The Philadelphia Eagles got back on track as the Super Bowl champions powered to a 34-13 victory over the New York Giants.
The reigning champions have struggled this season but looked a class above their NFC East rivals as they improved to 3-3 for the season to move to tie Washington at the top of the division.
Quarterback Carson Wentz produced his best game since returning from his knee injury as he threw three touchdown passes while the Eagles defence sacked opposite number Eli Manning four times and hit him 13 times in a night of constant pressure.
Highlights from @cj_wentz's 278-yard, 3-TD performance on #TNF! #PHIvsNYG#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/m3dUZel4KC
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2018
Alshon Jeffery caught two touchdowns and tight end Zach Ertz one, while for the Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley’s 50-yard touchdown and 130 yards rushing total were the only bright spots.
Barkley has now topped 100 rushing yards in his first six games in the NFL – meaning he’s just one off the record set by Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt.
The Eagles continued their recent dominance of the game with a fourth straight win and seventh out of eight, while Big Blue slipped to a third home defeat of the season as they fell to 1-5 and already looking out of contention.
The game came at a great time for Philadelphia, who now feel like they’re back to their old selves after a shaky start.
"This is finally the game where we played like the Philadelphia Eagles," said Ertz. "We're finally the Eagles again."
The New York crowd made their feelings known with boos ringing around MetLife Stadium, while wide receiver Odell Beckham was seen headbutting a fan – of the air cooling kind – on the sidelines during a remarkable tantrum as his frustrations boiled over.
"I was just trying to get myself going," Beckham said. "I felt like some of those plays where I was getting myself going was some of my best stuff. So I was just trying to get myself fired up. I did that and it helped me."
