The last time a running back won the NFL MVP was 12 seasons ago. Adrian Peterson got it after rushing for over 2,000 yards.
The last time a running back was MVP without 2,000 rushing yards in a season or breaking the NFL single-season touchdown record was Emmitt Smith in 1993.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will make it difficult for voters to pick the best quarterback available for this season’s MVP.
Barkley added another huge game to his remarkable season, and this one was in prime time. Barkley was unstoppable as he ran over, around and around the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley rushed for 255 yards, passing 1,500 yards from scrimmage on the season, and the Eagles cruised to a 37-20 victory. Barkley’s rushing total was the ninth-highest in a game in NFL history and the most in Eagles history.
The win improves Philadelphia’s record to 9-2 for the season. After Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders, the Eagles lead the division by three games with six games to play.
Barkley may finish with 2,000 yards this season. He has the pace to do it, with 1,392 yards in 11 games. That’s a career high for Barkley with six games to go. That could give him enough MVP votes to win the award. But as the Eagles surge toward an NFC East championship, Barkley’s case is getting stronger, regardless of whether he hits the magical 2,000.
Reviving Saquon Barkley’s career
The New York Giants blew it this offseason. Saquon Barkley is clearly a first-team All-Pro this season, as is Xavier McKinney, who is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions. The Giants let both go in free agency this offseason.
Even worse, the Giants made Barkley look like a mostly average running back for many seasons. The same Barkley who is electrifying the NFL and revitalizing Philadelphia’s offense didn’t even break 1,000 yards rushing against the Giants last season. Barkley has to be excited about being a legitimate NFL operation this season.
The Eagles don’t usually spend big on running backs, but they made Barkley an exception. They had to see how the Giants wasted his talent and how their stellar offensive line could make him a star again.
Barkley has been dominant since the Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Packers. The Eagles put on another great performance on Sunday night.
The game was mostly in hand with less than three minutes remaining, but Barkley broke off a 72-yard touchdown run to cap his massive night. It’s not easy to break long touchdowns like that in the NFL, but Barkley has made it routine this season.
The Eagles continue to roll
Since its bye week, Philadelphia is 7-0. If there is an NFC team that could go to Detroit and beat the Lions in the playoffs, the Eagles are the most obvious answer.
Barkley carried the day on Sunday, but the defense quickly became one of the best in the NFL. The Rams have a potent offense when healthy and were held to -6 yards on four possessions in a key second quarter. As Philadelphia takes over new coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme, it continues to improve on that end.
And the attack has many options. Barkley just transformed the Eagles’ run. Now they have a superstar who is capable of big plays and massive plays, a player who can turn what should be a failure into something positive.
If that sounds like a good MVP candidate, that’s because it is. Defenses can’t stop Barkley this season. The only thing that can stop him might be recent MVP voting history.
The Eagles won their seventh straight game behind a dominant performance from dominant Saquon Barkley
Saquon’s 255-yard night is the 9th best single-game rushing performance in NFL history
Barkley has 10 career games with at least 145 rushing yards. Five of those came in his 84 career games over six seasons with the New York Giants. Five of those have come in his 11 games with the Philadelphia Eagles this season.
Saquon Barkley rips off THIS exclamation point to seal the deal
26 carries for 255 yards and two touchdowns, including 70-yard and 72-yard touchdown runs. He has 302 yards of total offense.
Milton Williams AGAIN!
Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are big names on the interior, but Williams is the big beneficiary of two stars getting double-teamed. He’s already sacked Stafford twice and the Eagles look to be on their way to winning their seventh in a row
Nacua’s puck flies over 100 yards through the air
He went 110 yards with his eighth catch of the night and surpassed the century mark for the third time in six games this season.
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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puk Nacua, top, fails to catch a pass by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Jake Elliott gives Philadelphia a 16-point lead
His third short field goal of the game extends the lead, but the Rams are still only down by two with 10:30 left in the game. All three field goals came on trips in the deep red zone, and if it weren’t for the Rams defense tightening up a few times in the low red zone, this game might have been close. Now Matthew Stafford and company will need a touchdown on that drive to stay in the game.
AJ Brown ends the 3rd quarter with a 28-yard pickup
Brown had 109 yards to go along with his touchdown reception and the Eagles would head into the 4th quarter with a two point lead and all the momentum.
Joshua Karty misses from 47 yards
The Rams came up empty after having a second and first down at the 12-yard line. A holding and sack penalty kills the drive and the Eagles maintain their 13-point lead. The Eagles got touchdowns on three of the final four drives and their offensive line — along with Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell — controlled the game.
Milton Williams comes up with a sack to force a 4th and long
The puck will come on 4th and 1
Stafford picked off Isaiah Rodgers again, this time on 4th-and-1 for the 29 to keep the Rams alive.
Rams injury update
Rams injury update: Return of CB Cobie Durant (cramps) is questionable.
Kenneth Gainwell finds the end zone after a big gainer on a Saquon Barkley pass
It was the 3rd when Saquon Barkley approached 200 total yards for the game with a 31-yard pickup to put Philly in scoring position, and when the star needed a break, Gainwell was able to seal the deal with a 13-yard run. .
Stafford found Demarcus Robinson for the score
Isaiah Rodgers is in for the injured Darius Slay and Matthew Stafford picks the backup DB and finds Robinson to answer Saquon Barkley’s touchdown run. That last Drive looked like the opening couple of the Rams’ series where they marched down the field seemingly effortlessly.
Matthew Stafford is 36 years old…and still making throws like THIS
It would be outrageous for anyone, but for a veteran who has been in the NFL as long as Stafford, it’s a work of art.
How does it look for the start of the second half?
Philly scored. One Play. 70 yards. Saquon Barkley.
Philly went on downs near midfield with two seconds left in the half and Josh Sweat was able to sack Matthew Stafford on a Hail Mary attempt to send the game into halftime with Philadelphia up 13-7.
After a pass interference penalty, the ball goes to midfield with 21 seconds left
The Eagles can use the entire field with timeouts still in the pocket
The Eagles force another punt and get the ball back with two timeouts
Philly needs only 30-35 yards to get into field goal with 26 seconds left in halftime
AJ Brown finds the end zone to give the Eagles a 13-7 lead
This one went for review after it was initially called an incomplete pass, but the officials determined Brown had control and got three steps in the end zone for the score. Four receptions for 69 yards in the first half for Brown, who was doing the heavy lifting with DeVont Smith. He has four receptions on 11 completions by Philadelphia, and Jahan Dotson — who has one catch — is the only other receiver with a target.
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