Eagles Wallop Giants, 38-20, Behind Season-Best Rushing Attack
PHILADELPHIA – Every week the question was: Is this the week Saquon Barkley breaks out?
The Eagles running back, behind a strong game from backup center Brett Toth pulling to the outside, finally had an answer – yes. Barkley ran for 150 yards on 14 carries, a 10.7 yards-per-carry average, including a 65-yard burst just 17 seconds into the start of Sunday’s game against his former team, the New York Giants, to spark the Eagles to a 38-20 win.
Barkley added a 9-yard receiving touchdown early in the second quarter. His two-score half gives him six touchdowns this season – four rushing and two receiving. However, he injured his groin on a 28-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles will have a week to heal as they enter their bye week at 6-2 and in first place in the NFC East. The Giants continue on their road to nowhere for yet another year, and still have no answers with Brian Daboll as their head coach after falling to 2-6.
Tank Bigsby Adds To Rushing Attack
It wasn’t just Barkley. Tank Bigsby cleared 100 yards, too, rushing for 104 yards on nine carries (11.6 per carry) as the Eagles ripped the New York defense for a season-best 277 yards rushing.
The last time the Eagles had two running backs over 100 yards rushing in the same game was on December 13, 2020, against the New Orleans Saints. Miles Sanders rushed for 114 yards and Boston Scott rushed for 119 yards in that game.
The win avenged a 34-17 loss to the Giants just 17 days ago, and the running game was a big part of it. The Giants held the Eagles to just 73 yards rushing in that game and a 3.7 yards-per-carry average.
The Eagles weren’t slouches in the passing game, though. Dallas Goedert caught a pair of touchdowns – from 6 yards and 17 yards. He now has seven TD catches this season, which is a new career high.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts threw four touchdown passes – the two to Goedert, the one to Barkley, and a 40-yard heave to Jahan Dotson, who outjumped a defender to make the grab. It was the 100th TD pass of Hurts' career. A week after posting a perfect 158.3 passer rating, he ended this one with a PR of 141.5. He has 15 this season and only one interception.
THOUGHTS
-Who needs A.J. Brown? That is said tongue-in-cheek, but the Eagles offense ran quite well without the star receiver, who missed the game with a hamstring injury. It was the first time this season the offense put up more total yards than opponent. 427-246.
-DeVonta Smith needed to step up without Brown, and he did, catching six of nine targets for 84 yards.
-What a nice play design by OC Kevin Patullo on the 17-yard TD toss to Dallas Goedert with 11:17 to play in the game. The Eagles were eating on the ground with Tank Bigsby picking up big chunks, when Jalen Hurts kept the ball on a fake handoff to Bigsby. It looked like Hurts was going to sweep the right side for a run, when he pulled up and found a wide-open Goedert to make the score 31-13.
-Speaking Bigsby, he looks like he is entrenched as Barkley’s backup, so A.J. Dillon appears to be a spare part, one who could get released to make room for players expected to come off IR after the bye – Nolan Smith and Jakorian Bennett.
-Will Shipley deserves props for returning two kickoffs for a total of 79 yards – one for 41, the other for 32 – to give the Eagles good starting field position. The Eagles used that good starting position to score the touchdown that put them up 21-10 at halftime – a 6-yard touchdown reception from Dallas Goedert.
-Jordan Davis continues to put together an underrated season. The defensive tackle notched his career-high third sack.
-Speaking of sacks, two Eagles got their first of the season – Jalen Carter and Jalyx Hunt. Until Hunt ended one Giants drive inside the red zone, forcing a field goal with 19 seconds left to pull with 24-10, he had more interceptions (1) than sacks. Zack Baun had his third, but Moro Ojomo continues to lead the team after he notched his fourth.
Pittsburgh Steelers Fall Short in 35-25 Loss to Green Bay Packers: A Tough Lesson in Execution
In a game that exposed several key weaknesses, the Pittsburgh Steelers came up short in a 35-25 loss to the Green Bay Packers on October 26, 2025. Despite being competitive early on, the Steelers’ inability to execute in the second half cost them dearly as the Packers took control and built a lead they would never relinquish.
A Competitive First Half:
The game began with both teams showing energy and focus, but it was the Steelers who initially had the edge. Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, in his first season with Pittsburgh, showed poise in the pocket, orchestrating solid drives and keeping the Packers' defense on its heels. Rodgers, 41, demonstrated that despite his age, he still had the ability to make key throws when the game was on the line. The Steelers’ running game, powered by Najee Harris, was effective, giving Pittsburgh a balanced offensive attack. By halftime, the Steelers were only down 13-10, with the game very much in the balance.
Green Bay's Surge in the Second Half:
Coming out of the locker room, however, Green Bay proved to be the more dynamic team. Packers’ quarterback Jordan Love, who had been relatively quiet in the first half, exploded in the second half. He connected with wide receiver Christian Watson for a key touchdown, and Green Bay’s offense began clicking on all cylinders. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s defense, which had been solid in the first half, could not stop the Packers’ high-tempo attack. Love and the Packers were efficient, and Green Bay’s offensive line gave Love plenty of time to find open targets downfield.
Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense struggled to keep pace. While Rodgers continued to show flashes of brilliance, the Packers’ defense adjusted, tightening their coverage and applying more pressure to the quarterback. Without the ability to establish a consistent running game, the Steelers’ offense became one-dimensional, allowing the Packers to read and respond to their plays more effectively.
Key Takeaways:
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Aaron Rodgers’ Poise, but Inconsistent Execution: Rodgers showed that he still has the skill to lead an NFL offense, but his inability to maintain offensive rhythm in the second half proved costly. His experience was evident in his leadership, but as the game went on, his lack of support from the running game and consistent offensive line play became more apparent.
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Struggles in the Run Game: The Steelers were unable to establish a consistent ground attack with Najee Harris, which limited their ability to control the clock and sustain drives. Green Bay’s defense did an excellent job shutting down the Steelers’ rushing attack, forcing Pittsburgh to rely too heavily on the passing game.
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Defensive Vulnerabilities: Despite solid play from T.J. Watt and the front seven in the first half, Pittsburgh’s defense could not keep up with Green Bay in the second half. They failed to put enough pressure on Jordan Love, allowing him to make key throws when it mattered most. The lack of turnovers and inability to get off the field on third downs proved to be detrimental.
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Lack of Support from Key Players: Star players like Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick were unable to make game-changing plays, and the Steelers’ defense couldn’t get off the field when the game was on the line. In comparison, Green Bay’s defense found ways to disrupt the Steelers’ offensive rhythm, especially in critical moments.
Looking Ahead:
At 4-4, the Steelers find themselves in the middle of a competitive playoff race in the AFC. This loss to the Packers revealed the team’s need for better execution, particularly in the second half of games. While Rodgers and the offense showed promise, they will need to make significant improvements, especially in the run game and offensive line play.
Pittsburgh’s defense also has room for growth, particularly in creating turnovers and getting off the field during key moments. Head coach Mike Tomlin and his staff will have to make adjustments to ensure that their team can maintain competitiveness in high-pressure situations.
With divisional games coming up, Pittsburgh needs to bounce back quickly to stay in the playoff hunt. The Steelers have shown they can compete with some of the league’s best teams, but to remain relevant, they must improve on the small details. For now, this loss to Green Bay serves as a wake-up call that execution is the difference between winning and losing in the NFL.
