In a surprising and hard-fought battle, the Philadelphia Eagles secured a narrow 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. What was particularly notable about this game was the Eagles' ability to stymie a Saints offense that had been scoring at will, averaging a staggering 45.5 points per game and 6.9 yards per play coming into the matchup.
Defensive Dominance
The Eagles' defensive line proved to be the game-changer. They consistently collapsed the pocket around Derek Carr, leaving him with little room to operate. The result was a significant reduction in the Saints' offensive output, holding them to just 12 points and an average of 4.0 yards per play. This was a dramatic shift from the Saints' performance in their first three games of the season, where they averaged 34.3 points per game and 6.0 yards per play.
Former NFL quarterback Matt Ryan, who provided insights into the game, remarked, "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."
Standout Performance by Saquon Barkley
Offensively, the Eagles didn't do much until a standout performance by Saquon Barkley late in the game. Barkley carried the ball 17 times for an impressive 147 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. His overall stats for the game included 156 yards from scrimmage, averaging 7.4 yards per touch.
Ryan was quick to praise Barkley, stating, "Saquon, specifically, responded to that drop. Going out there the way that he did with the two touchdowns was impressive." Barkley's burst of brilliance, marked by a long run and a crossing route from Dallas Goedert, was precisely what the Eagles needed to clinch their gritty victory.
Adding to the acknowledgment of the Eagles' effort, Ryan pointed out, "I mean, it was a gritty win going down there. Offensively, they didn't do much until they got the long run from Saquon (Barkley) and the crossing route from (Dallas) 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."
A Well-Earned Victory
The victory in New Orleans was particularly significant given the difficulty of playing at the Superdome, a venue known for its raucous atmosphere and challenging conditions for visiting teams. Ryan, who has experience playing in New Orleans from his time with the Atlanta Falcons, recognized the significance of such a win: "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."
Despite their initial struggles this season, the Eagles showcased an ability to rise to the occasion and shut down one of the league's most potent offenses. Ryan summed up the collective surprise and expectation, "I think we were all surprised at their production in the first two weeks. 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."
As the Eagles look to build on this momentum, their defensive prowess and moments of offensive brilliance, highlighted by performances like Barkley's, will be crucial in their pursuit of sustained success this season. For now, they can revel in a victory that was hard-earned and well-deserved, a testament to their resilience and tenacity.