PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Step 1: Complete. The Philadelphia Eagles went down to Texas last Sunday and put the hurt on the Dallas Cowboys, 34-6.
Not only was the win the Eagles’ fifth in a row, matching the third-longest streak in the NFL, but it snapped the team’s six-game skid at AT&T Stadium.
The victory, coupled with the Washington Commanders’ loss on Sunday to the Pittsburgh Steelers, vaulted the Eagles into sole possession of first place in the NFC East.
Now comes Step 2, which will likely be harder: maintain control of the division on short rest in a showdown with Washington on Thursday Night Football.
The Eagles (7-2) lead the Commanders (7-3) by a half-game in the standings. The Cowboys (3-6) and the New York Giants (2-8) are on the outside looking in, essentially leaving the NFC East a two-horse race.
Washington, sparked by first-year head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, is one of the surprise stories of the 2024 season. In the visitor locker room following Sunday’s game, the Eagles quickly shifted focus.
“I’ve been watching them,” right tackle Lane Johnson said of Washington. “They’re very dangerous, very talented. They’re a good team.”
Even with the current midseason surge making up for an uneven start to the year, the Eagles still believe they have their best football ahead of them.
“The beauty is we haven’t scratched the surface,” said running back Saquon Barkley. “We got to stop saying that and start putting things together.”
One area where the Eagles could improve their play, at least on the offensive side of the ball, is getting DeVonta Smith back in the mix. Through the first four games of the season, the star wideout was targeted nearly 10 times per game.
Over the Eagles’ last five games — all wins — Smith’s per-game target average has dropped by half.
Coming into the season, the Eagles knew that between Smith, Barkley and receiver A.J. Brown, there were going to be a lot of hands to feed at the skill positions. But with the team adapting its offense to a more run-friendly scheme following the Week 5 bye, both Smith and Brown have seen fewer passes come their way.
“It’s tough, especially as a guy that wants the ball, a guy who wants to go out there and be productive and help the offense succeed,” said Smith, who continues to make his presence felt through highlight reel plays and effective blocking. “You can’t get down about it because, at the end of the day, we’re winning.”
By several notable metrics — including catch percentage (74.0) and yards per target (9.7) — Smith is enjoying the most productive season of his four-year career.
But, as The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane argues in the latest episode of “unCovering the Birds,” the Eagles would be wise to get Smith going again on Thursday in what figures to be their biggest test since opening the season in Brazil against the Green Bay Packers.
Plus, in this week’s Pick Six interview segment, hear how linebacker Zack Baun came to appreciate his upbringing by a single mother, and why, amid a breakout season, he refuses to let his sport define him.
🎧 ▶️ unCovering the Birds
“unCovering the Birds” is a production of The Philadelphia Inquirer and KYW Newsradio Original Podcasts. Look for new episodes each week during the regular season. Follow on the free Audacy app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you listen to podcasts.