PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles buried their earlier loss to the Giants with a 38-20 beatdown Sunday, fueled by Saquon Barkley’s long touchdown burst and Jalen Hurts’ four-touchdown clinic as they rolled into the bye week at 6-2.
The offensive line found its footing and it didn’t take long for the Birds to seize control. On the second snap of the game, Barkley exploded down the left sideline for a 65-yard score — his longest run of the season. He finished with 150 yards on 14 carries against his former team, his first 100-yard rushing performance of the 2025 campaign.
Hurts — often working from under center — was sharp and efficient, completing 15 of 20 passes for 179 yards and four touchdowns with a 141.5 passer rating. Backup running back Tank Bigsby added 104 yards on nine carries, giving the Eagles two 100-yard rushers in the same game, a rarity in today’s NFL.
Philadelphia piled up 276 rushing yards and averaged 8.4 yards per carry, dominating the line of scrimmage from start to finish.
Head coach Nick Sirianni downplayed the revenge angle but acknowledged the significance of how his team responded after an embarrassing 34-17 Thursday night loss at the Meadowlands 17 days earlier. The Birds made use of their mini-bye to bounce back against the Vikings and dominate the Giants rematch.
“After the Thursday night game … we had lost two in a row, now we’ve won two in a row,” Sirianni said Monday. “We really don’t think that way. We just think about how we are going to get better and find ways to win.”
He wants to make the most of this Week 9 bye. Last year, a Week 5 bye helped the Eagles redefine their season and make a Super Bowl championship run. That process of cultivating an identity seems to have already begun this October.
“I think it’s so important that we are completely locked in and focused on finding ways to get better, identifying issues, identifying strengths,” Sirianni said. “This is a really important week. We’ve benefited from this week in the past, whether that be going into the playoffs or whether it’s in the regular season. It’s that same motivation and same hunger to do everything that we can do to help improve the football team.
“For players, it’s about being away, resting their bodies, taking care of their bodies, doing some extra stuff themselves as far as their mental preparation for the rest of the season. I always think that the bye week sets you up for some things for the rest of the season, so it’s really an important week.”
Trenches tell the story
The offensive line dominated up front, paving the way for Barkley and Bigsby to control the clock. Left guard Landon Dickerson, left tackle Jordan Mailata and fill-in center Brett Toth — stepping in for an injured Cam Jurgens — anchored a front that handled New York’s interior. Their execution on coach Jeff Stoutland’s run concepts repeatedly opened lanes off tackle.
“You always look at the defense that you’re playing … their players are the first thing that you look at,” Sirianni said. “We have the offensive line to be able to do a lot of different schemes, but you also want to have your bread and butters of things you can rest your hat on in critical moments.”
Defense clamps down
The defense matched the offense’s energy, sacking Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart five times and holding New York to just 3.2 yards per carry. Linebacker Nakobe Dean addede leadership and toughness in the middle.
“Always great to have him on the field,” Sirianni said. “Guys love playing with and for Nakobe. He works his butt off, always constantly preparing, doing all the things that getting better requires.”
Trade talks and the bye week
With the trade deadline approaching Nov. 4, Sirianni said the team will use the bye to self-evaluate while staying in constant contact with general manager Howie Roseman.
“Regardless of the scenario, whether we have a game or not, we’re always in constant communication with Howie about everything,” Sirianni said. “We find time to do the things that are necessary to help the team win and help the team get better, whatever it may be.”
Looking ahead
Sitting atop the NFC East, the Eagles are getting healthy and finding balance between their ground game and passing attack. The next test comes Nov. 10 in Green Bay (5-1-1) on “Monday Night Football” at Lambeau Field.
The Eagles beat the Packers twice last season, including knocking them out of the playoffs. In the offseason, the Packers led an effort to try banning the tush push.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.
