The Eagles returned to Lincoln Financial Field, trying to stop a three-game slide in their first meeting with the Raiders since 2021, a game played in Las Vegas during Jalen Hurts’ first season as the full-time starter. Back then, the Raiders were settling into their new stadium off the Vegas Strip, and the Eagles were still figuring out their identity.
This time, the Raiders were facing a different Jalen Hurts, a seasoned, determined QB on a mission to lead the team through adversity and to take them back to the postseason with confidence.
Mission accomplished. The Philadelphia Eagles walked off the field with a shutout victory, their first in 7 years, when they beat the Commanders 24–0 on Dec. 30, 2018.
It is too strong to call this a turning point, but it did resemble the team we all remember, and it is a great way to begin the final push into the postseason. It also gave fans a glimpse into what a bad team really looks like. The Raiders were unable to score or prevent the Eagles from doing so all afternoon. Las Vegas was totally dominated.
The Raiders won the toss and deferred, giving the Eagles the opening kickoff. Philadelphia started its first possession on the 33-yardline following a 31-yard return from Will Shipley. Hurts started the game under center, and the team began with a pair of Saquon Barkley rushes. On third and 3, a pass intended for AJ Brown was incomplete due to pass interference, resulting in a first down to the Las Vegas 40, and extending their drive.
A designed Hurts run on their 2nd third down of the day picked up 9 yards and a fresh set of downs. On yet another third down, DeVonta Smith picked up 6 yards to get to the 4-yard line and a first down. Smitty entered the game with more yards on third down than any receiver in the league.
Two plays later, a Hurts toss/pass to Dallas Goedert added six points to the scoreboard, and Jake Elliott followed with a clean PAT to make it 7–0.
Vegas started their first drive at their 26 with old friend Kenny Pickett at QB for the Raiders. Following two third-down conversions and two first downs, Brandon Graham broke through on their third attempt for a would-be sack, but Cooper DeJean was penalized for a personal foul, giving Las Vegas a first down and the ball to the Eagles 37. Moro Ojomo sacked Pickett for a 10-yard loss on the first down following the penalty, and the Raiders were unable to overcome being behind the sticks and fell short on a 4th-and-6 attempt.
The Eagles took over on downs with 1:16 left in the first quarter from the 34, and Hurts immediately hit DeVonta Smith for a 44-yard reception to take the ball down to the LA Vegas 23. The quarter ended with a 7-yard run from Barkley to the 16. The second quarter began with the Eagles picking up another 3rd down via the Raiders' second pass interference to take the ball down to the 5. Following a Max Crosby sack, the Eagles settled for a 27-yard field goal to make the score 10–0.
The Eagles' third possession ended with their first punt of the day, and the Raiders went three-and-out following a Brandon Graham sack, who has gotten pressure, as has the rest of the defense, for most of the half.
Philly’s fourth drive of the half showcased a dose of Tank Bigbsy on the field. Barkley took back over in the red zone, and he capped off the 70-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run up the middle.
The Raiders punted on their final drive, leaving 24 seconds, and the half ended with a 4-yard Barkley carry. Philly ended the half with a 17–0 lead, 165 yards to 52, and a seven and a half -minute advantage in time of possession.
The Raiders took the kickoff to their 36 and moved the ball down to the Eagles 35 before Pickett threw an interception to Zack Baun — the game's first turnover.
Goedert started off the Eagles' ensuing drive with a 32-yard reception. Hurts added a design run for 13 yards as the Birds marched down to the endzone for their 3rd touchdown drive of the day via Goedert's second score on the day. The ten-play 73-yard drive took the score to 24–0.
Following another Raiders punt, the Eagles took over at their 30. Barkley started it off with a 13-yard scamper and followed it up a play later with an 11-yard run. You could see the fatigue settling into the Raiders' defense. The third quarter ended with Hurts losing a yard on a run outside, who seems to have avoided injury, with what looked like a very awkward slide.
The fourth quarter started off with a bang — a 27-yard touchdown to AJ Brown. The fourth touchdown of the day took the score to 31–0, and the Eagles rested Hurts and others for the rest of the day.
Tanner McKee took over as QB with 13:17 left in the game. His first drive of the game lasted and ended with 1:55 left in the game at the Vegas 2-yard line. Tanner showed off his arm and some mobility to the league, and likely increased the draft capital the Eagles will receive if they deal him during the offseason. Tank Bigsby also showed some juice on the drive.
The final score was 31–0.
Philadelphia's offense looked in sync, and the team got to the line quicker and intentionally. It had an identity, utilized plays they could rely on, and they stacked drives instead of falling into the familiar lull and three-and-outs that have defined this season offensively.
The operation as a whole felt calmer, and we saw some rhythm. Playing ahead of the sticks instead of chasing all day was a welcome change, and it felt like the first time in a long while that the team trusted the calls and the playcaller trusted the players to execute.
Quinyon Mitchell had not allowed a TD in over 500 coverage snaps, and Cooper DeJean has never allowed a TD in 762 coverage snaps from the slot heading into the Raiders game. They didn’t allow one against the Raiders either.
The defense got back to dictating what the opposing team can do. The corners challenged, the linebackers attacked downhill, and the trench guys set the tone. You could see the defense's confidence grow as the game unfolded, and they kept squeezing the life out of the Raiders' offense until they eventually seemed to run out of ideas.
Third downs felt like moments the team wanted, rather than downs they tried to survive. They absolutely smoothed the Raiders' offense all game and gave Pickett a rude welcome.
This win was not against a playoff opponent, and it surely does not fix the issues of the season, but it was the first game in weeks in which both sides of the ball played well together, in harmony and with purpose. This was not a team searching for answers; it was one that came into the game already knowing the questions and aced the test.
The Birds play division rival Washington Commanders on a late Saturday afternoon matchup in Landover, Maryland, next week, and will look to keep the good times going.
As always, thank you for reading!
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