The last time a running back won the NFL MVP was 12 seasons ago. Adrian Peterson got it after rushing for more than 2,000 yards.
The last time a running back was MVP without 2,000 rushing yards in a season or broke an NFL single-season touchdown record was Emmitt Smith in 1993.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is going to make it difficult for voters to pick the best quarterback available for MVP this season.
Barkley extended his remarkable season with another big game, and this one was in prime time. Barkley was unstoppable as he ran over, around and past the Los Angeles Rams. Barkley rushed for 255 yards, passing for 1,500 yards from scrimmage on the season, and the Eagles cruised to a 37-20 win. Barkley’s rushing total was the ninth-highest in a game in NFL history and the highest in Eagles history.
The win brings Philadelphia’s record for the season to 9-2. With Sunday’s loss to the Washington Commanders, the Eagles lead the division by three games with six to play.
Barkley could end up with 2,000 receiving yards this season. He is on pace with 1,392 yards in eleven games. That’s a career high for Barkley with six games remaining. That might just get him enough MVP votes to win the award. But as the Eagles march toward an NFC East championship, Barkley’s case continues to grow stronger regardless of whether he reaches the magic number of 2,000.
The New York Giants blew the offseason. Saquon Barkley is clearly a first-team All-Pro this season, as is Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney, who is tied for the lead in the NFL in interceptions. The Giants let both leave in free agency this season.
Worse, the Giants made Barkley look like a mostly average running back for many seasons. The same Barkley who is electrifying the NFL and reviving Philadelphia’s offense didn’t even break 1,000 yards rushing against the Giants last season. Barkley will be happy to be part of a legitimate NFL operation this season.
The Eagles don’t normally spend much on running backs, but made Barkley an exception. They must have seen how the Giants wasted his talent and how their great offensive line could turn him into a star again.
Barkley has been dominant since the Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Packers. The Eagles put in another brilliant performance on Sunday evening.
The game was largely in hand with less than three minutes left, but Barkley broke off a 72-yard touchdown run to punctuate his huge night. Breaking such long touchdown runs isn’t easy in the NFL, but Barkley has made it seem routine this season.
Eagles keep rolling
Since the bye week, Philadelphia is 7-0. If there’s an NFC team that could go to Detroit and beat the Lions in the playoffs, the most obvious answer is the Eagles.
Barkley was in charge on Sunday, but the defense has quickly become one of the best in the NFL. The Rams have a potent offense when healthy, and in a crucial second quarter they had -6 yards on four possessions. With Philadelphia picking up on new coordinator Vic Fangio’s plan, there has been steady improvement on that side of the ball.
And the offense has plenty of options. Barkley just transformed the Eagles’ run game. Now they have a superstar capable of big plays and huge games, a player who can turn a failed play into something positive more often than not.
If that sounds like a good MVP candidate, that’s because it is. The defense can’t stop Barkley this season. The only thing that could hold him back could be the recent MVP voting history.
Saquon’s 255-yard night is the 9th-best single-game rushing performance in NFL history
Barkley has 10 career games of at least 145 rushing yards. Five of them came in his 84 career games over six seasons with the New York Giants. Five of them played eleven games for the Philadelphia Eagles this season.
Saquon Barkley rips 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 the big names on the interior, but Williams is the big beneficiary of the two stars being double-teamed. He’s sacked Stafford twice now and it looks like the Eagles are on their way to a seventh straight win
Puka Nacua travels more than 100 meters through the air
He reached 110 yards on his eighth grab of the night, and he’s crossed the century mark for the third time in the six games he’s played this season.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, top, is unable to catch a pass to Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, California, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Jake Elliott gives Philadelphia a 16-point lead
His third short field goal of the game extended the lead, but the Rams still trailed by just two possessions with 10:30 remaining. All three field goals have come in the deep red zone, and if the Rams defense doesn’t fortify in the low red zone a few times, this game could already be a blowout. Now Matthew Stafford and company will have to get a touchdown on this drive to stay in the game.
AJ Brown ends the third quarter with a 28-yard pickup
Brown has up to 109 yards receiving to go along with his touchdown reception, and the Eagles enter the fourth quarter with a two-score lead and all the momentum.
Joshua Karty misses from 47 meters
The Rams come up empty after having a 2nd and 1 at the 12 yard line. A holding penalty and sack broke up the drive and the Eagles maintained their 13-point lead. The Eagles have conceded touchdowns on three of their last four drives and their offensive line – along with Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell – has controlled the game.
Milton Williams comes up with a sack to force 4th and long
Puka comes up big on 4th and 1
Stafford again picks on Isaiah Rodgers, this time on a 4th-and-1 for a pick-up 29 to keep the Rams drive alive.
Rams injury update
Rams injury update: CB Cobie Durant (spasms) questionable to return.
Kenneth Gainwell finds the end zone after a big gain off the screen from Saquon Barkley
It was third when Saquon Barkley got closer to 200 yards for the game with a 31-yard pickup to get Philly into scoring position, and when the star needed a break, Gainwell was able to seal the deal with the 13-yard run . .
Stafford finds Demarcus Robinson for the score
Isaiah Rodgers steps in for an injured Darius Slay, and Matthew Stafford chose the backup DB and found Robinson to answer Saquon Barkley’s touchdown run. That final drive was similar to the first pair of the Rams’ series, where they marched down the field seemingly effortlessly.
Matthew Stafford is 36 years old… and still making throws like that
This would be an outrageous throw for anyone, but for a veteran who has been in the NFL as long as Stafford has, this is a work of art.
How’s that for a start to the second half?
Philly scored drive. One game. 70 meters. 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 the Hail Mary attempt, sending the game to halftime with Philadelphia up 13–7.
A pass interference penalty brings the ball to midfield with 21 seconds left
The Eagles can use the entire field with timeouts still in hand
Eagles force another punt and get the ball back with two timeouts
Philly only needs 30-35 yards to get into field goal range with 26 seconds left in the half
AJ Brown finds the end zone to give the Eagles a 13-7 lead
This was reviewed after it was originally called an incomplete pass, but the officials determined Brown was in control and were given three steps into the end zone for the score. Four receptions for 69 yards in the first half for Brown, who has been doing the heavy lifting with DeVonta Smith out. He has four receptions in Philadelphia’s 11 completed passes, and Jahan Dotson — who has one catch — is the only other receiver with a target.
