hurts threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in their 22-16 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Despite Barkley’s strong performance, Hurts and the offense struggled again, but the Eagles secured a playoff spot later in the day when Arizona lost to Seattle, along with Atlanta’s earlier loss.
The Eagles (11-2) stayed in second place in the NFC, behind Detroit (12-1), after a sluggish game against the Panthers (3-10).
“Everybody has a reason to want more,” Hurts said.
Hurts’ passing stats were modest: 14 of 21 for 108 yards. Brown had four catches for 43 yards and threw his helmet in frustration after a three-and-out, while Smith had four catches for 37 yards.
Jalen Hurts runs with the ball in the 1st half
What does the team need to improve? “Passing,” Brown said dryly. How tough was it for the receivers to get into a rhythm? “Incredibly tough,” he answered.
Hurts didn’t do enough to involve Smith and Brown, which is one reason the lowly Panthers stayed in the game until the final moments.
Hurts took four sacks, held onto the ball too long, and missed open receivers who were trying to get his attention. “I play my role in how we execute,” Hurts said. “But it’s about what position we put ourselves in. It’s not my choice.”
That comment will likely be a topic of discussion for coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore this week. “I think that’s fair that the questions are about our pass game right now,” Sirianni said. At least Barkley was there to help.
Barkley achieved another milestone in his MVP push when he ran for 9 yards in the fourth quarter to break LeSean McCoy’s Eagles record of 1,607 rushing yards, set in 2013. Barkley now has 1,623 yards with four games left.
“How cool is it that we have a team rushing record in Week 13?” Sirianni said.
Hurts showed some good moments, like when he connected with Grant Calcaterra for a 4-yard touchdown pass, and Barkley ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Eagles a 22-16 lead early in the fourth.
Bryce Young led the Panthers into Eagles territory on their final drive. He completed a 13-yard pass on fourth down to get to the 38-yard line, and a second-down pass to Xavier Legette gave the Eagles a brief scare when the receiver seemed to have the ball in the end zone.
But he didn’t. Young managed to avoid a pass rush on fourth down, but his last throw was incomplete. He finished 19 of 34 for 191 yards. Panthers coach Dave Canales said Legette “absolutely” had to make the catch.
“That’s a big play we’re counting on. He’d be the first one to tell you he’s got to make that play,” Canales said. “Bryce steps up, makes a beautiful throw in the situation. We had the coverage we wanted, all that. Those are the plays that we’ve just got to find a way to make for us to get back on the winning column.”
The Panthers, 12 1/2-point underdogs, played like a team fighting for playoff positioning.
Chuba Hubbard, who rushed for 92 yards and topped 1,000 on the season, scored a 1-yard touchdown in the third quarter to make it 16-14. Eddy Pineiro had kicked a 38-yard field goal earlier, but he missed the extra point.
Bryce Young runs with the ball in the 2nd half
Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was checked for a concussion earlier, changed the game late in the second quarter when he intercepted Young’s deep pass at the Eagles’ 41-yard line. Hurts scrambled for 15 yards on the next drive and finished it with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Smith to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead.
Gardner-Johnson’s pick saved the Eagles from a poor performance.
The Eagles failed to score on their opening drive for the 13th time this season, and the usual offensive bursts never came. Hurts did score on a “tush push” early in the second quarter, his 13th rushing touchdown of the season, to give the Eagles a 7-3 lead.
The Panthers, with nothing to lose, went for it on fourth-and-3, and Young hit Tommy Tremble for a 3-yard touchdown to take a 10-7 lead.
The Eagles did just enough to win. Now, their challenge is improving the receivers’ performance and keeping them happy as they head toward the playoffs.
“Let the dissatisfaction fuel you for more,” Hurts said. “I think that’s always a fair place to be. And so we know there’s more out there for us, and we’re in pursuit of trying to find it.”
Saquon Barkley’s stellar performances in November earned him the NFC Offensive Player of the Month award, reinforcing his case as a potential NFL MVP — a feat no running back has achieved since Adrian Peterson in 2012. Over the month, Barkley amassed 777 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns across four games. His 626 rushing yards, including five touchdowns on the ground, were complemented by 151 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, making him a dual-threat weapon for the Philadelphia Eagles.
One of Barkley’s most remarkable outings came in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams. He set a franchise record with 255 rushing yards and totaled 302 scrimmage yards in a dominant performance. In that game, he achieved the rare feat of two 70-yard touchdown runs, becoming the first player to do so since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2009. His consistent excellence was evident as he surpassed 145 rushing yards in three of his four November games.
Saquon Barkley
After joining the Eagles from the New York Giants in free agency, Barkley has proven to be a transformative signing. The Giants declined to offer him a long-term extension, allowing the Pennsylvania native to return home and deliver for his new team. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman’s uncharacteristic decision to invest in a marquee running back is already paying off, as Barkley has become a cornerstone of the Eagles’ offense.
Barkley has played a pivotal role in Philadelphia’s ongoing eight-game winning streak, which includes a hard-fought victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Even against Baltimore’s formidable run defense, Barkley managed 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. During this streak, he leads the NFL in rushing yards with 1,064 and ranks second in yards per carry with 6.2, narrowly trailing Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs.
What sets Barkley apart is his ability to excel in clutch moments. He leads the league with 654 second-half rushing yards, surpassing the total rushing yards of 29 entire teams in that span. Additionally, his league-high 361 rushing yards in the fourth quarter and overtime, with an average of 8.2 yards per carry, underscore his ability to deliver when it matters most. With a playoff berth on the line against the Carolina Panthers, Barkley remains an invaluable asset for the Eagles.
Saquon Barkley carries the ball for the first down in the 2nd quarter
Saquon Barkley wanted to learn about the history of the team before making his own mark with the Eagles.
The running back, who had just signed with Philadelphia for $26 million guaranteed, took time to study the team’s past stars at his position.
He learned about Wilbert Montgomery and looked into LeSean McCoy’s career.
Barkley then set his sights on them — and this week, against Carolina, he could become the Eagles’ all-time leader for rushing yards in a single season.
To break that record, he would have to surpass Montgomery and McCoy. After that, Barkley’s next goal is to challenge Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, which was set in 1984.
“That’s your goal,” Barkley said. “You want to come in here, you want to leave a legacy on a place, on a franchise.”
Here’s where Barkley stands in his chase for records:
— Barkley has rushed for 1,499 yards, leading the NFL after 12 games, with an average of 124.9 yards per game. If he keeps up this pace and plays one more game than Dickerson did, he could break the NFL record that has stood for 40 years.
— Barkley needs 108 yards against the Panthers to break McCoy’s Eagles record of 1,607 yards set in 2013. Montgomery ran for 1,512 yards in 1978.
Saquon Barkley gets past Myles Cole in the 2nd half
“I’m aware of the things I can accomplish,” Barkley said. “The way I accomplish that is sticking to the script.”
The Eagles (10-2) have won eight straight games, taking control of the NFC East and staying in the race for the No. 1 seed in the conference. Barkley, with some help from Jalen Hurts, has been a big part of this success and is now being considered for the MVP award. He also ranks third in the league with 11 rushing touchdowns.
Barkley is expected to add more yards against Carolina (3-9).
The Panthers have the worst defense against the run in the league and just allowed Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving to rush for a career-high 152 yards last week (Irving had never gone over 100 yards in a game before).
“It’s incredible what he is doing. The record has stood up for a while. I mean 17 games or 14 games, it’s ridiculous,” Panthers defensive lineman Shy Tuttle said. “It’s a record that has been held for a long time and whoever breaks it, Saquon or someone else, it’s an incredible achievement.”
Barkley leads the NFL with four rushing touchdowns of 25 or more yards this season and is now tied with Montgomery for the most 100-yard games in an Eagles season, with eight.
“You get to see the player on Sundays. We get to see the person every other day during the week,” offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said. “He’s special. At the end of the day, he’s a special teammate, special person. The way he connects with everyone, rallies everyone together. He’s one of the best.”
Justin Tucker, long hailed as one of the greatest kickers in NFL history, experienced the worst game of his 13-year career during the Ravens’ 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium. Tucker missed three kicks—a pair of field goals and an extra point—marking an unprecedented low point. His struggles contributed to the Ravens’ defeat in a game where every point mattered. Despite his exceptional track record, Tucker’s uncharacteristic performance has sparked concern about his current form.
Tucker’s missed kicks included field goal attempts from 47 and 53 yards in the third quarter and an extra point in the first. His 47-yarder went wide left, and the extra point struck the left upright. The 53-yard attempt veered wide right, though Tucker dismissed the idea that his recent leftward misses influenced this miss. “I didn’t strike the ball on the exact target line,” he explained, attributing the error to a technical misstep rather than overcompensation. Despite converting from 34 and 50 yards later in the game, those makes provided little solace.
This season has been Tucker’s most challenging, with his field goal percentage plummeting to a career-low 70%. He has missed 10 kicks, the most in the NFL, and his inconsistency has been especially costly in losses. Two weeks ago, he missed pivotal field goals in a narrow defeat to the Steelers, echoing Sunday’s frustrations. Reflecting on the game, Tucker expressed personal responsibility but emphasized the need to move forward. “The only thing I can do is just continue to work, take it one kick at a time,” he said.
Justin Tucker (NFL)
Head Coach John Harbaugh reaffirmed his confidence in Tucker despite the mounting issues, dismissing any notion of replacing him. “Are we going to move on from Justin Tucker? I’m not really planning on doing that,” Harbaugh stated. He pointed to Tucker’s storied history as evidence of his capability to rebound. Similarly, teammates rallied around him, with quarterback Lamar Jackson and tight end Mark Andrews expressing unwavering support. “He’s the G.O.A.T. still,” Jackson said. “He’ll get it done.”
As the Ravens head into their bye week, the timing offers an opportunity for reflection and adjustment. Tucker plans to evaluate his technique thoroughly to identify and rectify any mechanical flaws. His commitment to maintaining a high standard reflects his professional ethos, a trait his teammates admire. Andrews highlighted Tucker’s resilience and professionalism, noting, “He’s about the most pro that you can get.”
The loss to the Eagles underscores broader struggles for the Ravens, whose season has been marred by inconsistent execution in critical moments. Tucker’s uncharacteristic struggles epitomize the team’s challenges in maintaining a high level of play. With pivotal games ahead, the Ravens will need both their iconic kicker and the rest of the team to rediscover their form to remain competitive in a tightly contested AFC North race.
The matchup between Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry was never meant to be a direct competition.
“It ain’t basketball. It ain’t like I go out there and tackle Derrick Henry,” Barkley said. “To be honest, I don’t know if I really want to tackle Derrick Henry.”
Luckily for Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles have a whole team of defensive players focused on stopping Henry, and they did a good job of that on Sunday. They also contained Lamar Jackson in their 24-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens, which marked the Eagles’ eighth consecutive victory.
The much-anticipated running back battle between Barkley and Henry didn’t meet expectations. Barkley ended the game with 107 rushing yards, including a 25-yard touchdown with 7:56 left in the fourth quarter. Henry finished with 82 rushing yards and three catches for 29 yards.
Lamar Jackson throws in the 1st half
Although Barkley may have edged ahead of Jackson in the MVP race, the Eagles’ defense stole the show. Coach Nick Sirianni’s response when asked how he felt his team matched Baltimore’s physicality showed the Eagles’ mentality:
“They had to match ours,” Sirianni said. “That was our message going in — that they got to match our physicality. Again, that’s a very physical team, that’s a well-coached team, that’s a team with a lot of good players. But yeah, I’d like that question rephrased a little bit.”
Justin Tucker’s struggles continued for Baltimore. The star kicker missed two field goals and an extra point, contributing to the Ravens’ loss. As a result, Baltimore (8-5) fell 1 1/2 games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the AFC North. The Eagles (10-2) recovered from an early 9-0 deficit with two touchdowns in the second quarter. Tucker made a 50-yard kick just before halftime, but the Ravens didn’t score again until the game’s final seconds.
“Couldn’t get any rhythm going,” said coach John Harbaugh. “In the second half, we really couldn’t finish.”
With the Ravens trailing 14-12, they had possession for most of the third quarter but couldn’t capitalize. Tucker missed field goals from 47 and 53 yards.
“We’re just going to rally around him,” said Baltimore safety Ar’Darius Washington. “We know he’s a great kicker. He’s probably the greatest of all time. Whatever he’s going through, we’re going to be there for him. He’s our guy.”
Barkley’s touchdown put the Eagles ahead 21-12, and a field goal extended the lead to 12. Jackson threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely with 3 seconds left, but it wasn’t enough.
Baltimore Ravens players in the 1st half
Jackson fell to 23-2 against the NFC as a starter, throwing for 237 yards and rushing for 79.
“The front just kept at it, that’s it. We didn’t keep a spy on him, we didn’t do anything extra,” said Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean.
This game featured the Ravens’ top-ranked offense against the Eagles’ number-one ranked defense. The Ravens took an early lead, helped by six Eagles penalties in the first quarter. Jackson threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews to make it 9-0.
However, the second quarter was dominated by the Eagles. Jalen Hurts threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert and later scored on a 1-yard run, although he appeared to mishandle the snap before securing the ball and pushing it across the goal line.
The most accurate kicker in NFL history is currently going through an unexpected slump.
Justin Tucker missed several kicks in the Baltimore Ravens’ 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Before the game, Tucker had made 89.4% of his field goals, the highest percentage by any NFL kicker who has attempted at least 150 field goals.
He made kicks from 34 and 50 yards against the Eagles but missed a 47-yard attempt to the left and a 53-yard attempt to the right. Both missed kicks came in the third quarter while the Ravens were trailing 14-12. Earlier, Tucker hit an extra point that bounced off the upright after the Ravens had jumped to a 9-0 lead.
“As simply as I can put it, I missed the kicks, and I’ll leave it at that,” Tucker said. “I just left the points out there. I feel like I cost us this one, but it doesn’t really do anybody any good to dwell on it. The only thing that we can do — that I can do — is just continue to work, move forward, take it one kick at a time.”
Justin Tucker misses a field goal in the 2nd half
Ravens coach John Harbaugh couldn’t understand why a kicker who had been so reliable inside 60 yards suddenly missed easier kicks.
“We’ll go back and look at all that stuff and try to do the best we can to try to figure it out,” Harbaugh said. “He’s definitely capable of making every kick. We need him to make those kicks, and nobody wants to make them more than Justin, I promise you that.”
The Ravens (8-5) are on a bye next week, and there are no plans to hold a tryout for kickers.
“If you’re asking me if we’re going to move on from Justin Tucker, I’m not really planning on doing that right now. I don’t think that would be wise,” Harbaugh said. “He’ll be the first to tell you he has to make as many kicks as he can. And if you look at Justin Tucker’s history, I would say he’s capable of doing that.”
Since joining the NFL in 2012, Tucker has made 62 field goals from 50 yards or more, including an NFL record 66-yard kick in Detroit in 2021. Before Sunday’s game, Tucker had a 93.6% success rate in the second half and overtime, the best in NFL history for kickers with at least 100 attempts.
But against the Eagles, his two missed kicks in the second half put the Ravens in a tough position. Just two weeks earlier, Tucker missed two field goals in an 18-16 loss to division rival Pittsburgh, forcing the Ravens to attempt a failed 2-point conversion with 1:06 left.
Justin Tucker watches his kick in the 2nd half
Tucker, a player known for his 20 career game-winning kicks, found himself discussing his missed attempts.
“I hate that I’ve had to have this same conversation over the course of this season,” Tucker said. “But that’s something that comes with the territory in this job description. The kicks are either good or they’re not, and today, I did not do a good enough job to help our team win the football game.”
His teammates can’t believe that Tucker, who has been so reliable, is suddenly struggling.
“I said this to some of the guys on the sideline: I think this is normal for kickers, but we’ve been so blessed by Tucker’s eliteness that we kind of take it for granted,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “We used to sit there when he gets out there and know it’s going in. But I think great players, they get out of those slumps at the right moment. And I think Tucker’s one of those guys.”
Saquon Barkley ran for two touchdowns of 70 and 72 yards, making a significant mark in the Eagles’ franchise record book.
Could these performances also lead him to an MVP award or help the Eagles reach the Super Bowl?
The Eagles (9-2) have won seven games in a row since their bye week, including a 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. They are now just one game behind Detroit for the best record in the NFC. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, only the Lions, Chiefs, and Bills have better odds to win the Super Bowl. Coach Nick Sirianni has Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts playing at their best as the season heads into the final stretch.
Barkley has become a strong contender for the MVP award and is quickly becoming one of the greatest free-agent signings in Eagles history with his impressive season.
Consider the following:
— Barkley finished the game with a career-high 255 rushing yards on 26 carries and two rushing touchdowns.
— His 255 rushing yards set the Eagles’ single-game rushing record, surpassing LeSean McCoy’s 217 yards in 2013 against Detroit.
— Barkley’s 255 yards are the ninth-best single-game rushing performance in NFL history, behind names like Adrian Peterson (296 yards in 2007) and O.J. Simpson (273 yards in 1976).
Saquon Barkley reacts after running for a touchdown in the 2nd half
— This marked his seventh game with over 100 rushing yards this season, the most in the NFL in 2024, tying his career high (2018 with the New York Giants).
— His seven 100-yard games are tied for the second-most in Eagles’ single-season history, only trailing Wilbert Montgomery’s eight in 1981.
“He just added a new dimension for us,” Hurts said.
Barkley also became the first NFL player to have two 70-yard touchdown runs in a single game since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2009.
For the Giants, losing both QB Daniel Jones and Barkley has led to a disappointing season with no wins to show for it.
“I didn’t know I would have this much success, (but) I’m thankful to be here,” Barkley said. “I’m thankful for the fresh start. A big reason why I wanted to come here is I felt like this is a spot where I could rewrite my story and show everyone the type of player that I feel like I can be and was meant to be, and it’s working out right now.”
Brandon Graham sacks Matthew Stafford in the 1st half
Before Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles came to town, the Los Angeles Rams had gained some confidence with four wins in their past five games.
However, all the progress they made, especially with their young defense, was quickly undone when Barkley rushed for 255 yards and scored two long touchdowns in the Eagles’ 37-20 blowout win on Sunday night.
The Rams (5-6) allowed the largest performance by an opposing running back in the history of the franchise, which started in 1936. This loss showed just how far they are from being serious title contenders.
Coach Sean McVay didn’t have much to say that wasn’t obvious after his defense gave up 481 yards to the 9-2 Eagles. The Eagles are a team that has veteran leadership and depth, which the Rams had three years ago during their championship run but haven’t been able to rebuild since then.
“There’s humbling nights like this in football,” McVay said. “It’s all about how you respond. I do know that this team has the capability to be able to respond, and we’ll get ourselves up off the mat and we’ll have a good week of preparation this week.”
The Rams would do well to keep in mind that playoff contention is still very possible in the weak NFC West, where Los Angeles is only one game behind first place.
Sean Mcvay in the news conference
However, everything McVay wants for his team is still a long way from being achieved, despite a few solid wins in the last six weeks.
Not much went right against the Eagles, who seemed to have an answer for almost everything the Rams tried on both offense and defense. Los Angeles’ offense had some good drives, but the Rams’ defense allowed points in every quarter.
“You’ve got to look at the tape of this one (and) figure out where to go from there, as far as what you did wrong,” Matthew Stafford said after throwing two touchdown passes. “How can you correct those things? Not going to let these guys beat us twice. This is the NFL. You play the game long enough, you’re going to have unfortunate nights. You’re going to have nights where you don’t play as good as you possibly can. You don’t ever want them to get out of hand like they did, but you’ve got to move on.”
