Title: Barkley’s Individual Success Takes a Backseat to Team’s Betterment
As the Philadelphia Eagles progressed through the regular season, Saquon Barkley’s individual success took a backseat to the team’s overall performance. Despite having a shot at breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record, Barkley chose to prioritize the team’s success over personal achievements.
Barkley’s decision to sit out the regular-season finale against the Giants, a move made by head coach Nick Sirianni, was understood and accepted by the 27-year-old. In his typical selfless approach, Barkley emphasized that the team’s success is the most important thing.
“I know a lot of people will get into stats to see how we did and if we were rusty and how did Jalen (Hurts) look, but that’s your job. You’re all supposed to do that. You’re doing your job, but in reality, in this locker room, the only thing that matters is winning football games, whether we win 45-44 or 3-0,” Barkley said.
In the team’s playoff opener, Barkley had a notable performance, producing the best playoff game of his career with 119 rushing yards. He added to his incredible debut season with the Eagles, becoming the ninth member of the 2,000-yard rushing club and finishing with 15 total touchdowns (13 rushing, two receiving).
As the Eagles continue their pursuit of a Super Bowl, Barkley’s remarkable season will undoubtedly be remembered. He now sits at 2,124 rushing yards for the 2024 season, including the playoffs, which is the fifth-most by any player in a season in NFL history, according to NFL Research. The Eagles’ next game will be played at Lincoln Financial Field in the Divisional Round, with the opponent yet to be determined.