Saquon Barkley rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner from 4 yards out with 1:01 remaining, and the visiting Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New Orleans Saints 15-12 on Sunday afternoon.
Jalen Hurts passed for 311 yards and Dallas Goedert had 10 catches for 170 yards, including a 61-yard reception that set up the winning score. Barkley ran in the ensuing 2-point conversion.
The Eagles (2-1) stymied the Saints’ high-scoring offense, which had averaged 45.5 points in their first two games. Derek Carr, who entered the game leading the NFL in passer rating (142.4), completed just 14 of 25 for 142 yards for New Orleans (2-1).
Carr, however, drove the Saints 50 yards on nine plays to a go-ahead 13-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave that made it 12-7 with barely two minutes to play.
Reed Blankenship intercepted Carr after the Eagles regained the lead.
On the first possession of the second half, the Eagles drove to the Saints 34, but on fourth-and-3, Hurts was sacked by Bryan Bresee for a 6-yard loss.
At the end of Philadelphia’s next possession, J.T. Gray blocked Braden Mann’s punt and Jordan Howden recovered, giving New Orleans the ball at the Eagles 27.
On the first play of the fourth quarter and leading 3-0, the Saints’ Alvin Kamara was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-1 and Philadelphia regained possession at its 18.
On the ensuing drive, Barkley broke free for a 65-yard touchdown run, giving the Eagles a 7-3 lead and marking the first time the Saints have trailed this season.
Carr drove New Orleans to Blake Grupe’s 38-yard field goal that trimmed the lead to 7-6 with 9:49 remaining.
The Saints received the opening kickoff and used 15 plays to drive 54 yards, culminating in Grupe’s 34-yard field goal. That 3-0 lead held up through the first three quarters.
The Eagles had three first-half scoring opportunities thwarted. Hurts threw an interception and lost a fumble, while Barkley was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-1.
–Field Level Media
