NFL Thursday night: Former Alabama prep star comes through for Eagles in fourth quarter

Philadelphia safety Reed Blankenship made two possession-ending plays in the fourth quarter as the Eagles rallied for a 26-18 victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday night.

Philadelphia trailed 10-3 after Washington opened the third quarter with a field goal. But the Eagles maintained their hold on the top spot in the NFC East by scoring on their four full second-half possessions, including three fourth-quarter touchdowns.

After Philadelphia took a 12-10 lead with 12:00 to play, Washington went for it on fourth-and-2 at the Eagles 26-yard line rather than have up-from-the-practice-squad kicker Zane Gonzalez try a 44-yard field goal to take the lead, even though he’d already connected from 45.

Blankenship and linebacker Zach Braun tackled quarterback Jayden Daniels for no gain to end the series.

The Eagles offense ripped down the field in five plays for another touchdown, and on the Commanders’ first snap after the TD, Blankenship intercepted Daniels at the Washington 46-yard line.

This time, it took only two snaps for Philadelphia to get running back Saquon Barkley into the end zone again for a 26-10 lead with 4:38 remaining.

Barkley ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and caught two passes for 52 yards.

In addition to his second interception of the season and seventh of his career, Blankenship made 10 tackles against Washington.

Blankenship is a former West Limestone High School standout. During the Washington-Philadelphia game, 13 more players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field:

• Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
• Eagles cornerback James Bradberry (Pleasant Grove, Samford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
• Landon Dickerson (Alabama) started at left guard for the Eagles. Dickerson limped off the field after the third snap, but he returned for Philadelphia’s second possession.
• Eagles offensive lineman Jack Driscoll (Auburn) did not record any stats.
• Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal) recorded one tackle for loss.
• Jalen Hurts (Alabama) started at quarterback for the Eagles. Hurts completed 18-of-28 passes for 221 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and ran for 39 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Hurts scored on a 1-yard sneak with 12:00 remaining as Philadelphia took a 12-10 lead.

• Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn) started at cornerback for the Commanders. Igbinoghene made six tackles.
• Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis (Alabama) made two tackles.
• Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Alabama) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne made three tackles.
• Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama) made two tackles on special teams.
• Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks (Alabama) was designated as a game-day inactive.
• Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Alabama) started at running back for the Commanders. After missing two games because of a hamstring injury, Robinson ran for 63 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries and caught a 9-yard pass. Robinson scored the game’s first points on a 1-yard run with 3:26 left in the first quarter.

• Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Lee-Huntsville) did not record any stats.
• DeVonta Smith (Alabama) started at wide receiver for the Eagles. Smith had four receptions for 29 yards.
• Eagles offensive lineman Tyler Steen (Alabama) did not record any stats.
• Eagles tight end C.J. Uzomah (Auburn) did not record any stats in his debut for the 2024 season. Philadelphia elevated Uzomah from its practice squad to make him eligible to play.
• Eagles defensive tackle Byron Young (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.

Washington (7-4) plays the Dallas Cowboys at noon CST Nov. 24 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.

Philadelphia (8-2) plays the Los Angeles Rams at 7:20 p.m. Nov. 24 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.