ARLINGTON, Texas — All year long, the Eagles’ offensive line has been blamed for the team’s poor run game, while running back Saquon Barkley has been mostly absolved from criticism.
Well, not any more.
After rushing for just 22 yards on 10 carries in the Eagles’ 24-21 loss on Sunday to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, Barkley shouldered the responsibility as the offense scored no points in the second half, allowing Dallas to pull off a 21-point comeback.
“I’m not playing well,” Barkley told reporters after the game. “I just got to play better. That’s really it.”
The Eagles have struggled to put teams away this season due to their inability to run the ball. This time, Barkley managed just nine rushing yards in the second half and also lost a fumble.
With 7:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, Cowboys edge rusher Sam Williams caught Barkley from behind and punched the ball loose, sending it into the hands of linebacker Kenneth Murray at the 33-yard line.
The Eagles were in position to take the lead on that drive, but the turnover wiped out that opportunity, leaving the game tied at 21-21. Had the Eagles finished that possession with a touchdown and drained more of the clock, they might have beaten the Cowboys and moved a step closer to securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
But instead, Barkley made a huge mistake.
“Ball security takes no talent,” Barkley said. “I worked my ass off on it. In my career, I’ve been really good at taking care of the ball. And I just let the team down in that moment. So that one is gonna sting. But being in this profession, you’re gonna make plays and you’re gonna have mistakes. You just got to go back to drawing board. We got a short week and I just gotta get right for the team.”
If the Eagles are going to win another Super Bowl in February, Barkley has to get back on track.
The offense has put together two to three good drives each week, but it has otherwise struggled, ranking in the bottom half of the league in most offensive categories. Last season, when Philadelphia’s offense stalled, Barkley ignited it with explosive touchdown runs or by wearing defenses down with physical carries.
“I wouldn’t say frustrated, more disappointed in myself, not frustrated with anybody else,” Barkley said. “I’m a big believer that the run game starts with me and ends with me. So I’m in a little funk right now. I’ve had funks like this before. Just gotta break it. Only way I know how is by flushing this, work my butt off and get ready for my next opportunity.”
Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to surpass 2,000 yards last season, and that has changed how defenses play him this year.
The Eagles have struggled to block against stacked boxes and new defensive looks, limiting Barkley to 684 rushing yards and four touchdowns through 12 weeks. Dickerson said the offensive line was not prepared for Dallas’ usage of five-man fronts and struggled to execute their game plan.
At this pace, Barkley may not even reach 1,000 yards in his second season with Philadelphia.
“I’m tired of the excuse of people trying to stop the run game,” Barkley said. “I don’t really subscribe to that. Just got to be better. Got to make plays.”
After years of elite play, Philadelphia’s offensive line has noticeably regressed, with injuries and inconsistent performances from key starters contributing to the drop-off.
Right tackle Lane Johnson is out 4 -6 weeks with a Lisfranc injury. Center Cam Jurgens is still wearing a brace on the knee he injured five weeks ago. Left guard Landon Dickerson dealt with knee and back issues earlier this year. New starting right guard Tyler Steen hasn’t matched the level of last year’s starter, Mekhi Becton. Even left tackle Jordan Mailata has been inconsistent.
Mailata appreciates that Barkley tries to shield his teammates by taking the blame, but he doesn’t agree with his assessment.
“He’s not in a funk, man,” Mailata said. “He’s hard on himself. That’s the guy Saquon is. He’s one of the greatest dudes I ever met. He’s being hard on himself. It’s on all of us.”
Barkley has been held under 100 yards in 11 of their 12 games and is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry, placing him near the bottom of the NFL.
Overall, the Eagles had the 17th best rushing offense heading into Week 12, but that number is inflated by their 276-yard rushing performance against a weak Giants’ run defense in Week 8. They ran 18 times for 63 yards against the Cowboys and did not have a single run of 10 or more yards.
To win playoff games in January, NFL teams need to dominate up front and control the ground game. Right now, the Eagles can’t do that.
“...We always say we are one block away,” Mailata said. “As tiring and as repetitive as that is, that is the truth. I’m tired of saying it, but again, it starts with us (on the offensive line). We got to do a better job of execution. Until we do that, the run game isn’t going anywhere.”
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