Saquon Barkley's struggles with the Eagles' run game are reaching a boiling point. The star running back, who was once considered an unstoppable force behind the Philadelphia offense, is now finding himself unable to break through defensive lines for even the slightest gain.
In Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Barkley managed a paltry 22 yards on just 10 carries, his longest run of the game clocking in at a mere seven yards. It was a performance that left him looking defeated and demoralized as he exited the locker room after the game.
"It's not on Saquon," teammate Jordan Mailata said in an attempt to absolve Barkley of blame, but it's clear that this is no longer just a matter of individual performance. The Eagles' entire run game has become predictable and stagnant, with opposing defenses able to anticipate every move before it happens.
The numbers tell the story - after Sunday's loss, Barkley now sits at 662 yards for the season on 175 carries, averaging a mere 3.8 yards per carry. It's a far cry from his impressive form last season, when he broke the record for single-season rushing yards.
Barkley himself acknowledged that something is amiss, admitting that "the plays aren't happening" and placing the blame squarely on his own shoulders. He knows that the Eagles' offense has become reliant too heavily on him, but it seems as though even that isn't enough to break through the defensive trenches.
The question now becomes - can Barkley rediscover his form and help turn around the faltering run game? It's a tall order, especially with only a handful of games left in the season. Still, for a player who has always been capable of producing highlight-reel performances, it's hard to imagine him giving up without a fight.
In Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Barkley managed a paltry 22 yards on just 10 carries, his longest run of the game clocking in at a mere seven yards. It was a performance that left him looking defeated and demoralized as he exited the locker room after the game.
"It's not on Saquon," teammate Jordan Mailata said in an attempt to absolve Barkley of blame, but it's clear that this is no longer just a matter of individual performance. The Eagles' entire run game has become predictable and stagnant, with opposing defenses able to anticipate every move before it happens.
The numbers tell the story - after Sunday's loss, Barkley now sits at 662 yards for the season on 175 carries, averaging a mere 3.8 yards per carry. It's a far cry from his impressive form last season, when he broke the record for single-season rushing yards.
Barkley himself acknowledged that something is amiss, admitting that "the plays aren't happening" and placing the blame squarely on his own shoulders. He knows that the Eagles' offense has become reliant too heavily on him, but it seems as though even that isn't enough to break through the defensive trenches.
The question now becomes - can Barkley rediscover his form and help turn around the faltering run game? It's a tall order, especially with only a handful of games left in the season. Still, for a player who has always been capable of producing highlight-reel performances, it's hard to imagine him giving up without a fight.
The Eagles' offense is all about Saquon Barkley right now and it's getting old... 
They can't seem to shake off the fact that he's their only reliable running back anymore. The defense knows exactly what they're doing, anticipating every move before it happens 
662 yards in 175 carries? That's not even close to his usual pace... 
I mean, come on Jordan Mailata, you can't just spin this around and make it about individual performance 
The coaches need to step up and figure out a way to get some creativity back into the run game or else Barkley's gonna be stuck in neutral for good... 
He used to be that unstoppable force on the field, but now he's struggling to break free from defenses like they're superheroes in a Marvel movie 
. I mean, 3.8 yards per carry? That's not even close to his usual form last season 
. It's clear that the Eagles' offense is relying too much on him, and it's taking its toll on both Saquon and the team 
. Can he find a way to break through and rediscover his game like Rocky finding his inner champ again? 
Only time will tell, but I'm rooting for him all the way! 
I mean, he used to be the one breaking tackles and making defenders look like fools, but now he's just trying not to get tackled at all 
. It's like his mind is saying "Hey, Saquon, you're a superstar, break through that line!" But then his legs are all like "Uh, no thanks, I'll just stick with 3.8 yards per carry" 
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! I mean, he was the man last season, but now even 3.8 yards per carry is a major red flag 
. It's like he's being held back by the entire team's run game strategy... or lack thereof. I feel bad for Jordan Mailata trying to save his bacon, but it's clear that something needs to change ASAP 
. The stats don't lie, though - 662 yards on 175 carries is not exactly a record-breaker 
. Still, I've got faith in Saquon; he's always been a top-notch player. Can the Eagles coaching staff give him the support he needs to get back on track? We'll have to wait and see... 
i mean i get it, he's a superstar and all but can't they just build the rest of the team around him for once? 
i'm rootin for him to turn it around tho, he's always been a highlight machine 
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. It's all about him, and that's not how it works 
. They need to diversify their attack, get some other guys involved 
. Barkley can't do it alone no more 
. It's not like this is his first rodeo 
. I got faith in him, but the clock's tickin' 
, and they need results ASAP 
That's like, seriously slow. Can Barkley still revive his magic? 
. i think the pressure on him is real, being the go-to guy for the team and all... it's like he's trying to make up for everyone else not performing 
... He was on fire last year, breaking all those records, and now it feels like defenses are just anticipating him before he even takes off 
. I remember last season when he broke that record for single-season rushing yards, now he can barely get out of his own way.
