Going into the biggest game of the season for the Philadelphia Eagles, it's easy to understand what the strategy needs to be for offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo: run the ball and run often.
The Eagles are barely in the top 20 in rushing this season, at 18th with 116.9 yards per game on the ground. In the last month, though, Philly has been able to pick it up on the ground thanks to running back Saquon Barkley, who has at least 70 yards in his last four starts, including two 100-yard games.
While that stat is very important to know, it's common knowledge among all Eagles fans dating back to when Nick Sirianni became the team's head coach. What might not be as well-known, though, is what the team should be doing with backup running back Tank Bigsby, and why he must be more involved in the offense.
The simpliest change in offense with Tank Bigsby will lead to a win for Eagles
Bleeding Green Nation Eagles reporter Brandon Lee Gowton shared a fascinating stat about Bigsby that actually makes all the sense in the world when Eagles fans think about it. When Bigsby gets one or fewer carries in a game, the Eagles are 4-5. When he gets two or more carries, though, and that record is a staggering 7-1.
Bigsby has had a great season as the backup for the Eagles, even if he doesn't get the ball nearly as much as he should. He's rushed for 344 yards and two touchdowns, averaging an impressive 5.9 yards per carry.
This season, Bigsby has had a few top-notch games, including his 104-yard game against the New York Giants, his 57-yard game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and a 75-yard performance against the Washington Commanders. While they won't blow most people away, these are pretty efficient games.
The problem is they are not happening nearly enough as Patullo tries to force-feed Barkley the ball 20 to 25 times a game. What really should happen is Bigsby gets at least 10 carries a game to take the pressure off of Barkley from running it all the time.
Read more: Nick Sirianni (again) attempts to answer burning question about Eagles' offense
Getting Bigsby even just two carries a game leads to a win, so why wouldn't the Eagles just do that against the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card game?