It took just two plays for the Giants to get a taste of what they were in for Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Saquon Barkley took a handoff 65 yards for a touchdown just seconds into the game, the start of what was a 276-yard rushing outing for the Eagles, who improved to 6-2 heading into their Bye Week.

The Giants were more physical than the Eagles two weeks ago at MetLife Stadium, and it was a topic of conversation amongst Eagles players coming into the Week 8 matchup. Philadelphia responded by running all over New York and into a week off.

"We just wanted to be the more physical team today. It didn't matter what it looked like," left tackle Jordan Mailata said. "... Mission accomplished."

Barkley (150 yards) and Tank Bigsby (104) became the first Eagles running back duo to each reach 100+ rushing yards in a game since 2013. The Eagles had 118 more rushing yards than their next closest game this season and averaged 8.4 yards per carry, their most in a game since 2020.

"I think the O-line did a really good job of dominating up front, creating space for us," Barkley said postgame. "It's cool to see Tank get out there and make some big plays. I've never been a part of a game, I don't think so, [with] two 100-yard backs."

Barkley and the Eagles' run game had trouble getting going early in the season. He was averaging 52.7 rushing yards per game and 3.3 yards per attempt coming into Sunday's win, down from 125.3 and 5.8, respectively, last season. Barkley's 2024 was historic as he became just the ninth player ever to reach 2,000 rushing yards, but Mailata said given the defense they're seeing it's unrealistic to expect that to happen again.

That's still the goal, Mailata said, but he added they need to "align your expectations with reality." With that, the Eagles have needed to lean more on their pass game in recent weeks.

Jalen Hurts threw for 179 yards and four touchdowns against the Giants, one week after posting a perfect 158.3 passer rating against the Vikings in Week 7. The Eagles 'passing game is cooking, and that opened room for Barkley and Co. to feast on the ground against the Giants.

"Knowing that every week's not going to be how you want it to be sometimes, but you can't lose faith," said Barkley, who also added a receiving touchdown. "You've got to come in and continue to stick to the routine, continue to build, and sometimes that's how it goes. But, you'd rather be going like this than the opposite way.

"I feel like we got things rolling in the running game today, and we can build on that. But, most importantly, whether it's in the running game or passing the ball, we won. That's the only thing we're really searching for."

Barkley ran well throughout the game and when he wasn't on the field, Bigsby stepped up in a big way. He entered Sunday with just one carry as an Eagle, but he got nine against the Giants and made each one count.

Bigsby's initial role with the Eagles was as a kick returner, but that since has shifted, and his top priority is doing whatever is asked to the best of his ability.

"You wait until you get your opportunity. When you get your opportunity, you go out and be who you are," Bigsby said. "Just keep being a great team player. [If] coach needs me on special teams, coach needs me at running back, coach needs me at tight end, I'd probably go out there and play tight end, whatever it is. Just being the best team player I can be."

Five of Bigsby's runs went for 10+ yards, including a 29-yard run on 2nd-and-26. He took his final attempt of the game 17 yards, carrying a load of Giants defenders with him to the ground.

"There was a play today where there was bad communication on our part up front and (it) wasn't as clean. Some guys would just kind of take the loss. He got the ball, picked a hole, and hit it," said Brett Toth, who started at center in place of the injured Cam Jurgens. "It's not blocked for what he hit and he made, I think, a 12-yard gain off of it. As an O-lineman, you look at it and say, 'That's a guy you'll fight for. Took his own shot. Made his own block.' It's awesome to see him get his shine as well."

The Eagles really got their run game going for the first time this season, and it started off early with Barkley's big run.

Philadelphia's offense put together a strong showing for the second straight week, something Mailata said is good to see, but he knows there's still work do to as the Eagles start their Bye Week.

"A sense of relief, but we're not satisfied," Mailata said. "I'm still going to come in tomorrow. I'm going to get the rooks with me. We're going to get a good lift in. And if the coaches are around, I'm going to go see them and get my one up for the week before I go on break. I can't help it. It's the culture that we've set. I'm sure I'll see half this team in tomorrow, maybe a little more than half.

"But yeah, I think it does help with the confidence going into the Bye Week that we've strung along two great games. One game dominant in the passing and then the next game dominant in the run game. Now we just got to keep it going. I think today, the last two weeks, we played total team football in all three phases of the game. And so I'm just excited to keep it going. But like I said, we're not satisfied." — Written by Matt Ryan