Why the Eagles Need to Unleash Tank Bigsby Down the Stretch
The Philadelphia Eagles finally snapped their three-game skid with a dominant 31-0 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, but let’s not pretend all is suddenly fixed in Philly. Sure, the defense pitched a shutout and the offense looked more in sync, but there are still real questions about how this team is managing its backfield - and more specifically, how little they’re using Tank Bigsby.
Jalen Hurts has taken plenty of heat lately, and understandably so after that five-turnover outing against the Chargers in Week 14. But the truth is, the Eagles’ offensive issues go beyond the quarterback.
The run game, once a staple of their identity, has been sputtering. Saquon Barkley, who’s carried the load all season, is averaging just 3.9 yards per carry on 240 attempts.
That’s a heavy workload with a modest return - especially when there’s a guy like Bigsby waiting in the wings.
And when Bigsby has been used, he’s made the most of it. He’s averaging a team-best 6.3 yards per carry - more than two full yards better than both Barkley and Hurts.
That’s not a fluke. That’s a running back who’s showing he can move the chains and bring a different kind of physicality to this offense.
We saw it in Week 15. Bigsby got 17 carries against the Raiders and racked up 57 yards - not eye-popping, but it was the kind of workload that allowed the offense to stay balanced.
And on the drive before halftime, he set the tone with tough, downhill running, softening up the defense before Barkley came in to punch in the touchdown. That’s exactly the kind of one-two punch the Eagles should be leaning into more often.
Let’s be clear: Barkley is still one of the most talented backs in the league. His career-high 2,005 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns last season are proof of that.
But if the Eagles want him to be at his best when it matters most - late in games, late in the season, and potentially in the playoffs - they need to manage his touches more carefully. That means giving Bigsby more than just a handful of carries here and there.
Bigsby has only had two games all year with more than five carries. That’s hard to justify when he’s been this efficient.
His breakout came in Week 8, when he exploded for 104 yards on just nine carries against the Giants. That kind of performance should’ve earned him a bigger role, but instead, he saw only two total carries over the next three games.
It’s a puzzling decision, especially for a team that’s been searching for answers on offense.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this kind of underutilization in Philly. Kenneth Gainwell never got consistent touches during his four seasons with the Eagles, never topping 84 carries in a year.
Now he’s in Pittsburgh, having a career year - 93 carries, 451 rushing yards, six total touchdowns, and 332 receiving yards. And just to add salt to the wound, he’s averaging 4.8 yards per carry - a mark Barkley hasn’t matched this season.
The Eagles can’t afford to repeat that mistake with Bigsby.
With two games left against the struggling Washington Commanders and a tough road test in Buffalo, the Eagles still have a path to finish strong. But if they want to get back to being a serious contender, they need more balance in the run game. That starts with easing Barkley's workload and giving Bigsby the touches he's earned.
This move alone won’t solve everything - the offensive line still has to block better, and Hurts needs to clean up the turnovers. But Bigsby gives this team a spark. He brings fresh legs, a physical edge, and a chance to keep Barkley fresher for the moments that matter most.
The Eagles have a chance to rewrite the narrative of their season. But if they keep Bigsby on the sidelines, they might just be writing the same story they did with Gainwell - and watching another talented back thrive somewhere else.