Roob's Insights: Eagles Come Close to Squandering 22-Point Lead but Secure Victory Against Jaguars

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This game could have ranked among the worst losses in franchise history. Seriously—blowing a 22-point lead in the second half at home against a two-win team that’s been decimated by injuries?

The Eagles narrowly escaped with a 28-23 victory over the Jaguars, but it was a nerve-wracking ride.

Here are our 10 Instant Observations:

1. Each time the Eagles had an opportunity to seal the game, you could sense the Jaguars gaining confidence. When you’re up 22-0, you simply can’t allow that to happen. The Eagles made crucial mistakes—two failed two-point conversions, Saquon Barkley’s fumble, and a ridiculous failed fourth-and-inches late in the third quarter—all of which gave the Jaguars life and hope. To become a truly great team, you must finish opponents off when you have a significant lead. While Nakobe Dean’s big play helped the Eagles escape, they shouldn’t have found themselves in that position in the first place. They need to learn from this experience to avoid repeating it.

2. Speaking of Nakobe Dean, he was outstanding. To make that game-saving play with just over a minute left—who knows, it might have saved the season—is a testament to his hard work. After high expectations coming out of Georgia in 2022, Dean didn’t see much action as a rookie and faced injuries last year. To be honest, I was uncertain about his performance this season. Though he showed promise in training camp, the initial weeks were shaky. However, he has really settled in and is playing exceptional football. His interception was the result of meticulous preparation and film study. He anticipated the Jaguars' play perfectly and executed a remarkable athletic move for his first career pick. Credit to the Eagles for staying patient with Dean, and kudos to him for maintaining confidence through a couple of challenging seasons. That was a game-changing moment.

3. Jalen Hurts is consistently showcasing elite play, stacking clean, efficient, and productive games. He was brilliant on Sunday, completing 18 of 24 passes for 230 yards with two touchdowns, maintaining a streak of five consecutive games without interceptions and four without turnovers. His passer rating of 132.3 makes him the first Eagles quarterback to achieve a passer rating of 119 or higher in four straight games. After some initial adjustments with his fifth play caller in five seasons, the connection with Kellen Moore has clicked impressively. Hurts is letting the game unfold naturally, akin to his performance in 2022 with Shane Steichen. He’s making quick decisions, delivering accurate throws, and showing decisiveness with his legs, looking faster than he did at any point last year. That 18-yard touchdown run was his longest since a 22-yarder against the Bears in Week 15 of 2022. This team has the potential to go far with this version of Jalen Hurts.

4. The touchdown catch by DeVonta Smith was nothing short of spectacular. Not only did he make a one-handed grab in the back corner of the end zone while being tightly covered by Ronald Darby, but he also managed to drag both feet in bounds just inches from the back line. With A.J. Brown sidelined in the second half, the Eagles needed Smith to step up, and he did so in an incredible fashion. That catch is a play you’d struggle to replicate even in a casual game with friends, let alone in an NFL matchup. Truly mind-blowing.

5. Hey, Howie—sign Zach Baun to a contract now! What a discovery he’s been. Baun keeps improving at a position he had never played before, and on Sunday, he was nothing short of phenomenal. His performance could be considered Player of the Week material: 10 tackles, two pass breakups, and a diving interception just before halftime that set up Barkley’s 19-yard touchdown. The Eagles initially signed him to a one-year deal to play off-ball linebacker based on a few snaps he had with the Saints, which is remarkable in itself. But he’s not just adapting; he’s excelling. That interception was a thing of beauty, showing his quick reaction after the ball deflected off Travis Etienne’s hands, allowing him to dive and secure it. Baun has displayed the intelligence, instinct, toughness, and playmaking ability you want in an off-ball linebacker—combining the toughness of DeMeco Ryans with the athleticism of Mychal Kendricks. The Eagles cannot afford to lose him.

6A. Saquon Barkley continues to impress, and it's a joy to witness. Despite being banged up and sore, he delivered with 159 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. The fumble was unfortunate—though it’s debatable whether it should have been called a fumble—but I appreciated Kellen Moore's quick decision to go right back to Barkley after the Eagles regained possession. In the second half, he carried the ball 14 times for 98 yards. On a day when the Eagles honored the greatest running back in their history, LeSean McCoy, Barkley showed why he’s on track for one of the best seasons by an Eagles running back ever. His numbers are incredible: 925 rushing yards in just half a season, averaging 5.9 yards per carry, totaling 1,071 scrimmage yards, and eight touchdowns with nine games remaining. It was also great to see him more involved in the passing game. Despite catching only 17 passes for 106 yards in his first seven weeks, he had season highs of three catches for 40 yards on Sunday, including an early touchdown. His talent is undeniable.

6B. Regarding Barkley’s fumble, it appeared that Ventrell Miller hit his ankle as he went down, which should have meant he was down by contact, and the ground caused the fumble. It was a strange day overall for the replay booth, especially with that clear two-point conversion attempt by Hurts.

7. Young, fast, aggressive, physical, and athletic—these are five words no one would have associated with the Eagles' defense last year. But this revamped unit, now brimming with youthful energy and playmaking ability, is quickly establishing itself as a formidable group. They still need to maintain consistency week after week, but during this four-game winning streak, the defense has been impressive. They excel at stopping the run, covering well, applying pressure, and now they’re forcing turnovers too, with five takeaways in the last two games after managing just seven in the previous 14 games. Young players like Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell, Nolan Smith, Nakobe Dean, Jalen Carter, and even Zack Baun are contributing significantly. Though they got a bit leaky late in the game, they still allowed only 215 yards and 15 points, maintaining an average of just 11.3 points per game over the last four contests. Remarkably, this is only the third time since 1998 they’ve held four straight opponents to 280 yards or fewer. The transformation from last year to this is incredible, and they’re only going to improve.

8. I don’t give enough credit to Josh Sweat, who is back playing at a Pro Bowl level, and it’s fantastic to see. Sweat recorded two sacks, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, and even a pass knockdown on Sunday. In the last five games, he has five sacks, five tackles for loss, and seven QB hits. This is the Sweat we remember from his Pro Bowl season in 2021 and his 11-sack performance in 2022. It’s hard to believe he went 12 consecutive games without a sack from Week 11 last year through Week 3 this year. However, he’s returned to form, presenting an interesting decision for Howie Roseman since Sweat is not signed beyond this year and is only 27. Keeping him around for a few more years seems like a wise choice.

9. Looking ahead to next week, the Eagles will face the Cowboys in Dallas, where they’ve lost six straight games, four of those by 20 or more points. The last time they had a longer losing streak in North Texas was from 1966 to 1978, spanning 13 games. The Cowboys are struggling; they’re 3-4, winless at home, and have lost their last three to the Lions, 49ers, and Falcons. With numerous injuries plaguing them, it’s time for the Eagles to break their losing streak in Dallas, something they haven’t achieved since their championship season in 2017. The Eagles are stronger in every aspect of the game. This isn’t the same Cowboys team that dominated the last three years with a 36-15 record. The Eagles have shown they can win on the road—4-1 away from home, including the game in São Paulo—and this is a crucial matchup for them. The Cowboys have embarrassed the Eagles in recent years, with a 9-15 record in the last 12 meetings and a 2-4 record under Nick Sirianni. It’s time to put that behind them and go in there to dominate.

10. Jahan Dotson deserves a lot of credit. I can’t imagine the pressure he felt after the Eagles traded a third-round pick to Washington for him in August, especially considering he had only 35 yards in his first seven games. Yet, he remains a class act. He hasn’t dwelled on his lack of targets or blamed anyone else for his struggles. When A.J. Brown left the game early in the third quarter, Dotson stepped up with a circus catch for 36 yards—more yards than he had accumulated in his first 7½ games as an Eagle. He showed tremendous focus and determination, securing the ball after it deflected off cornerback Tyson Campbell and fighting for extra yards. That was a huge play at