WATCH: Saquon Barkley goes 68-yards untouched for TD vs. Commanders

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley goes 68-yards untouched for TD vs. Commanders

Saquon Barkley hit a slight hiccup in Week 15, as the Eagles star running back rushed for just 65 yards on 19 carries. Barkley, who entered Sunday still leading the NFL with 1,688 yards, just amassed his yardage from last week in one explosive run.

The Eagles star went 68 yards untouched to put Philadelphia up 21-7 over Washington with Jalen Hurts in the locker room with a likely concussion.

Barkley has shattered LeSean McCoy’s single-season rushing record (1,607) set in 2013 for Philadelphia, and he’s pacing toward A 2,000-yard rushing season ahead of a deep playoff run.

Eric Dickerson made NFL history with the Rams in 1984, and despite a handful of 2,000-yard rushing seasons in the four decades that have followed, that record still stands.

To break Dickerson’s record, Barkley must average 139 rushing yards per game. To reach 2,000 yards rushing, Barkley has to average 104 rushing yards.

Barkley has seven carries for 109 yards (15.6 avg) and two touchdowns.

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Malik Nabers makes Giants history, sets news rookie record

New York Giants WR Malik Nabers has leapfrogged Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley to set an all-time franchise rookie record.

Move aside Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley because there’s a new rookie record holder for the New York Giants.

In the first quarter of a Week 16 game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, wide receiver Malik Nabers hauled in a pass from quarterback Drew Lock that tied the team’s rookie record for receptions (91) in a single season.

Beckham Jr. set the record in 2014 and it was later tied by Barkley in 2018.

On the next offensive series, Nabers set the new mark (92) on a six-yard reception.

Nabers was well aware of his place in Giants history entering Sunday’s game, admitting earlier in the week he keeps tabs on all of his statistics (and those of his teammates).

“Yeah, I’m keeping track of it. I’m keeping track of it,” he told reporters about the rookie reception record.

Nabers was asked if any potential record in particular stood out to him.

“All of them,” Nabers said. “They just all do. If I can put my name in the record books, I’m going to do it.”

And more records may come on Sunday or over the final two weeks.

Nabers started the day needing just 97 yards from scrimmage to reach the 1,000-yard mark. His fellow rookie, running back Tyrone Tracy Jr., entered Sunday needing 85 yards from scrimmage to achieve the same benchmark.

Should the pair reach or eclipse the 1,000-yard mark, they will become just the third rookie duo in NFL history to accomplish that feat, joining Marques Colston and Reggie Bush (2006), and Abner Haynes and Johnny Robinson (1960).

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When they last met: Commanders and Eagles

What happened last time the Commanders and Eagles played?

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Philadelphia 26, Washington 18 – Week 11, November 14, 2024

The Commanders surrendered scores on the Eagles’ last five offensive possessions as the Eagles defeated the Commanders 26-18 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Washington entered the final quarter up 10-6 but was thoroughly outplayed in the final 15 minutes. The Eagles scored 20 consecutive points to take a 26-10 lead, which they held until Washington scored on their last possession, making the final margin 26-18.

Beginning with the Eagles’ final possession of the first half, the Eagles drove 87, 74, 76, 74, and 46 yards in five consecutive possessions, controlling both the ball and the clock and keeping the Washington defense on the field.

Saquon Barkley had fourth-quarter touchdown runs of 23 and 39 yards on his way to 146 rushing yards in 26 carries. A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert led the Eagles with five receptions for 65 and 61 yards, respectively.

Washington’s Jayden Daniels struggled, being sacked three times and intercepted once. He completed 22 of 32 passes for 191 yards, compiling a passing rating of only 81.6. Brian Robinson led the rushing attack with 63 yards on 16 carries, while Austin Ekeler collected eight receptions for 89 yards. But Ekeler will not be available for this return game in Washington on Sunday.

Third down was a huge factor in this game. The Eagles converted 9 of 16 third downs, while the Commanders converted only 3 of 12.

One other factor of note: Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin only connected once all game, and that was for only 10 yards.

Prediction and betting odds for Commanders vs. Eagles in Week 16

Analyzing Commanders vs. Eagles game with odds and lines, predictions and best bets.

The Washington Commanders (9-5) host the Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) in Week 16 action from Northwest Stadium. The Commanders look to avenge a 26-18 loss to the Eagles in Week 11 — a game they led for three quarters.

The Commanders enter Sunday as the NFC’s No. 7 playoff seed, while the Eagles are the second seed but have the same record as top-seeded Detroit.

Below are the latest odds and our final score prediction for Sunday.

Commanders vs. Eagles game odds:

All NFL Odds via BetMGM:

  • Point spread: Commanders +3.5 (-110) / Eagles -3.5 (-110)
  • Money line: Commanders +155 / Eagles -190
  • Over-under: 45.5 (O: -110 / U: -110)

Commanders vs. Eagles injury updates:

  • Commanders TE Zach Ertz: Questionable (concussion)
  • Commanders S Jeremy Chinn: Questionable (concussion)
  • Commanders DT Jonathan Allen: Out (pectoral)
  • Eagles EDGE Bryce Huff: Out (wrist)
  • Eagles S Sydney Brown: Questionable (concussion)
  • Eagles WR Britain Covey: Out (neck)

Commanders vs. Eagles prediction, pick:

Bryan Manning:

Washington isn’t as hot offensively as it was heading into the first meeting. Now, the Commanders are without Austin Ekeler and Noah Brown. It looks like Zach Ertz will play, which is terrific news for Washington. I believe Washington’s defense plays well for most of the game, and the offense is better this time around. However, the Eagles are healthier and the better team. Washington is gaining ground, though. Saquon Barkley again proves to be the difference.

Pick: Eagles, 27, Commanders 23

Ivan Lambert:

The Commanders are averaging 28.3 points a game this season. However, the Eagles’ defensive front seven restricted the Commanders’ offense, holding them to 10 points until that final possession drive against the Eagles prevent defense.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are the No. 1 rushing team in the NFL at 186 yards a game.

On defense, the Eagles are also No. 1 in scoring defense, surrendering only 17.6 points a game.

The Commanders have yet to beat a team with a winning record this season; they are 0-4 against those teams. I honestly think this game could be closer, but can the Commanders produce enough in the passing game with Noah Brown injured and possibly Zach Ertz out as well?

Pick: Eagles 24, Commanders 17

Serena Burks:

The Commanders face a tall task on Sunday against the Eagles. Washington has struggled of late, even after the bye. Both teams are primarily healthy, but the Eagles have one thing the Commanders don’t: Saquon Barkley. It’s not just about his natural talent or ability; it’s about his sheer will to win.

Pick: Eagles 24, Commanders 21

Commanders vs. Eagles channel, start time, streaming:

The Commanders vs. Eagles game starts at 1:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on Fox.

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

What did Commanders’ DC think of Marshon Lattimore’s debut?

Commanders DC Joe Whitt Jr. weighs in on Marshon Lattimore’s debut.

Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt noticed some things he really liked in Marshon Lattimore’s debut last Sunday.

The Commanders traded for Lattimore a month ago, but his injured hamstring kept him from playing against Dallas and Tennessee before the bye week. So he debuted last week in New Orleans against his old team, the Saints.

“There was a couple things,” Whitt said. “He played with a lot of confidence. He communicated well. There was two reductions where he was the one, and he wasn’t supposed to be the one that led the communication on those reductions, but he did. And that was really positive to see.”

One reason GM Adam Peters went after Lattimore was his experience. The former Ohio State Buckeye had seen action in 97 NFL games prior to last week.

Another reason is Lattimore’s ball skills, he employs, playing defense. He sees the ball well, and he catches the ball well, intercepting 15 passes thus far, including two he has returned for touchdowns.

Whitt liked how Lattimore was also prepped well and ready, referring to “just the command that he had of the defense. And like I said, I give a lot of that credit to [Assistant Defensive Back Coach] William Gay because he was with him from day one, teaching him and being that mentor that we asked William to do with a lot of these guys. So, but I was just really pleased with the command that the young man had of his game.”

Of course, everyone on the defense, including the coaches, is well aware that this Sunday will be a greater test for Lattimore. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is completing 69 percent of his passes this season.

Hurts’ top two receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, both have 56 receptions this season, and both have missed three games. Tight end Dallas Goedert and Saquon Barkley have also contributed 38 and 31 receptions, respectively.

Therefore, Whitt knows he will need a good game from Lattimore this Sunday.

Jason Kelce breaks down why the Eagles should go for the NFL rushing record

Jason Kelce breaks down why the Eagles and Saquon Barkley should try and break Eric Dicerson’s NFL rushing record

The Eagles are 12-2, and just one win away from securing the NFC East with a win over the Commanders on Sunday. Along with weighing their options for the season finale based on the No. 1 seed is Saquon Barkley’s to break Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 rushing yards in a season.

Barkley has been adamant that winning the Super Bowl is the bigger goal. Still, one former Eagles legend believes the All-World running back should have the organization’s absolute support in pursuing this goal.

During his regular appearance on 94 WIP, Jason Kelce said he wants Barkley to break the NFL rushing record and that the Eagles should fully embrace the chase.

“I really want them to try and make an effort to get this record,” Kelce told Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie during his weekly in-studio Thursday 7:30am appearance on the 94WIP Morning Show.

“I think that, to me, obviously the Super Bowl is the pinnacle, the ultimately goal. But I think the rushing title record is the coolest record in the NFL and the fact that this offensive line, Jeff Stoutland and Saquon Barkley have a chance to obtain that is pretty remarkable.

“I think it would just be really awesome for Philadelphia to have that record…Listen, I think this is probably the week—don’t want to give up game plan, I don’t know what they’re going to do. But if you really dedicate to trying to get him a big day this week that can lighten the load for the next two games.”

Barkley has 1,688 rushing yards, 276 receiving yards, and 13 total touchdowns this season and needs to average 139.3 rushing yards per game in the next three contests to break Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards in a season.

The Eagles face the Commanders on Sunday, followed by the Cowboys and the Giants, at home to finish the regular season.

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NFL rushing leaders (including Bijan Robinson) entering Week 16

2024 NFL rushing leaders: Falcons RB Bijan Robinson enters top 5 in rushing yards

The Atlanta Falcons will officially begin the Michael Penix Jr. era in Week 16, but another former top-10 pick is having quite the season. Second-year running back Bijan Robinson has earned his spot among the NFL’s elite rushers.

In Week 15, Robinson carried the Falcons to victory with 125 rushing yards on 22 attempts. This was enough to put Robinson over 1,000 rushing yards in a season for the first time in his NFL career. Atlanta’s last player to top the 1,000-yard mark was Tyler Allgeier during his rookie year in 2022.

Robinson still has three more games to add to his total. Check out where the former Texas Longhorns star ranks among the league’s top 32 running backs entering Week 16.

2024 NFL rushing leaders: Top 32

  1. Saquon Barkley: 1,688 yards
  2. Derrick Henry: 1,474 yards
  3. Josh Jacobs: 1,147 yards
  4. Kyren Williams: 1,121 yards
  5. Bijan Robinson: 1,102 yards
  6. Jahmyr Gibbs: 1,047 yards
  7. Chuba Hubbard: 1,043 yards
  8. Tony Pollard: 982 yards
  9. Aaron Jones: 979 yards
  10. James Conner: 973 yards
  11. Alvin Kamara: 950 yards
  12. Jonathan Taylor: 911 yards
  13. Joe Mixon: 910 yards
  14. Najee Harris: 891 yards
  15. Rico Dowdle: 880 yards
  16. Bucky Irving: 852 yards
  17. Chase Brown: 832 yards
  18. James Cook: 828 yards
  19. D’Andre Swift: 821 yards
  20. Jordan Mason: 789 yards
  21. David Montgomery: 775 yards
  22. J.K. Dobbins: 766 yards
  23. Rhamondre Stevenson: 740 yards
  24. Breece Hall: 722 yards
  25. Brian Robinson Jr.: 705 yards
  26. Tyrone Tracy Jr.: 695 yards
  27. Kareem Hunt: 653 yards
  28. Tank Bigsby: 644 yards
  29. De’Von Achane: 641 yards
  30. Rachaad White: 573 yards
  31. Tyler Allgeier: 551 yards
  32. Kenneth Walker: 542 yards

The Falcons will host the New York Giants in Week 16. Penix, who’s appeared in two games this season, will make his first start of the year against the two-win Giants at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Sunday’s game kicks off at 1 p.m. ET.

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Saquon Barkley, Eagles a huge challenge for Commanders

Saquon Barkley ran wild on the Commanders a few weeks ago.

Dan Quinn knows the Commanders’ defense has a huge challenge ahead this Sunday, facing Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.

In the first contest between the Commanders and Eagles (Nov 14), the Washington defense kept the Eagles out of the end zone in the first half. However, in the second half, the Commanders surrendered four consecutive Eagles’ scoring drives of 74, 76, 74, and 46 yards, resulting in 23 second-half Eagles’ points.

Barkley ran wild in the second half, finishing with 146 yards on 26 carries, two receptions for 52 yards, and two touchdowns.

“Like a lot of great players, he is at his best and has proven to be in the end of games. And so, we have to make sure the fit and the tackling on the fifth run is the same on the 25th run. And you have to be able to just continue to do right longer than them. And they’ve proven this year that they’re exceptional at staying at it, staying at it. And that takes a lot of discipline.”

Quinn was asked if he would rely on the veterans on his defense to stop the Eagles’ offense in the second contest.

“Yep. You go back and watch it for sure, you have to. And you want to point out the things that you liked. And then when you think about a game like this, when you’re in any division game, what do you need to stop doing? What do you need to start doing? And what do you want to do the same?”

The Commanders will have the addition of CB Marcus Lattimore, whom they did not have in the first game in Philadelphia. He should help in the pass defense this game.

The Eagles have won ten consecutive games and have a real shot at earning the top playoff seed, giving them a first-round bye.

But Quinn knows the Eagles are not overlooking the Commanders. He also realizes the Eagles’ offense will include a few new looks.

“Each division game, both sides, there’s some new things that neither team has shown. So, that will happen. It’s not like a rinse and repeat, here’s the game plan. You dust it off and put it up in front of everyone. All teams are changing, and things are different and matchups are there. That’s what’s kind of part of the fun of playing the second time.’

Gimme Him: One player the Commanders would steal from the Eagles

The Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles face off and there’s one player the Commanders would love to steal from the Eagles.

The Washington Commanders face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, the first of two divisional games they’ll play to end the season. In between, they’ll play the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons and Dallas Cowboys will be the least of the Commanders’ worries (hopefully), but the Eagles game will have the most impact on their playoff hopes.

The Commanders control their own destiny right now; they sit solidly in seventh place in the playoff standings, right behind the Green Bay Packers. But the Seattle Seahawks are right on the Commanders’ heels and could play spoiler if the boys in burgundy and gold lose any of their final three games.

One thing that would be really helpful for the Commanders when they face the Eagles this week would be if they could steal one of their players. The last time these two teams met, we considered adding wide receiver AJ Brown to Jayden Daniels’ arsenal alongside Terry McLaurin. This time, though, we’re going in a different direction. The Commanders’ ground game needs some help, and Saquon Barkley is the perfect running back to get it back on track.

Let’s face it: as much as we love Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler, and they are both fantastic running backs, they are not on the same level as Barkley. Barkley currently leads all running backs with 1,688 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He’s insanely good this year, and that hardly does justice to what he looks like on the field.

The Commanders’ ground game could use a boost, and it’s too bad they can’t actually steal Barkley from the Eagles for the week. What a treat that would be!

Saquon Barkley’s race for 2,000 yards slowed down by Steelers

Here is what Saquon Barkley needs to do in the final three games to make some NFL history.

[autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag]’s quest to join an exclusive club of NFL running backs is still attainable, but the former Penn State star is going to have to crank it up just a bit in the final three games of the season to pull it off. Barkley is in line to become the NFL’s ninth running back in league history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, but Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers slowed down his pace just enough to make the goal a little more difficult to reach.

Barkley rushed for 65 yards as the Philadelphia Eagles claimed in-state bragging rights over the Steelers in a 27-13 win in Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles were thriving much more through the air with Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown putting to rest all of the hot talk in the media leading up to the game, but the Steelers made things difficult for Barkley and the Eagles running game. Barkley also missed a majority of the second quarter after seemingly getting hit on the knee on a tackle by Minkah Fitzpatrick. Barkley did return to the field in the second half.

The 65 rushing yards was Barkley’s lowest rushing output since rushing for just 47 yards against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 13, and it was Barkley’s second-lowest rushing total in a game this season. Barkley now sits with 1,688 rushing yards on the season. That leaves Barkley 312 yards shy of the 2,000-yard mark with three games left to play, all in the division.

Barkley needs to average 104 yards per game in the final three weeks of the season to hit the 2,000-yard mark. The chase for Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards will likely be out of reach. Barkley would have to average 139 yards per game for the next three weeks to tie Dickerson.

The final three games of the season for Barkley and the Eagles will come on the road against the Washington Commanders, and then back-to-back home games with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. Barkley rushed for 146 yards against the Commanders on Nov. 14, 66 yards against the Cowboys on Nov. 10, and 176 yards against the Giants on Oct. 20. That is an average of 129.3 yards per game against division opponents, so the 2,000-yard mark is absolutely possible.

The Eagles may need to win these next three games as well as the team is jostling with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings for the no. 1 seed in the NFC. That could force the Eagles to keep key players on the field, which could be good news for Barkley’s chase for history.

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