Saquon Barkley made his mark in the Eagles’ record book recently, setting a new standard for rushing yards in a playoff game. Last week, Barkley looked up who held the previous record for most rushing yards in a playoff game and found it was Steve Van Buren, who had 196 yards in the 1949 NFL Championship game against the Rams.
Van Buren’s name is well-known to longtime Eagles fans, as his No. 15 is retired, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.
Barkley, who had his sights set on greatness, now holds the playoff rushing record after rushing for 205 yards with two touchdowns in a 28-22 win over the Los Angeles Rams. His 78-yard touchdown run in the snow clinched the win, sending the Eagles to the NFC Championship game at home against the Washington Commanders.
Throughout the season, Barkley has been an essential part of the Eagles’ offense, proving that no matter the conditions, he’s capable of delivering. His performances have helped the Eagles maintain their status as one of the favorites to make a return to the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons.
“Given the conditions or not the conditions, it doesn’t matter. It’s a luxury to have him, that’s for darn sure,” said head coach Nick Sirianni. “Love him. I can’t say enough good things about him and the leadership he brings to this football team and just everything he brings to this football team. He’s special.”
With quarterback Jalen Hurts dealing with an injury, Barkley will need to keep performing at an elite level to help the Eagles move past the Commanders and keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.
Sirianni, who has had some critics, has managed to lead the Eagles to the NFC Championship for the second time in three years. The Eagles also boast the best home winning percentage in the NFL since 2022, tied with Buffalo at .833. However, Sirianni’s success is not without challenges, especially when it comes to the passing game.
A.J. Brown, who had over 1,000 receiving yards in the regular season, voiced concerns earlier in the year about the offense not playing up to standard. This issue persists, as Brown has only recorded three catches for 24 yards in two playoff games. DeVonta Smith hasn’t been much more productive either, with only eight catches for 76 yards in the two games against Green Bay and Los Angeles.
The passing game struggled during the win over the Rams, as Hurts was sacked seven times, including a safety. He also suffered a knee injury during the game but still managed to complete his sixth win of the season despite throwing for only 128 yards.
While Hurts’ ability to win games is unquestionable, the Eagles’ offense may face difficulty against high-scoring teams like Washington or more potent offenses in the Super Bowl.
“Our performance today was enough to win, but enough is never enough in terms of the standards we have for ourselves and what we want to do,” Hurts said after the game.
Hurts has deflected questions about the offense, stating that any play-calling concerns should be directed at Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. However, with Barkley serving as the driving force for the offense, the Eagles’ playoff hopes rest on whether Hurts can step up and lead the offense to greater heights when needed, especially if the team faces tougher competition.
