The Eagles needed this kind of game, a comfortable 38-20 win over the New York Giants on a Kelly Green Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field that started with running back Saquon Barkley ripping off a 65-yard run for a touchdown, featured quarterback Jalen Hurts throwing four touchdown passes, and a defense that smothered the Giants and quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The Eagles are 6-2 as they head into a few days of rest and refreshment and, boy, it feels great to be in this position. After losing to New York 17 days earlier, the Eagles played perhaps their best wall-to-wall game of the season on Sunday. It was a beauty to watch and a big win in the NFC East.

Here are my observations from a win that made everyone smile on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in South Philadelphia ...

1. Saquon Barkley busts out

Play two of the game: A handoff left side to Saquon Barkley, and things break perfectly. Great blocking up front from Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson – who got to the second level and cleaned up – and Brett Toth. Help from wide receiver DeVonta Smith down the field. And then Barkley in the clear, down the sideline and outrunning the Giants' defense on the way to a 65-yard touchdown run, a first-possession lead, a delirious crowd at Lincoln Financial Field, and the start of a fine game from No. 26.

He gained 150 rushing yards (his 10th such performance of his career) on 14 carries, an average of 10.7 yards per carry, with the touchdown. Barkley also contributed a touchdown in the receiving game and caught four passes for 24 yards in all.

The Eagles ran for 276 yards on 33 carries, and even after Barkley went out on the final play of the third quarter after a gain of 28 yards – he said he felt fine after the game, so take a deep breath – the offense still ground out the yards. Tank Bigsby, who made his backfield debut in Minnesota and had a nice 11-yard run, was outstanding against New York with 104 yards on nine carries. He looked fast, decisive, and he ran with power and had some moves. The Eagles are going to keep working with him to see how productive he can be in the offense moving forward.

2. Offensive line wins in the trenches

Big hand here for Brett Toth, who made his first start at center in place of an injured Cam Jurgens (knee). He has played across the offensive line in his time here and what he did on Sunday was outstanding and should not be downplayed in any way. Lined up against defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, one of the best in the league, Toth was great. He blocked well, scraped and got into the second level in the run game, and beat defenders to the edges to help establish the line of scrimmage. Knowing that Toth can do it and seeing how he played after a full week of preparation gives the Eagles the understanding that there is depth inside at guard and center and that Toth can handle the substantial load there.

Another bouquet for guard Landon Dickerson, who is one of the toughest guys around. He played terrific football and is going to benefit from the bye week as much as anybody on the team. All of them were great – Jordan Mailata at left tackle, Tyler Steen at right guard, and Lane Johnson at right tackle. When the Eagles used six offensive linemen and brought in Fred Johnson, the power game continued. Huge game for the guys up front.

3. The impact of Nakobe Dean on the defense

New York gained 68 yards on the ground – it was just awful seeing rookie running back Cam Skattebo suffer a gruesome ankle injury and everyone hopes he makes a full recovery – but even if he had played a full game, it probably would not have mattered. The Eagles were the more physical team and Dean was a big part of it. He's starting now with Zack Baun and the two are in their groove already. Jihaad Campbell played a lot on the edge and impacted the game as well, so the Eagles have something going here. This is promising. The defense gave up three plays of 20 or more yards, an improvement. The run defense was stout. The pressure on quarterback Jaxson Dart was consistent and he was limited to 17 rushing yards on 6 attempts. Dean is such a penetrating, darting, tactically sound player, and he plays with so much heart and toughness. Great to have him back.

4. Let's hear it for the depth on this roster

No Jurgens. No A.J. Brown. No Azeez Ojulari. No Adoree' Jackson. And the Eagles just balled out. Toth was outstanding. The Eagles got the ball in the passing game to wide receiver DeVonta Smith (8 catches, 84 yards, 9 targets), tight end Dallas Goedert (3 catches, 28 yards, 2 touchdowns), and once to wide receiver Jahan Dotson, who made a spectacular, leaping 40-yard touchdown grab. Kelee Ringo played well at cornerback and the secondary limited Dart to 193 passing yards.

5. Pass rush gets to QB Jaxson Dart

It came from everywhere – a pass rush that was disciplined and determined and successful. The Eagles sacked Dart five times and pressured him a bunch of other times. He escaped the pocket only a small handful of times. The Eagles were dominating at the line of scrimmage and kudos go out to Campbell, Jalyx Hunt, Moro Ojomo, Joshua Uche, Jordan Davis, and Jalen Carter, and even Zack Baun, who recorded a sack off the edge.

6. A critical turning point

At 14-10 and knowing New York would get the ball first in the second half, the Eagles had possession at their 42-yard line with 2:46 remaining in the first half. Quarterback Jalen Hurts put it all together. After three Barkley runs gained 21 yards, Hurts completed passes of 11 yards and 12 yards to Smith, then gained 3 yards on a short pass to Barkley that was wiped out by a New York neutral zone infraction to set the Eagles up on a second-and-2 play at the New York 6-yard line. Hurts went to Goedert, running a slant and winning leverage on the defense, for a completion and a score and, after the PAT, a 21-10 at the half. Big deal.

7. Shout out to Will Shipley on special teams

A second-year player who has a positive impact in every way, Will Shipley led an outstanding day for special teams. He averaged 33 yards on three kickoff returns to give the offense good field position. Shipley also had two tackles on special teams and the coverage units were good. Punter Braden Mann punted once and had a 57-yard boot. Jake Elliott boomed a 58-yard field goal attempt that bounced off the right upright before adding three points on a 40-yard attempt later in the game. It was a good, good day for the Eagles' special teams.

8. Kevin Patullo called a great game for the offense

The offensive game plan, even without Jurgens and Brown, was brilliant. The Eagles attacked New York on the edges in the running game and Hurts was efficient – 15-of-20, 179 yards, 4 touchdowns – throwing the football. The Eagles used motion and varied their looks and played downhill football and stayed ahead of the sticks as they rolled to 427 total net yards, scored touchdowns on all three trips to the red zone, and kept New York's defense off balance.

9. And now, a much-welcomed bye week

What happens during a bye week? Teams unplug. Totally. The players have the week off and those days will mean so much to a group that has gone 6-2, withstood some injuries, played tough football, and done it all against a rugged schedule. Six wins in eight games is good stuff and, yes, the Eagles are in first place and they have put themselves in great position heading into the back side of the schedule. For now, though, it is time to rest, relax, and reinvigorate.