ARLINGTON, TEXAS — There wasn’t finger-pointing in the Philadelphia Eagles’ locker room after another disappointing day running the football. In fact, there was a disagreement over someone taking too much of the blame after a 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
“I just have to own it myself,” Saquon Barkley said after rushing for 22 yards on 10 carries on Sunday. “I’m a big believer that the run game starts with me. I’m in a little funk right now.”
Maybe 10 feet away and 20 minutes later, Jordan Mailata shook his head.
“He’s not in a funk, man,” the All-Pro offensive tackle said. “That’s just the guy Saquon is. Good dude ... But he’s just being hard on himself. It’s on all of us up front.”
Whether it’s Barkley’s fault, the line’s fault or offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s fault — or a combination of the three — it wasn’t good enough at AT&T Stadium.
That’s something everyone could agree on.
The Eagles didn’t collapse against the Cowboys solely because Barkley had another statistically disappointing performance. But it sure would have helped if the Birds were able to lean on the ground game to see out a win like they did almost all of last season.
The Eagles held a 21-0 lead in the first half thanks to Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and Co. They were getting it done through the air, taking advantage of Dallas’ five-man fronts designed to stop the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
But once the Cowboys adjusted its coverage looks, the Eagles’ offense stalled. Nothing was working — and certainly not a rushing attack that’s looking toothless these days.
Sunday was Barkley’s lowest rushing output in a game with at least 10 carries since 2022. And yet, it looked eerily similar to how things have gone this year.
Barkley’s 22-yard showing marked the seventh game this season that the All-Pro has averaged 3.3 yards per carry or fewer. On the season, Barkley has rushed for 662 yards on 175 attempts (3.8 ypc) with four touchdowns. Take out the 150-yard performance against the Giants last month, and Barkley is averaging 46.5 rushing yards per game.
So, what gives?
Barkley said he’s healthy, so that’s not it. He said he’s not pressing too much, or at least he doesn’t think he’s pressing too much to make something happen. So that’s not it, either.
“I’m not playing well,” Barkley said. “... Plays just aren’t happening. That’s all on me.”
Of course, his teammates don’t see it that way.
“It’s not on Saquon. It’s on all of us,” Mailata said, assuming responsibility on behalf of the offensive line. “You can just watch the film. We always say we’re one block away. As tiring and as repetitive as that is, that’s the truth. I’m tired of saying it. But it starts with us. We’ve got to do a better job of execution. And until we do that, this run game isn’t going anywhere.”
Jalen Hurts also came to No. 26’s defense. Barkley had a costly fumble late in the fourth quarter on a checkdown pass. The Eagles were driving into Dallas territory for a go-ahead touchdown or field goal when Cowboys edge rusher Sam Williams popped the ball free.
Barkley said, “I lost us points there,” when asked about the offensive issues.
“That’s not all on him,” Hurts said. “There are a lot of opportunities in the game to not even be in that situation. Can’t put that on him. As a competitor, I know how he is and where he is, and I know how he’ll work moving forward. And I think that will be infectious to the rest of us.”
That’s what the Eagles are hoping for. They’re hoping Barkley’s struggles will eventually end, and the player who had 2,000 rushing yards last season will round into form down the stretch.
But for now, Barkley is “tired” of making excuses for the lackluster running game.
“I’m not getting the run game going, I’m not getting yards, and I’m tired of the excuse of people trying to stop our run game,” Barkley said. “I don’t really subscribe to that. I just got to be better, got to make plays.
“I’m a big boy. I’m a man at the end of the day. I’m going to own it and get ready for next week.”
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