The collective groan from Philadelphia could have powered the Linc's lights. Eagles fans watched their star running back look... well, human for weeks. The game-breaking plays from 2024 felt like a distant memory. Well, the picture finally changed in Week 8, and the roar at the Linc was deafening.
Saquon Barkley had just exploded through a seam. A 65-yard lightning bolt on the second play. The vintage performance had finally returned. The Eagles' engine was purring for the first time this season. But then, a hush fell.
Barkley pulled up after a 28-yard gallop late in the third quarter. He gingerly made his way to the sideline, leaving fans holding their breath. The specter of an injury... the one thing that could derail this resurgence suddenly loomed large. The blue medical tent awaited, and the fate of the Eagles' newfound momentum hung in the balance.
Saquon's Admission
Thankfully the news is not catastrophic. "Yeah, I wasn't worried about it," Barkley stated. "I mean, I came off, but I've dealt with this before. Nothing crazy." The Eagles decided to protect their star. He watched as backups Tank Bigsby and Will Shipley finished the job. But did he fight the decision?
Barkley confirmed the tug-of-war when asked whether he fought about it after the 38-20 win. “Yeah, a little bit. It wasn’t... I didn’t go out. I went out swinging, let’s say that.” Trainers won, fans exhaled, and the bye week suddenly looks like a spa weekend instead of a code red.
Saquon also acknowledged the wisdom of head trainer Tom Hunkele. "Tom [Hunkele] been doing this for a very long time and that was a smart thing to look to him," he said. But his desire to be on the field was undeniable. Meanwhile, Nick Sirianni played it safe. He leaned on Tank Bigsby’s 104-yard cameo. The move keeps Saquon fresh for November 10 in Green Bay, but it also exposes a truth—Philly now knows life after 26 is livable.
Bigsby’s 11.6 per carry equaled barbecue smoke drifting into enemy territory. Green Bay’s film room will double-check gap fits while Jordan Love wonders if containment rules change when Barkley is watching in sweats. The Eagles rushed for 276 against the Giants, the most in the NFL this year, without Cam Jurgens at center.
Numbers That Matter
• 138 yards before contact for the Eagles—second-best of any team in 2025.
• Saquon has 21 under-center carries the past two weeks; it's the most since he joined the Eagles.
• Philly posted two 100-yard backs for the 2nd time after LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown's run in 2013.
Landon Dickerson swears nothing’s different. “I told you all it was the same Saquon,” he said. But above all, Sunday was a reminder of the Eagles' ceiling.
This team can control the clock and dictate terms with a healthy Barkley and a punishing run game. Now, the bye week comes at an ideal time. It gives a chance to heal and harness this potent offensive power. But can they carry this momentum onto the tundra of Lambeau Field?
Read more: Vic Fangio's CB's self-blame after game-saving play sums up Eagles culture
The Eagles just proved they can win a bar fight with one hand tied. When both fists are free, good luck measuring the damage.