The last time a running back won 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 breaking an NFL single-season touchdown record was Emmitt Smith in 1993.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is going to make it hard on voters to pick just the best quarterback available for MVP this season.
Barkley added to his remarkable season with another huge 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, passed 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 most in Eagles history.
The victory puts Philadelphia’s record at 9-2 for the season. With the Washington Commanders’ loss on Sunday, the Eagles lead the division by three games with six to play.
Barkley could end up with 2,000 yards this season. He’s on pace for it, with 1,392 yards through 11 games. That’s a career high for Barkley with six games to go. That might get him enough MVP votes to win the award. But as the Eagles surge toward an NFC East championship Barkley’s case keeps getting stronger, regardless of if he hits the magic 2,000 number.
Saquon Barkley’s career revival
The New York Giants blew it this offseason. Saquon Barkley is clearly a first-team All-Pro this season and so is Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney, who is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions. The Giants let both leave 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 on the Giants last season. Barkley must be thrilled to be with a legitimate NFL operation this season.
The Eagles don’t usually spend much on running backs, but made Barkley an exception. They must have seen how the Giants were wasting his talent and how their stellar offensive line could turn him back into a star.
Barkley has been dominant since the Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Packers. The Eagles got another brilliant performance on Sunday night.
The game was mostly in hand with less than three minutes left, but Barkley broke a 72-yard touchdown run to punctuate his massive night. It’s not easy to break long touchdowns like that in the NFL, but Barkley has made it look routine this season.
Eagles continue to roll
Since its bye week, Philadelphia is 7-0. If there’s an NFC team that could go to Detroit and knock off the Lions in the playoffs, the Eagles are the most obvious answer.
Barkley carried the day on Sunday, but the defense has quickly become one of the NFL’s best. The Rams have a potent offense when they’re healthy, and in a pivotal second quarter they had -6 yards on four possessions. As Philadelphia picks up new coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme, 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 who is capable of big plays and massive games, a player who can turn what should be a failed play into something positive more often than not.
If that sounds like a good MVP candidate, it’s because he is. Defenses can’t stop Barkley this season. The only thing that might stop him might be recent MVP voting history.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER40 updates
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Eagles win seventh-straight game behind dominant performance form dominant Saquon Barkley
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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 have come in his 11 games with the Philadelphia Eagles this season.
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Saquon Barkley rips off THIS exclamation point to close the deal
26 carries for 255 yards and two touchdowns, including 70-yard and 72-yard touchdown runs. He’s got 302 yards of total offense.
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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 getting double-teamed. He’s sacked Stafford twice now, and the Eagles look like they’re cruising to a seventh-straight win
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Puka Nacua goes over 100 yards through the air
He got to 110 yards with his 8th grab of the night, and he’s over the century mark for the third time in the six games he’s played this season.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, top, cannot catch a pass over 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 increases the lead, but the Rams are still only down two possessions with 10:30 left in the game. All three of the field goals have come on deep red zone trips, and if not for the Rams defense tightening up a few times in the low red zone, this game could already be a blowout. Now Matthew Stafford and company will need to get a touchdown on this drive to stay in the game.
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AJ Brown ends the 3rd quarter with a 28 -yard pickup
Brown is up to 109 yards receiving to go along with his touchdown reception, and the Eagles head into the 4th quarter with a two-score lead and all of the momentum.
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Joshua Karty misses from 47 yards
The Rams come up empty after they had a 2nd and 1 at the 12-yard-line. A holding penalty and sack killed the drive and the Eagles mantaint their 13-point lead. The Eagles have gotten touchdowns on three of their last four drives and their offensive line — along with Saquon Barkley and Kenneth Gainwell — have been controlling the game.
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Milton Williams comes up with a sack to force 4th and long
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Puka comes up big on 4th and 1
Stafford picks on Isaiah Rodgers again, this time on a 4th and 1 for a pickup of 29 to keep the Rams drive alive.
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Rams injury update
Rams injury update: CB Cobie Durant (cramps) questionable to return.
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 25, 2024
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Eagles injury update
Injury Report: CB Darius Slay (concussion) is out.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 25, 2024
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Kenneth Gainwell finds the end zone after big gainer on Saquon Barkley screen pass
It was 3rd down when Saquon Barkley got closer to 200 total 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 close the deal with the 13-yard run.
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Stafford finds Demarcus Robinson for the score
Isaiah Rodgers is in the game for an injured Darius Slay, and Matthew Stafford picked on the reserve DB, finding Robinson to answer the Saquon Barkley touchdown run. That last Drive looked like the opening couple of Rams’ series where they seemingly effortlessly marched down the field.
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Matthew Stafford is 36-years-old…and still making throws like THIS
This would be an outrageous throw for anyone, but for a veteran that’s been in the NFL as long as Stafford this is a work of art.
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How’s THAT for a start to the Second Half?
Philly scoring drive. One Play. 70 Yards. Saquon Barkley.
Saquon Barkley is pretty good at football.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 25, 2024
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Eagles lead, 13-7 at the half
Philly went over 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 so send the game to the halftime with Philadelphia leading 13-7.
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A pass interference penalty gets the ball to midfield with 21 seconds left
The Eagles can use the whole field with the timeouts still in their pocket
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Eagles force another punt, and get the ball back with two timeouts
Philly needs just 30-35 yards to get into field goal range with 26 seconds left in the half
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AJ Brown finds the end zone to give the Eagles a 13-7 lead
This one went to review, after it was originally called an incomplete pass, but officials determined Brown had control, and got three steps in in the end zone for the score. Four receptions for 69 yards in the first half for Brown who’s been doing the heavy lifting with DeVonta Smith out. He’s got four receptions in 11 completed passes by Philadelphia, and Jahan Dotson — who has one catch — is the only other reciever with a target.
