In a Week 11 showdown for the top spot in the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles scored 20 fourth-quarter points to defeat the Washington Commanders 26-18 on Thursday night.

“We just got it rolling,” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “We were able to get some positive plays. When you’re able to get completions, keep the sticks moving, keep progressing and then impose your physicality at the end of it, that’s what it comes down to.”

Philadelphia closed the game with three touchdown drives. Hurts completed all five of his passes for 60 yards and ran twice for 8 yards and a touchdown in the three series.

The former Alabama quarterback’s 1-yard sneak for a touchdown put the Eagles up 12-10 with 12:00 to play.

After the Eagles stopped Washington on downs at the Philadelphia 26, Hurts connected with tight end Dallas Goedert for a 32-yard gain made more exciting by a fumble that tight end Grant Calcaterra recovered at the Commanders 30-yard line.

Running back Saquon Barkley capped the series with a 23-yard touchdown run.

Eight seconds later, Philadelphia had the ball again thanks to an interception by safety Reed Blankenship, a former West Limestone High School standout. Barkley had consecutive runs of 7 and 39 yards to reach the end zone as the Eagles went up 26-10 with 4:38 to play.

Barkley had eight carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns and running back Kenneth Gainwell had three carries for 34 yards on the final three Philadelphia possessions.

“What we talked about at halftime was that ‘Hey, this is going to be a grimy, gritty game,’” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “And just keep going because we know we’re grimy and gritty. … We just kept going. That was the talk at halftime, like ‘Hey, it’s a street fight. It’s not about who’s tougher. It’s about who’s tougher longer.’”

Barkley finished with 146 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and two receptions for 52 yards.

“He put in some good work today, man,” Hurts said.

Philadelphia trailed 10-3 at halftime after their first-half possessions ended in three punts and two missed field-goal attempts before kicker Jake Elliott got the Eagles on the scoreboard with a 21-yard field goal with 12 seconds to play.

“We just got to be better in the red zone,” Hurts said. “We had a ton of good drives. We just have to finish. …

“When you look at 435 yards of total offense, I mean, that’s pretty good, and so want to take advantage of our opportunities.”

Philadelphia then scored on its four full second-half possessions to win its sixth consecutive game. Washington scored a touchdown and a 2-point conversion with 28 seconds to play to make it necessary for the Eagles to recover an onside kick to seal the victory.

Philadelphia turned back Washington’s attempt to take over the top spot in the NFC East with the comeback victory. Philadelphia has an 8-2 record, with Washington at 7-4.

“A ton of perseverance out there today,” Hurts said. “It took everyone as a team. It comes down to winning. Winning is the main thing. It will always be the main thing. It takes what it takes, regardless of how it looks. …

“To be able to stay at it, find a way, stick together, that was pleasing.”

Hurts completed 18-of-28 passes for 221 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions and ran 10 times for 39 yards and one touchdown.

Hurts’ touchdown on Thursday night made him the first quarterback in NFL history to run for at least 11 touchdowns in three seasons. Hurts had 13 in 2022 and 15 in 2023. The only other QB with more than one such season was former Auburn All-American Cam Newton, who had 14 rushing touchdowns in 2011 and 12 in 2020.

After Philadelphia’s final first-half possession, Hurts went from the field to the sideline medical tent to be checked for a concussion. But he was cleared to return to action and took every offensive snap for the Eagles.

In its next game, Philadelphia 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.