Saquon and Smitty show off clutch gene in win over Packers

Saquon and Smitty show off clutch gene in win over Packers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Two plays changed the game.

For most of Monday night, the Eagles' offense sputtered until a couple of its superstars came through on back-to-back plays in the 10-7 win over the Packers at Lambeau Field.

Shoot, these guys are here because they are ultra competitive and ultra talented," head coach Nick Sirianni said. I feel like we have a good football team and you don't make it on this football team unless you have extra stuff too. We have guys with extra stuff in them."

The Eagles were clinging to a 3-0 lead early in the fourth quarter when they faced a 3rd-and-7 from their own 23-yard line. Their previous drive was a 3-and-out and they were pretty darn close to doing it again.

But on that play, Jalen Hurts went through his progressions and dumped the ball off to Saquon Barkley in the flat. From there, Barkley pulled off an incredible spin move and rumbled ahead for a 41-yard gain. On the very next play, Hurts hit DeVonta Smith for a 36-yard touchdown on a 50-50 ball. It was the Eagles' only touchdown of the game.

It was tough sledding until it wasn't. Those two starts just busted open the game.

Another moment for this spin move https://t.co/5DlPONvijspic.twitter.com/gkY9ZcBLKW

- Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 11, 2025

I got 1-on-1 in open space," Barkley said. Whether it's a spin move, whether it's a jump, I feel like, we call it a bag. I feel like I can do whatever I want in that situation. I think I'm going to win that situation more times than not."

Barkley said his decision to pull off a spin move like that is mostly based on his feel for the play in the moment. But he also allowed that he spends a lot of time in the offseason working on his spin moves, jump cuts, dead legs and stiff arms. Barkley works hard to build his repertoire and he pulled out the spin after a stutter step at the perfect time.

And it probably wasn't even the most impressive play of the drive.

Because on the very next snap, Smith rose above safety Evan Williams for a 36-yard touchdown grab.

SIX FOR SEVEN pic.twitter.com/Q7ueVg6Z5B

- Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 11, 2025

Smith said that after the play was called and he saw the coverage, he knew he had a chance for a big play. When the ball from Hurts was slightly under thrown, Smith just went up and got it.

Despite his slight stature, Smith (6-0, 170) has earned a reputation for excelling in those jump ball situations.

Yeah, I feel like I am one of the best guys at 50-50 balls. I take pride," Smith said. The quarterback says he's going to give me a chance and I take pride in that to go make that play for him."

A.J. Brown played a big role in both of those plays. He was downfield blocking on the catch-and-run from Barkley and he occupied All-Pro safety Xavier McKinney to give Smith a 1-on-1 against the other safety downfield. While Brown still gets treated like the No. 1 receiver he is, Smith is the guy having a career season.

Through nine games, Smith has 48 catches for 657 yards and 3 touchdowns. He is on-pace for over 1,200 yards, which would be a new career high in his fifth NFL season.

Not that his success is a surprise to his teammates.

I feel like people forget that he won the Heisman," Barkley said. He's a pretty good f-ing football player. I don't know why that's like forgotten. You know how hard it is to win the Heisman? But shoutout to Smitty. He comes up big for us every single time."

The Eagles have a ton of talent on offense, which is what makes their stagnant stretches so confounding and frustrating. As Hurts said on Monday night, It's not a capability thing."

And we definitely see that in crucial moments when one or two of their stars make a game-changing play to break them out of their funk.

Barkley subscribes to the idea that some guys are just clutch. And the Eagles have a few of them.

Yeah, I think so," Barkley said. I think we've got a lot of people on this team that's clutch. I think the way you learn how to be clutch, though, is to f- up too. I think if you ask everybody in this locker room or all the guys who have made big plays, a time that they weren't and they can all go back to that moment. So you learn.

But the way you are able to be clutch is how detailed you are in your work. The little things that you do. So when that moment comes up, you've done it multiple times so it's no surprise."