Saquon Barkley rushed for 146 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, Jalen Hurts ran for the go-ahead score after being evaluated for a concussion, and the Philadelphia Eagles stretched their lead in the NFC East with a 26-18 win Thursday night over Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders.

The Eagles (8-2) won their sixth straight since their bye, although this one came with a serious scare.

Hurts’ head was spiked into the turf by linebacker Frankie Luvu in the second quarter, and the $255 million quarterback’s head bounced off the ground. Hurts rolled over, face down, and grabbed his helmet. He was examined in the sideline medical tent but stayed in the game, finishing with 221 yards passing.

With the Eagles leading 12-10 in the fourth, Washington was in range for a go-ahead field goal and coach Dan Quinn elected to go for it on fourth down. Daniels scrambled and was stopped for no gain, and less than three minutes later, Barkley scored on a 23-yard run.

Jake Elliott made the extra point after missing his previous try — along with two of his four field goal attempts — to give the Eagles a two-score lead.

Daniels, who finished 22 of 32 for 191 yards and a late touchdown pass, was intercepted by safety Reed Blankenship on Washington’s next play, and 12 seconds later, Barkley finished off the Commanders (7-4) with a 39-yard touchdown run.

Washington entered with a chance to take over first place in the division but left with its second straight loss.

Elliott, who missed field goals of 44 and 51 yards, was wide left on the extra point after Hurts’ 1-yard tush-push touchdown in the fourth quarter. He made field goals of 21 and 31 yards.

Goff looking to rebound after 5 INTs

The Lions are off to their best start in seven decades thanks in part to the play of Jared Goff.

But the Lions got their most recent win despite Goff’s gaffes.

Goff threw a career-high five interceptions, leading to a 16-point deficit that Detroit overcame to beat AFC South-leading Houston. The veteran walked toward the middle of the field alongside coach Dan Campbell and had something to say after the improbable win.

“We’re just different, that’s really what he said,” Campbell recalled. “And I agreed with him. We are. That’s the way we’re built.”

The Lions became the first team since 1970 to win after trailing by at least 15 points and throwing five interceptions.

Detroit (8-1) has won seven straight, is off to its best start since 1954 and is a win away from doing something the franchise hasn’t done in nine decades. If the NFC-leading Lions get past Jacksonville (2-8), they will have nine wins in their first 10 games for the first time since 1934.

New Lions DE Smtih ready to debut

Za’Darius Smith is expected to play his first game with the Lions, nearly two weeks after the veteran defensive end was acquired from Cleveland.

The Lions gave Smith some time off last week, allowing him to travel to Florida to check on his home after it was hit by recent hurricanes and to give him a bye week of sorts that he would not have had otherwise. The gesture went a long way.

“This team is one of a kind,” Smith said. “Great culture. Great coaching staff. Great front office. They’re all about winning.”

Chiefs put kicker BuTker on IR

The Chiefs are putting kicker Harrison Butker on IR while he undergoes a procedure on his knee, though they hope to have him back for the playoffs.

The Chiefs are expected to sign Spencer Shrader off the Jets’ practice squad to fill in for at least the next four weeks.

Butker has been the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history since joining the league in 2017, trailing only Justin Tucker and Eddy Pineiro by making nearly 90% of his attempts.

Combine staying in Indianapolis

The NFL scouting combine is staying in Indianapolis through 2026.

The state’s tourism office announced the deal, extending a partnership with the league that began in 1987 and was previously set to run through 2025.

The event generated a record-setting $9.26 million in economic impact in 2024 while attracting more than 27,200 fans.

The 2025 combine runs from Feb. 27-March 2.