In an unexpected turn of events, the Philadelphia Eagles delivered a gritty performance to secure a 15-12 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. The Eagles' defense emerged as the game-changer, managing to stifle a Saints offensive unit that had been averaging a staggering 45.5 points per game and 6.9 yards per play leading up to the matchup.
The Eagles' defensive line proved to be a dominant force, consistently collapsing the pocket around Saints' quarterback Derek Carr. This relentless pressure helped limit the Saints to just 12 points and cut their average yards per play down to 4.0. Former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan commented on the significance of this defensive performance, saying, "Internally, that D-Line was collapsing the pocket on Derek Carr. They did a great job against the run game and the secondary stood up and made plays."
One of the game’s pivotal moments came from Saquon Barkley, who finished with 17 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns, averaging an impressive 8.6 yards per carry. Barkley's overall performance, which included 156 yards from scrimmage and an average of 7.4 yards per touch, highlighted his resilience and ability to capitalize on critical opportunities. Ryan lauded Barkley's effort, stating, "Saquon, specifically, responded to that drop. Going out there the way that he did with the two touchdowns was impressive."
Eagles' Defense Shines
The Eagles' ability to contain a high-powered Saints offense was no small feat, particularly considering New Orleans had averaged 34.3 points per game and 6.0 yards per play in their first three games of the season. "I think we were all surprised at their production in the first two weeks," Ryan reflected. "I wouldn't have expected them to also have the performance they had yesterday either. I think it will balance out. They'll be somewhere in the middle of that. I kind of expect them to be in between where they were the first two weeks and where they were yesterday."
Offensive Struggles
Despite the victory, the Eagles’ offense faced its own struggles throughout the game. It wasn’t until a long run from Barkley and a key crossing route catch by Dallas Goedert, which resulted from two Saints defenders colliding, that they were able to make significant headway. Ryan acknowledged the gritty nature of the win: "I mean, it was a gritty win going down there. Offensively, they didn't do much until they got the long run from Saquon and the crossing route from Goedert -- and that was a result of the two defenders running into each other. A gutty win on the road. Their defense played really well."
Significance of the Victory
Winning in New Orleans is never an easy task, a fact not lost on Ryan, who has had plenty of experience playing in the challenging environment of the Superdome during his time with the Atlanta Falcons. "I played down there a ton when I was in Atlanta, it's not an easy place to go in and win. Any time you get the job done in New Orleans, it's well earned. It was just what they needed," Ryan remarked, underscoring the magnitude of the Eagles' road victory.
For the Eagles, this win represents a significant confidence boost moving forward. It highlights the potential of a defense capable of taming one of the league’s most explosive offenses and showcases Barkley’s ability to rise to the occasion in critical moments. While the offensive struggles cannot be ignored, the Eagles have laid down a marker with this spirited performance, signaling that they can compete with the best when it matters most.