Eight long weeks. For eight long weeks, the Eagles' ground game was stuck in the mud. The potential was undeniable. But the starts never culminated into something massive. Everyone kept waiting for that explosive, earth-shaking launch. And they finally found pavement on Sunday against the Giants.
Head coach Nick Sirianni could finally exhale and address the rushing eruption. Then he confirmed what the city of Philadelphia was hoping to hear. “Yeah, of course. Saquon, it was... I thought that was just a matter of time,” Sirianni stated. He credited the offensive line and Barkley’s explosive talent for the long-awaited breakout. This was the offensive identity they had been missing.
"We've been close with our run game. And it popped yesterday, and so we want to build on that and continue on that, but I think that was just a matter of time because we have the players up front. Saquon looks great. And he was able to find some space yesterday to get some of those explosive runs that we were used to seeing from them," Sirianni added. The 38-20 win was a lot more than a mere revenge tour.
The Eagles averaged a ridiculous 8.4 yards per carry. This performance was a historic franchise first for a regular season game. It was a complete reversal from their prior 29th-ranked rushing status. The transformation was both sudden and decisive. Saquon Barkley instantly set the tone.
It took the 28-year-old two offensive plays to score a 65-yard touchdown. Barkley finished with 150 yards and looked like a force of nature. But things got murky right when every piece of the puzzle was falling into place. The offense was met with genuine concern. Barkley exited with a groin injury late in the third quarter.
Mounting Concern Amid an Historic Ground Game
Barkley downplayed the injury after the game. “I wasn't worried about it. I came off, but I've dealt with this before. Nothing crazy,” Barkley told reporters. He even wanted to return to the game. But the trainers didn't let him. Meanwhile, the Eagles' backfield depth immediately answered the bell.
Backup Tank Bigsby stepped in and was electrifying. He pounded his way to 104 rushing yards on just 9 carries. Consequently, Barkley and Bigsby achieved a rare NFL feat. They became only the fourth tandem ever to each rush for 100+ yards while averaging 10 yards per carry. The ground attack never missed a beat. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport's words on Saquon's injury seem reassuring.
"He [Saquon Barkley] left the game with a groin injury. My understanding is, had the game been a little closer, it is likely Saquon would have returned. That is an indication that is not a major injury and really not something to worry about for the Philadelphia Eagles," Rapoport suggested on Good Morning Football. But the official report is yet to come.
Read more: Saquon Barkley sparks concern with response on Packers clash amid injury scare
The Eagles now enter their off-week riding high. They have rediscovered their punishing offensive identity. The run game is no longer a question mark. Instead, it is a resounding exclamation point. If the groin quiets down, the Birds own the scariest balanced offense in the NFC. If not, Bigsby just showed he can carry the load without sinking the sled. Either way, the rest of the league is definitely put on notice.