When the Backfield and Trenches Click: The Eagles Rushing Attack
The Eagles are entering their Week Nine bye on a much-needed high note after having their first explosive rushing performance of the season. Against the New York Giants last week, the offense put up a 276-yard outburst in a statement win after their earlier Week Six loss. This was the kind of game that fans have been waiting for after weeks of lacking identity, consistency, and production in the ground attack. Granted, the Giants are ranked as one of the league's weakest run defenses—currently sitting at 30 of the 32 teams after Week Eight—but it still marked progress for a team that has long prided itself on a strong ground game in the Nick Sirianni era.
Before the last game, the numbers told a frustrating story for Philadelphia. Saquon Barkley’s season high was only 88 yards, which he notched in Week Two. He’s managed just one other 60-yard performance and averaged only 3.4 yards per carry before his Week Eight breakthrough. It’s a steep drop in production from his last season's dominance, to say the least. In the 2024 campaign, Barkley averaged 125 rushing yards per game and broke records with 2,005 yards on the ground in the regular season. This year, he is on pace to maybe break 1,000.
The issue likely doesn’t fall on his opportunity, since he currently ranks third in the league in carries with 127 attempts thus far. Rather, the issue lies in what happens after the snap. The Eagles' offensive line, typically a feared unit in the NFL, has taken quite a hit this season. Too often, contact occurs behind the line of scrimmage as the Birds are consistently losing battles in the trenches. Those breakdowns have erased the open lanes that helped Barkley reach the second level and make explosive plays so often last season.
The protection problem extends beyond the run game. Jalen Hurts has been sacked 25 times this year, the third most of any quarterback in the league. Two strong assets, Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson, have missed time due to injuries, and even Lane Johnson was forced out of a game. Jordan Mailata has stayed healthy, but hasn’t matched his dominant 2024 form. Additionally, losing Mekhi Becton in free agency to the Chargers left another hole that hasn’t been adequately filled this season. With the line struggling to protect both Hurts and the run game, defenses have found it much easier to expose the imbalance in the Eagles' attack.
Outside of the issues within the offense, opposing defenses have had an entire offseason to adjust to the Barkley factor within Philadelphia. After winning Offensive Player of the Year, Barkley entered this season as a marked man. Defenses have loaded the box, forcing Hurts to depend on his sputtering passing game, while eliminating the ground dominance that defined the Eagles' Super Bowl run. Historically, the Birds have focused on a passing attack early to build a lead, then used the run game to seal teams later on. Last season, Barkley racked up 1,245 of his yards in the second half of games, a tactic that is missing from the playbook this year.
After Barkley left the game with a groin injury last week, one bright spot that emerged in the breakout ground game was Tank Bigsby’s performance. The Eagles acquired him after Week Two, and he showed off some big-play potential with 104 yards in the win over New York. Compounded with a lone 11-yard carry against the Vikings, he now averages an impressive 11.3 yards per carry over two games with the Eagles. Moving forward, interchanging Bigsby’s speed and power with Barkley’s vision and dominance could force defenses to adjust more frequently. A more balanced, unpredictable backfield could help Philadelphia build momentum and find consistent ground success, rather than the rare explosive plays in isolation that fans have been seeing.
If the Birds want to fully resurrect their run game, it depends on two things: creativity and protection. Integrating both RBs into varied schemes could spark a more dynamic, well-rounded offense. If Philly’s offensive line can get healthy and reestablish its physical, cohesive play, the bye week could mark a true turning point for the defending champions. If not, the Week Eight explosion may prove to be the exception, not the rule, for a team aiming to go back-to-back. Ultimately, when the trenches and the backfield find their rhythm together, the Eagles will too.
