Saquon Barkley’s Surge Is Real - So Why Aren’t the Eagles Leaning Into It?
The Eagles may have dropped another tough one Monday night - a 22-19 overtime loss to the Chargers - but buried in the sting of that defeat was something that should be turning heads in Philly: Saquon Barkley is finding his rhythm. The question now is whether the Eagles will finally start riding the hot hand.
Barkley’s 122-yard performance, capped by a 52-yard touchdown burst in the fourth quarter, wasn’t just a bright spot - it was a continuation of a quietly growing trend. After a sluggish start to the season, where he averaged just 3.3 yards per carry through the first seven weeks, Barkley has now bumped that number up to 4.0.
More telling? Over the last seven games, he’s averaging 4.7 yards per carry - tied for fifth-best in the NFL over that stretch - and his 493 rushing yards rank sixth.
That’s not just improvement. That’s resurgence.
And Barkley knows it.
“I know the type of ability that I have and the energy that I could bring,” he said postgame. “I’ve just got to keep my foot on the gas and keep going… I trust my work ethic and my preparation. I trust in the coaches and most importantly, I trust in the guys up front.”
The numbers back up the confidence. Compare the two halves of his season so far:
- First 7 games: 53 rushing yards per game, 3.3 YPC (37th out of 38 backs with 50+ carries)
- Last 7 games: 82 rushing yards per game, 4.7 YPC (13th out of 41 backs with 50+ carries)
That’s a leap. And it’s not just about volume - Barkley is breaking off explosive plays again. His 60-yard touchdown against the Giants and his 52-yarder against the Chargers make him one of just four backs this season with multiple 60+ yard scores, joining Jahmyr Gibbs, TreVeyon Henderson, and Jonathan Taylor.
But here’s the issue - and it’s a big one: even as Barkley heats up, the Eagles aren’t feeding him enough when it matters most.
In the second half of games, especially during this current three-game losing streak, Barkley’s touches have dried up. Just three second-half carries in Dallas.
Only 13 total rushes against the Bears, despite averaging 4.3 yards per tote. And on Monday night?
Just five second-half carries, even though he was averaging over five yards per carry before halftime.
That’s not just curious - it’s costly.
This is an offense that’s been sputtering through the air and dealing with inconsistency at quarterback. The passing game isn’t bailing them out right now, but the run game - led by a surging Barkley and an offensive line that’s starting to open lanes again - is showing signs of life. Yet it feels like the play-calling hasn’t caught up to that reality.
In total, Barkley has just 17 second-half carries over the Eagles’ last three games. That’s not enough for a back who’s clearly in rhythm, especially when the offense is looking for answers.
To be fair, Barkley isn’t pointing fingers. He’s staying accountable, focused, and forward-thinking - exactly what you want from a team leader.
“We made some strides, but it doesn't matter,” he said. “We didn’t win the football game… I’m always going to start with myself, look in the mirror, and go back and watch film to see what I could have done better.”
But the numbers tell the story. Barkley is up to 12th in the league in rushing with 862 yards and is now on pace to crack 1,100.
That’s a strong year by any measure, even if it doesn’t quite match his record-setting campaign from last season. The problem isn’t what Barkley is doing - it’s how little he’s being asked to do in crunch time.
And the offense is feeling it. The Eagles have scored just 81 points over their last five games - their lowest five-game total in 13 years.
Against the Chargers, they reached the red zone seven times and came away with just one touchdown - Barkley’s long run. That’s not just inefficiency; it’s missed opportunity.
“We just weren't consistent,” Barkley said. “That's been the theme for the offense and for the team this whole season… We keep continuing to beat ourselves.”
He’s not wrong. The Eagles are still in the mix, but their margin for error is shrinking. And with a short week ahead and a matchup against the Raiders looming, they don’t have time to wait for the passing game to magically click.
They do, however, have a running back who’s heating up at the right time - and an offensive line that’s starting to pave the way. That’s a combination most teams would love to lean on down the stretch.
So what’s next?
“One of my favorite coaches used to always tell me, ‘So what, now what?’” Barkley said.
“That’s the mentality we got to take… Everything we want is still in front of us, so we’ve got time to figure it out. We’ve just got to figure it out sooner rather than later.”
It’s time for the Eagles to stop treating the run game like a Plan B. Because right now, Barkley is the plan.