LONDON – The Eagles have traveled more than 4,000 miles and have had a slow start. Two important starters left with injuries.

But in the end, they kept what they wanted most: a win, as they nearly lost another double-digit lead in the second half.

This time, the Eagles won 24-18 in front of a record number of spectators for an NFL game at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The participation was announced at 85,870.

Carson Wentz, after returning the ball twice in the first quarter, finished 21 of 30 out of a total of 286 yards with 3 touchdowns.

It was barely enough. The Eagles lost the two Pro Bowl tackles in Jason Peters and Lane Johnson (knee) after injuries in the first half, and cornerback Jalen Mills (foot) in the third quarter. Peters, who was assessed for a head injury, came back in the second half.

And it was still a struggle for the Eagles (4-4), who needed a win to keep pace in the east of the NFC. The Jaguars lost their fourth straight and fell to 3-5.

For the second week in a row, the Eagles seemed to be in control after a long campaign in the third quarter. This time, they entered a 95-yard run, topped by Wentz's pass to Wendell Smallwood, which the Wilmington native turned into a 36-yard touchdown.

That gave the Eagles a 17-6 lead with 8:39 to play in the third quarter. It was the third time this season that the Eagles had a double-digit lead in the second half. They had lost the previous two, including their game last week against the Carolina Panthers when they led 17-0 after three quarters.

And it seemed like it could happen once the Jaguars reduced Josh Lambo's deficit by two points to 13:10 in the fourth quarter.

But the Eagles reacted, helped by the reception of Jordan Matthews on 36 yards, which led Wadz to pass a 5-yard TD on Zach Ertz for a lead of 24 to 15 with 9:55 to go.

Even then, the advance was not safe after the Jaguars got another goal on the pitch.

That's because running back Josh Adams dropped the ball in the first game, which would have allowed the Jaguars to win the ball in the first minute of the 35 Eagles. But a replay decision showed that Adams was on the ground and the Eagles kept possession of the ball.

Despite everything, the Eagles were 3-and-out on this possession.

The Jaguars could not enjoy it and the Eagles managed to survive.

Barely.

The Eagles took a 10-6 lead at half-time after Wentz's 32-yard pass to Dallas Goedert with 29 seconds left in the half.

It certainly did not seem that the Eagles would have a lead at halftime.

Wentz lost a breakaway in the first set of Eagles while he was trying to pass just one game after completing 31 yards on Jordan Matthews and 37 on the Jaguars. On the play, Johnson, who had been injured at the ankle, was on the ground with a knee injury.

This is the fifth time of the season that Wentz has lost a fumble in six games.

In the next round, the Eagles joined the 24 Jaguars before Wentz started an interception in the end zone. He was trying for Josh Perkins, but he was under pressure and the ball was floating in Jalen Ramsey's arms.

Peters left the field at the end of the first quarter to be assessed due to a head injury. Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who had replaced Johnson in the attack on the right, moved to the left attack. Isaac Seumalo went from left guard to right attack and Stefen Wisniewski went on guard left.

Still, the Eagles had another long drive, but this time, they found themselves in front of the Jaguars. But Wentz was sacked in the second run and was incomplete in third.

Wentz was 11th out of 18 for 155 yards in the first half with a touchdown and an interception.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, got a Josh Lambo placement of 50 and 57 yards.

The Eagles again controlled the first half, beating the Jaguars 217 to 90 and totaling 12 first tries against 4 at Jacksonville.

Contact Martin Frank at [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.