One play before Saquon Barkley broke open a defensive game with his 65-yard touchdown run, teammate DeVonta Smith left with a concussion after a 5-yard reception. While Smith lost his helmet on the fourth-quarter play, the big hit was legal.
Replays showed the Saints’ Khristian Boyd contacting Smith in the back, not in the head and neck area.
Video also appeared to show something much more disturbing, however. With a helmetless Smith on the Caesars Superdome turf, the FOX broadcast seemed to catch New Orleans defensive end Payton Turner spitting on Smith.
Turner was not flagged. Smith did not return but the short-handed Eagles won in thrilling fashion, 15-12, thanks to fourth-quarter heroics from Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert.