Jalen Hurts' lone touchdown leads Eagles to 16-9 victory over Lions in lackluster offensive game

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles are positioned again to make a strong run at another Super Bowl — not solely on the arm of Jalen Hurts, the legs of Saquon Barkley and other marquee offensive players all NFL fans know — but on a defense that has churned out a string of masterpieces that fired them to the top of the NFC.

Get to know these names. It might come in handy around early February.

Jalen Carter. Jordan Davis. Jaelan Phillips. Nakobe Dean.

The Lions were just the latest playoff hopeful to have their best efforts derailed by Vic Fangio's crew.

Hurts scored the only touchdown in an otherwise feeble effort from the Philadelphia Eagles' offense, and it was enough to lead them to a 16-9 win over the Detroit Lions, who failed on every fourth-down try Sunday night.

“As I watch football today, I saw a lot of teams waiting to lose,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “Our team's waiting to win. Because they know how to win. There's something to be said for that, of knowing how to win.”

The Eagles (8-2) are the only team in the NFC East with more than three wins and the second one in the conference to eight victories, putting them in pole position to take the top seed and earn home-field advantage as the Super Bowl champions go for a repeat.

Hurts threw for only 135 yards, Barkley ran for 83 in another average outing a season after he topped 2,000-yards rushing, and former 1,000-yard receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for nine catches for 57 yards. They have scored only a combined 26 points the last two games —- both wins.

Yet those struggles didn't matter much against a Detroit team that seemed happy to try and give the game away. The Lions, who entered averaging 31.4 points per game, failed to convert on five fourth-down attempts and were 3 of 13 on third down.

“Five-for-five the way we look at it,” Sirianni said. “Outstanding.”

Carter and Davis did their part with a combined five batted passes. Phillips, a trade-deadline pickup, had five tackles, a sack and four QB pressures.

“One of the best performances I've ever seen,” Hurts said.

Lions coach Dan Campbell replaced offensive coordinator John Morton as the play-caller last week. Campbell wasn’t ready to say it was a permanent move, although he called plays again against the Eagles.

Campbell wasn’t much of an improvement.

The Lions’ notable failure came late in the third quarter while trailing 13-6 after Jared Goff connected with Jahmyr Gibbs for a 42-yard gain that took the ball to the Eagles 22. The Lions went on to get a first-and-goal at the 8, but they turned the ball over on downs.

“They’re a good ... defense,” Goff said.

The Eagles at least took advantage of their best scoring chance inside the 10.

Barkley had a 5-yard TD run in the second quarter overturned by a replay review, a momentary setback once Hurts scored from 1 yard out — yes, on a tush push — with 16 seconds left to send the Eagles into halftime with a 13-6 lead.

Jake Elliott kicked field goals of 27 and 34 yards in the half. He made a 49-yarder in the fourth for a 16-6 lead.

Goff — who went 14 of 37 for 255 yards —- hit Jameson Williams for a 40-yard score that tied the game at 6-all late in the second quarter. Williams celebrated by jumping onto the goal post padding and bear-hugging the upright, which earned him a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

On a blustery night in Philly, those lost yards cost the Lions when Jake Bates was wide right on the 48-yard extra point. Bates did kick a 54-yard field goal with 1:58 left.

Hurts tried to force the ball to an unhappy Brown early after yet another week of complaints from the wide receiver about his role in the offense.

Brown’s production has severely declined this season -- he was targeted just three times last week at Green Bay -- and he took to social media afterward to express his displeasure, saying on Twitch that fantasy owners should drop him from their teams.

Brown — who stood by his pervious complaints as he otherwise praised the team — finished with seven catches for 49 yards against the Lions.

“It was me trying to help contribute, that’s all,” Brown said.

Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean had his first career regular-season interception when he picked off Goff's pass in the first quarter that led to a field goal.

The second-year standout, of course, is mostly remembered from an interception in last season's Super Bowl. DeJean became the first player in Super Bowl history to intercept a pass or score a touchdown on his birthday when he returned a poor throw by Patrick Mahomes 38 yards for a TD.

Lions: All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph missed his fourth straight game with a knee injury.

Eagles: OL Lane Johnson was ruled out at halftime with a foot injury. Johnson left last week's win against Green Bay with an ankle injury in the second quarter but returned in the fourth.

Lions: Host the New York Giants next Sunday.

Eagles: At Dallas next Sunday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is stopped with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game by Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) and Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is stopped with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game by Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) and Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) looks to pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is stopped with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game by Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) and Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane was substituted in at the hour mark and still had enough time to score a hat trick on Saturday.

The England captain took his goal tally for Bayern Munich this season to 28 and the defending champions extended their lead to 11 points after thrashing Stuttgart 5-0 on the road.

Second-placed Leipzig later hosted Eintracht Frankfurt.

With Kane on the bench, Konrad Laimer took on the scoring duties and produced a superb finish. The Austria midfielder collected a long ball and combined with Michael Olise before slotting home from close range with a subtle backheel past goalkeeper Alexander Nübel in the 11th minute.

Kane made it 2-0 with a low shot into the bottom corner and Josip Stanišić added his name to the scoresheet. Kane added further luster to the win from the penalty spot after Stuttgart was reduced to 10 men for Lorenz Assignon using his arm to clear a ball in the 81st.

Kane completed the rout with a flick from an Olise cross with two minutes left. It was his 10th Bundesliga hat trick according to the league.

“It's been a while, it's nice to get another one," Kane said after being voted man of the match. “Big three points. We keep going.”

Kane has found the net five more times with England this season, taking his total to 33 goals for club and country.

Stuttgart had chances before halftime but lacked a cutting edge. Midfielder Nikolas Nartey thought he equalized only for his goal to be ruled out for offside after a VAR check.

Bayern Munich is unbeaten in 16 league and cup games against German opposition this season.

Bayer Leverkusen suffered a fourth loss, 2-0 at Augsburg.

Defender Dimitrios Giannoulis put the host in front after six minutes then turned provider to set up forward Anton Kade. Leverkusen, which hit the woodwork, remained in fourth place, 14 points behind Bayern.

Wolfsburg scored from all of its shots on target and moved four points clear of the relegation zone after beating Union Berlin 3-1. Heidenheim defeated Freiburg 2-1. Cologne and St. Pauli drew 1-1.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Munich's Harry Kane, left, celebrates with his teammate Luis Diaz, right, after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)

Leverkusen's Robert Andrich, right, pushes team mate Nathan Tella besides Augsburg's Kristijan Jakic during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and Bayer Leverkusen in Augsburg, Germany, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Leverkusen's Patrik Schick misses to score during the Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and Bayer Leverkusen in Augsburg, Germany, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Munich's Michael Olise, right, and Stuttgart's Maximilian Mittelstaedt, left, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)

Munich's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfB Stuttgart and FC Bayern Munich in Stuttgart, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Tom Weller/dpa via AP)