PHILADELPHIA — With 7:46 to play in the third quarter, Saquon Barkley saw Bobby Wagner blitzing.
So the Philadelphia Eagles running back leaked out to the space the linebacker had fled, an easy checkdown awaiting Jalen Hurts should he choose to use it.
Some gain seemed likely. Then Washington Commanders safety Percy Butler whiffed on a tackle. All of a sudden, the Eagles’ marquee offseason signing picked up 43 yards.
Philadelphia wouldn’t yet break its soon-to-be three-quarter touchdown drought. Nor would the Eagles manage a lead in any of the first three quarters of their NFC East matchup against the Washington Commanders.