PHILADELPHIA – Jalen Hurts played through a violent blow to the head. Saquon Barkley turned a close fourth-quarter game with the NFC East lead on the line into a comfortable win. Nick Sirianni shakes off his critics and continues to win matches.

The Eagles (8-2) certainly look like a Super Bowl contender.

There isn’t much the Eagles have done wrong lately: They won six straight games and trailed only Detroit (8-1) for the best record in the NFC.

The Eagles command the NFC East after a 26-18 win Thursday night over Jayden Daniels and the Commanders (7-4). It would take a major collapse to miss out on a division title and a home playoff game.

“I think our guys played with extreme effort, and good things happen when you do those things,” Sirianni said.

Good things, for sure.

– Barkley combined for 198 scrimmage yards and two scores, rushing 26 times for 146 yards (5.6 average) while adding two receptions for 52 yards. With 1,137 rushing yards in 10 games, Barkley moved ahead of Baltimore’s Derrick Henry for the NFL lead.

– Hurts’ head was stuck into the turf by Washington linebacker Frankie Luvu in the second quarter and bounced off the ground. Hurts was evaluated for a concussion — “I think I broke protocol,” he joked — and stayed in the game. He finished with 221 yards passing and ran for the lead.

– Sirianni improved to 42-19 (.689) with the Eagles, which represents the highest winning percentage by a head coach in franchise history and second-highest among active NFL head coaches.

What works

Yes, everyone can see Barkley lighting it up on the highlight reel and Hurts has remained as steady as can be as they steer the Eagles toward the postseason.

However, it is the defense that can carry the Eagles deep into the playoffs.

Defensive tackle Jalen Carter was all in Daniels’ face for most of the game and drove in a point. Nolan Smith and Josh Carter picked up big sacks.

Philadelphia held Washington to 264 yards, its second-lowest total of the season. The Eagles also held the Commanders below their season averages in rushing, passing and third downs.

The defense turned the game around on a crucial fourth down stop during Daniels’ scramble in the fourth that lifted the Eagles to the victory.

What needs help

Aside from kicker Jake Elliott’s worst game of his career, a dismal game that kept Washington within striking distance in the fourth quarter, the Eagles are one of the best teams in the NFL right now.

Stock up

Quinyon Mitchell. It was a frustrating night for Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin, who surpassed 100 yards for the fourth time in the past eight games in last Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh, totaling 113 on five catches.

McLaurin had just one catch for 10 yards against the Eagles, with Mitchell largely getting the coverage assignment.

Stock down

Elliott. Elliott missed field goals from 44 and 51 yards and was left wide on an extra point keeping the Eagles’ lead at just 12-10 until Barkley broke the game open with two late touchdowns.

“Jake has had such a hold on his whole career and his whole time that I’ve been here too,” Sirianni said. “Just as I would say to someone who fumbled or dropped a card in an instant, ‘We believe in you. You’ll have to make a kick to help us win this football match. ”

Elliott holds the franchise record with seven 50-plus field goals in a season, but has missed all four attempts from that distance in 2024. It was also the first time in his eight seasons that he missed three kicks in one game.

“We have so much confidence in him and that’s what you do,” Sirianni said. “You can really build connections in tough times, right? So obviously he’s been through a tough time, but this team believes so much in Jake Elliott because of his record and who he is, the teammate that he is and the captain that he is.

Injuries

The Eagles escaped without any injuries to key players.

Key number

6. The Eagles won six games in a row for the first time since 2002. The Eagles’ six-game winning streak is tied for their fourth-longest streak in a single season since 2004, trailing only 2017 (nine), 2022 (eight) and 2004 (seven). The winning streak is also the longest from a bye week since their introduction in 1990 (the previous record was four games in 1996).

Next steps

The Eagles will play another evening game against the Los Angeles Rams on November 24.