Saquon Barkley, looking for the first running back to win the NFL MVP award since Adrian Peterson was named November’s NFC Offensive Player of the Month on Thursday in 2012.
The 27-year-old Barkley put NFL defenses on notice in November, racking up 777 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns in four games. He ran for 626 yards, averaged 194.3 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns in November. He also added 151 receiving yards and a TD.
In Philadelphia’s 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12, Barkley posted a franchise record with 255 rushing yards and had 302 total yards. He became the first NFL player since Maurice Jones-Drew in 2009 to have two 70-yard touchdown runs in a game.
In three of his four games in November, Barkley ran for more than 145 yards.
Barkley has also been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week four times this season.
Barkley signed with the Eagles in free agency, coming from the New York Giants. The Giants declined to sign the running back to a long-term extension, opening the door for Barkley to sign closer to home – he grew up in Coplay, Pennsylvania.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has bucked his typical roster-building strategy by signing Barkley, and the return on investment is already paying off.
The Eagles are on an eight-game winning streak after them defeated the Baltimore Ravens 24-19, last Sunday. Against one of the tougher defenses in the NFL, Barkley still managed to rush for 107 yards and a touchdown.
During Philadelphia’s current winning streak, Barkley leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,064) and ranks second behind Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs in yards per carry (6.2; Gibbs has 6.3).
Barkley leads the NFL with 654 rushing yards in the second half of games this season – he has more second-half rushing yards than 29 teams. He also shined brightest when it mattered most, leading the league with 361 fourth-quarter/overtime rushing yards, averaging 8.2 yards per carry.
The Birds can do that clinch a play-off berth this week against the Carolina Panthers.
