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The Eagles hold on and beat the Jaguars after nearly collapsing

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PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles made some of the best plays you've ever seen, as Saquon Barkley made a reverse hurdle run over a Jaguars defender and DeVonta Smith had a one-handed touchdown catch in the back of the end zone while somehow using both feet got into the ball.

They also had some of the worst, such as Barkley's third-quarter fumble being returned for a touchdown, not to mention two missed tush pushes on two-point conversions.

But after nearly blowing a 22-point lead, the Eagles only secured their 28-23 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars when Nakobe Dean intercepted Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the end zone with 1:38 left.

Smith's 25-yard touchdown with 7:43 left to give the Eagles a 12-point lead was almost not enough.

The Eagles (6-2) won their fourth straight, but it was a costly victory as star wide receiver AJ Brown left with a knee injury early in the third quarter and did not return.

And it was an ugly win, as the Eagles missed several chances to put the Jaguars away early and it almost cost them in the end.

Hurts was 18 of 24 for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns. Barkley had 159 yards rushing and 40 more yards receiving.

The Eagles needed everything in the end after what turned out to be an easy win, starting with the Eagles scoring in the first quarter for the first time this season. They were helped when Jacksonville's Austin Trammell missed a punt after being hit by Sydney Brown.

Barkley then scored on a 20-yard pass from Hurts for a 7-0 lead with 10:22 left in the first quarter. At the start of the second quarter, the Eagles made a field goal for a 10-0 lead. Barkley overcame Jaguars defensive back Jarrian Jones on that drive.

On the Jaguars' 3rd-and-6, Barkley caught a pass from Hurts and spun past Devin Lloyd. Then, with his back to the end zone, he executed a backwards spread eagle over Jones. Barkley picked up 13 yards on first down.

Then, with 22 seconds left in the first half, Barkley again tied the Jaguars at 19 and gave the Eagles a 16-0 halftime lead. That TD was set up by Zack Baun's interception at the Jaguars' 42nd line.

But the Eagles had a chance for points early in the quarter after stopping Jacksonville from 39 points on fourth down. The Eagles then had a 4th-and-3 from the Jaguars' 22 points, but Hurts threw incomplete.

The Eagles began the third quarter without Brown, but pushed down the field and scored on Hurts' 18-yard run. For the second time, the Eagles were stopped on a 2-point conversion attempt and led 22-0.

It seemed like the missed conversions didn't matter. Until the Eagles started self-destructing in the third quarter.

Lawrence led the Jaguars down the field with a touchdown and a two-point conversion to make it 22-8 with 5:26 left. On the Eagles' first play of the game, Barkley fumbled the ball after his arm hit the ground. The referee could have ruled that Barkley wasn't touched, so it was a live ball, even though replays showed he was touched.

Travon Walker picked up the ball and scored just 14 seconds later to make it 22:16.

Again the Eagles had a chance to make a field goal, but tried on fourth down and missed.

But Smith saved her. Even then, the Eagles almost blew it when the Eagles attempted a 57-yard field goal with 2:11 left, giving Jacksonville the ball at the 47th minute.

Then Dean's interception finally sealed the deal.

Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl, on Threads and Instagram @martinfrank1.

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