A Win is a Win? Eagles / Panthers Reactions and Highlights

This game was supposed to be fun.

Your 10-2 Philadelphia Eagles were favored by double digits over a 3-9 Panthers squad. The Birds ultimately prevailed, but it wasn't pretty. 22-16 was the final.

Highlights and reactions:

Saquon Barkley broke the Eagles' single-season rushing record

Barkley ran the ball with ease, with 124 yards on 20 carries. He made franchise history, breaking LeSean McCoy's single-season rushing record.

Saquon Barkley passes LeSean McCoy for the most rushing yards in Eagles history in a single season. Over 1609 yards

On the 11th anniversary of Shady’s Snow Game pic.twitter.com/RI5mNOfhdX

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) December 8, 2024

Big s/o to my boy @saquon on breaking my franchise single season rushing record. Let’s go get that Dickerson record see yall in the N O super bow bound @Eagles pic.twitter.com/SM5SXvyyaV

— LeSean Shady Mccoy (@CutonDime25) December 8, 2024

As Saquon Barkley passes LeSean McCoy for the Eagles’ franchise single-season rushing record, let us take the time to thank everyone who made it possible pic.twitter.com/Tekc3JVzoe

— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) December 8, 2024

DeVonta Smith returned to action and caught a touchdown pass

Jalen Hurts connects with DeVonta Smith to give Philly the lead before half.

📺: #CARvsPHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/Iv0mr1daEy

— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024

DeVonta Smith signing autographs for fans after the game. pic.twitter.com/rjPkSbEKxD

— cayden steele (@cayden_steele19) December 8, 2024

With Dallas Goedert injured, Grant Calcaterra scored his first career NFL TD

🚨 FIRST NFL TOUCHDOWN GRANT CALCATERRA 🚨
@grcalcaterra | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/5q3d1Jh4v0

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 8, 2024

Grant Calcaterra’s brother reacting to his first career TD is awesome!

Video: @matt_breen

pic.twitter.com/2N7ZuLsiVh

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) December 8, 2024

Cool cool cool. So why was this game so close?

Panthers WR Adam Thielen did savvy veteran things against the talented, but young, Eagles secondary.

Adam Thielen is back on his bullshit.

8/99/1 on 10 targets & 9/102 on 10 targets the past 2 weeks after posting 3/57 on 4 targets his first game back from injury.

Same dude who averaged 20+ fantasy PPG through the first-half of 2023. pic.twitter.com/j27Cg7pxI3

— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) December 8, 2024

There was some luck involved.

Adam Thielen rescues the play on 4th & 2!

📺: #CARvsPHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/vaF6SqgSci

— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024

But it was mostly skill. Thielen simply balled out.

Bryce Young to Adam Thielen! Big play on 4th down.

📺: #CARvsPHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/m2uaiVVskP

— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024

Give QB Bryce Young credit too, of course. The first overall pick in the 2023 draft seems to be coming into his own.

Bryce Young SHEESH

📺: #CARvsPHI on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/t2kW0MnfRx

— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024

His teammates didn't always help him out. How 'bout this drop?

Center won’t snap the ball
Receivers dropping game winning TD passes

Bryce Young dealing with complete ineptitude pic.twitter.com/j5cS8iHvR9

— Evan (aka Ebo) (@EBoKnowss) December 8, 2024

The Eagles did what they could to keep the Panthers hanging around. Jake Elliott is now 0/5 on 50+ yard field goal attempts. That could be a problem down the strerch and in the playoffs.

With that miss, Eagles K Jake Elliott is now 0-for-5 on 50+ yard FG attempts this season.

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/UXx6mULXDS

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 8, 2024

And, as always, the refs. This zebra was standing RIGHT THERE:

Missed facemask on that tackle on 3rd down. Would have been an automatic first. pic.twitter.com/NUXhZpzpAC

— Patrick (@PhillyPMC) December 8, 2024

If you think your butt was clenched throughout this one, imagine how this gambler felt:

In the end, the Eagles are 11-2.

You'll probably hear a lot this week about a "trap game," with the soft-looking Panthers sandwiched in between the Ravens and Steelers, two NFL heavyweights, on the Eagles' schedule.

Is a trap game a real thing? Was it just an off game from Hurts? Can we blame the play-calling? It sure felt like A.J. Brown should have seen a few more targets.

Truth is, we won't be able to assess this Carolina game until we see how the Eagles' season ends. If it all culminates in a Birds Super Bowl victory, this narrow win will be nothing more than an odd historical footnote.

But if the Eagles fall apart, we'll look back at this game and say the warning signs were there.

UGLY UGLY win by @Eagles feels like a loss to @Panthers @NFL #FlyEaglesFly

— Chris Pomay (@ChrisDPOMAY) December 8, 2024