Tag: Saquon Barkley

Gimme Him: One player the Commanders would steal from the Eagles

The Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles face off and there’s one player the Commanders would love to steal from the Eagles.

The Washington Commanders face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, the first of two divisional games they’ll play to end the season. In between, they’ll play the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons and Dallas Cowboys will be the least of the Commanders’ worries (hopefully), but the Eagles game will have the most impact on their playoff hopes.

The Commanders control their own destiny right now; they sit solidly in seventh place in the playoff standings, right behind the Green Bay Packers. But the Seattle Seahawks are right on the Commanders’ heels and could play spoiler if the boys in burgundy and gold lose any of their final three games.

One thing that would be really helpful for the Commanders when they face the Eagles this week would be if they could steal one of their players. The last time these two teams met, we considered adding wide receiver AJ Brown to Jayden Daniels’ arsenal alongside Terry McLaurin. This time, though, we’re going in a different direction. The Commanders’ ground game needs some help, and Saquon Barkley is the perfect running back to get it back on track.

Let’s face it: as much as we love Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler, and they are both fantastic running backs, they are not on the same level as Barkley. Barkley currently leads all running backs with 1,688 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He’s insanely good this year, and that hardly does justice to what he looks like on the field.

The Commanders’ ground game could use a boost, and it’s too bad they can’t actually steal Barkley from the Eagles for the week. What a treat that would be!

Saquon Barkley’s race for 2,000 yards slowed down by Steelers

Here is what Saquon Barkley needs to do in the final three games to make some NFL history.

[autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag]’s quest to join an exclusive club of NFL running backs is still attainable, but the former Penn State star is going to have to crank it up just a bit in the final three games of the season to pull it off. Barkley is in line to become the NFL’s ninth running back in league history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season, but Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers slowed down his pace just enough to make the goal a little more difficult to reach.

Barkley rushed for 65 yards as the Philadelphia Eagles claimed in-state bragging rights over the Steelers in a 27-13 win in Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles were thriving much more through the air with Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown putting to rest all of the hot talk in the media leading up to the game, but the Steelers made things difficult for Barkley and the Eagles running game. Barkley also missed a majority of the second quarter after seemingly getting hit on the knee on a tackle by Minkah Fitzpatrick. Barkley did return to the field in the second half.

The 65 rushing yards was Barkley’s lowest rushing output since rushing for just 47 yards against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 13, and it was Barkley’s second-lowest rushing total in a game this season. Barkley now sits with 1,688 rushing yards on the season. That leaves Barkley 312 yards shy of the 2,000-yard mark with three games left to play, all in the division.

Barkley needs to average 104 yards per game in the final three weeks of the season to hit the 2,000-yard mark. The chase for Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards will likely be out of reach. Barkley would have to average 139 yards per game for the next three weeks to tie Dickerson.

The final three games of the season for Barkley and the Eagles will come on the road against the Washington Commanders, and then back-to-back home games with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants. Barkley rushed for 146 yards against the Commanders on Nov. 14, 66 yards against the Cowboys on Nov. 10, and 176 yards against the Giants on Oct. 20. That is an average of 129.3 yards per game against division opponents, so the 2,000-yard mark is absolutely possible.

The Eagles may need to win these next three games as well as the team is jostling with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings for the no. 1 seed in the NFC. That could force the Eagles to keep key players on the field, which could be good news for Barkley’s chase for history.

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Sights and sounds from first half as Eagles hold a 17-13 lead over Steelers

Sights and sounds from first half as Eagles hold a 17-13 lead over Steelers

Philadelphia established its passing game and was dominant on defense, but the scoreboard tells a different story as the Eagles hold just a 17-13 lead over Pittsburgh after one half.

Vic Fangio’s defense held the Steelers to just 80 yards of offense on 30 plays in the first half, but two costly Eagles turnovers and two Chris Boswell field goals have Mike Tomlin’s team within four.

With the second half set to begin, we’re looking at sights and sounds from the first half.

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Why Steelers fans should temper expectations for Week 15 Eagles matchup

Steelers fans may need to adjust expectations as injuries and key matchups make the road to the playoffs more challenging.

As exciting as it is to be only two games behind the number one seed in the AFC playoff race, or defeating a fellow powerhouse Super Bowl contender in Week 15 against the Eagles, this simply may not be in the cards for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This isn’t to say fans should lack belief in the team’s ability to pull off a deep playoff run or even capture the coveted seventh Lombardi Trophy. However, the short-term outlook for the Steelers leaves much to be desired.

For example, as many are aware, WR George Pickens’ hamstring injury could force him to miss the last few games of the regular season.

On top of that, arguably the best defender in the Steelers secondary, SS DeShon Elliott, will miss the Week 15 matchup as well.  His talent will be sorely missed, as the Eagles offense boast several of leagues best offensive players: QB Jalen Hurts, RB Saquon Barkley, WR A.J. Brown, and WR DeVonta Smith.

Ultimately, fans should come to grips with a Week 15 loss being acceptable for the 10-3 Pittsburgh Steelers and save their excitement for the Week 16 matchup against the Ravens instead—a game that far greater playoff implications.

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Why the Ravens defense should feel great about facing the Giants offense

the 8-5 Baltimore Ravens will walk into Met Life Stadium as about two touchdowns-and-a-field goal favorites over the 2-11 New York Giants.

Oliver Stone titled his 1999 football movie Any Given Sunday for a reason. Because in today’s NFL, anything can happen, week to week. You can’t take anything for granted and assume a victory, ever.

But on paper, the 8-5 Baltimore Ravens will walk into Met Life Stadium as about two touchdowns and field goal favorites over the 2-11 New York Giants.

It has been decades since the Giants were this big of underdogs at home. In theory, the Ravens should cruise here.

At the very least, this is the easiest game on paper left for Baltimore. Next week, they host the 10-3, division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. Then, they visit the 8-5 Houston Texans on Christmas Day.

The season concludes with a visit from the 3-10 Cleveland Browns, but one of those three wins came over the Ravens on October 27. So, of these last four games, Ravens fans should feel most confident about the one immediately coming up.

So what happened to “Big Blue?” Why are these Giants now so miniscule? On multiple levels, a lot has gone wrong for quite some time, but one must start by looking at the decision to Saquon Barkley walk.

Long-time former Giants offensive guard Justin Pugh certainly sees it this way.

“I think the Giants and Joe Schoen messed up with Saquon Barkley,” Pugh said in an exclusive with RG. “He was more than just a running back.

“If you’re paying receivers $35 million a year, you’re telling me you can’t pay Barkley $500K more per year to get into the $13 million mark? If the top receivers are worth $30 million, Saquon has to be in the $15 million range.

“When you have that drama for two years drag on and you draft guys early in the draft that aren’t All-Pros and you have to bench Evan Neal – and he’s probably not going to be with the Giants moving forward either – it starts to develop this track record where people are coming after (General Manager) Joe Schoen.”

Pugh is right on multiple points. Barkley is more than just a running back—he’s a true NFL MVP front-runner. Only a couple of weeks ago, the Ravens themselves witnessed firsthand the elite level of quality of Saquon Barkley.

The Giants wouldn’t pay him fair market value, so he joined the division rival Philadelphia Eagles, now 11-2. Barkley, who leads the NFL in rushing yards and yards per rush, is the driving force behind that.

The franchise-altering decision to let Barkley go was bad enough, but the fact (as Pugh points out) that it included so much protracted drama beforehand made it even worse.

The money that didn’t go to Barkley went to other players who aren’t as talented (nor as statistically productive) as him. They overestimated the idea of a “hometown discount” (Barkley hails from the Bronx), and now the tailback is all he can be in Philly.

Pugh also mentioned Neal, whom the Giants selected seventh overall in 2002. The former Alabama star has been oft-injured, very ineffective when healthy, and booed by his fans.

The less-than-professional manner in which he responded to those boos only made him even more disliked in New York. He’s worn out his welcome in the Meadowlands and can’t be labeled anything but a big bust.

Speaking of busts, quarterback Daniel Jones, taken with the sixth overall pick in 2019 out of Duke, was given his outright release late last month. Jones landed a week later with the Minnesota Vikings, but only on the practice squad.

So, to summarize, Schoen (who has been with the club since 2022) and his predecessors in the front office made some poor personnel decisions.

This roster is a total mess now, especially on offense, where they made awful blunders at the quarterback, offensive line (now among the worst in the NFL), and running back positions. And things have just snowballed for the Giants from there.

The Ravens’ defense has been noted for its struggles this season, but they should have no real fear of their opponents on Sunday. They might be Giants (yes, that is a reference to the Brooklyn-based alternative rockers), but they are a far cry from the NYG of the 1980s-early 2010s.

WATCH: Cooper DeJean says Saquon Barkley is the best player he’s ever seen

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean says Saquon Barkley is the best player he’s ever seen

Cooper DeJean is one of the best players could exit college football and enter the NFL in years, and the former All-American cornerback has seen his share of great players.

During a recent interview with Whistle’s ‘Air It Out’ with AJ Greene and Justin Pugh, DeJean explained why Saquon Barkley is the “best football player” he’s ever seen.

Barkley entered Week 14 against the Panthers with 1,499 rushing yards in 12 games played, and he immediately moved in second place, passing the great Wilbert Montgomery, who logged 1,512 yards during the 1979 season when he was named a Pro Bowler.

Barkley is just 483 yards away from passing Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record (2,105 yards) and isn’t shying away from the challenge.

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Mike Tomlin opens up about Steelers approach to Eagles RB Saquon Barkley

The Pittsburgh Steelers face a tough Week 15 challenge against the Eagles and their dynamic offense led by star running back Saquon Barkley.

The Pittsburgh Steelers face a significant challenge in Week 15 as they prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles, whose dynamic offense features star running back Saquon Barkley.

On The Pat McAfee Show, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged the difficulty of defending a player like Barkley but emphasized the importance of a balanced defensive approach. “You can’t focus on just Saquon Barkley because of the talent around him in Philadelphia. All that does is highlight his already existing talent,” Tomlin said.

Eagles RB Saquon Barkley to test Steelers’ defense

Tomlin’s remarks underline the Eagles’ well-rounded offensive arsenal. While Barkley is a game-changing talent who can break tackles, catch passes, and create explosive plays, the Eagles boast a roster packed with weapons at multiple positions. Focusing solely on Barkley could leave the Steelers vulnerable to Philadelphia’s deep passing attack or the mobility of their quarterback. Tomlin’s strategy likely involves a disciplined team effort to contain Barkley while maintaining awareness of the Eagles’ versatile threats.

To counter Barkley’s impact, the Steelers will need their front seven to play sound, gap-responsible football, limiting his ability to exploit open spaces. The secondary must also be prepared for Barkley’s contributions in the passing game.

Barkley leads the NFL in rushing with 1,623 yards (11 touchdowns) and is often targeted through the air with 29 receptions for 267 yards and two touchdowns.

Mike Tomlin focused on Eagles’ overall talent

As much as the Steelers would love to focus solely on containing Barkley, Tomlin’s approach reflects respect for the Eagles’ overall talent. It ensures the defense avoids overcommitting to Barkley while staying ready to adapt to the Eagles’ multifaceted offense. This balanced mindset will be crucial if the Steelers hope to contain Barkley and secure a crucial late-season victory.

Should the Steelers leave Philly with a win, it’ll be a first since 1965, and they’ll earn a playoff berth for the second consecutive season. The Eagles, winners of nine straight games, clinched a postseason spot with a Week 14 win over the Baltimore Ravens.


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Mic’d-up Saquon Barkley had a selfless response after the Eagles ran a tush push for Jalen Hurts at the 1

He’s chasing wins … not stats.

While the tush push isn’t quite the automatic touchdown in the post-Jason Kelce era as it once was, it’s still an incredibly tough play to stop when the Eagles get inside the two-yard line. It also means that Saquon Barkley misses out on some fantasy points.

He’s OK with that, though. In fact, he’s just happy that the tush push turns into six points for his team.

NFL Films released some mic’d-up video from Sunday’s win over the Panthers. Barkley had a seven-yard run to get the Eagles to the one-yard line. And though the tweet doesn’t mention that the Eagles gave Barkley another chance at the one, we got to hear the exchange as Jalen Hurts ultimately found the end zone on third down.

When Hurts tried to encourage Barkley after the running back’s missed TD chance, Barkley responded that it was fine by him.

He said, “I don’t care, bro. I’m trying to win. Let’s get it.”

That’s what being a good teammate is all about. He’s chasing wins — not stats.

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How to buy Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Week 15 tickets

Want to watch the Eagles vs. Steelers battle in person in Week 15? Tickets start as low as $256.

The Battle for Pennsylvania is always a huge matchup. Throw in two top teams with playoff implications on the line and we’ve got one of the games of the week.

The NFL’s Week 15 slate will feature the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) heading across their state to face the Philadelphia Eagles (11-2).

What a spectacle this one could be.

The Steelers are in the driver’s seat in the AFC North in a bit of a surprise. With the unknowns at quarterback heading into the 2024 season, Russell Wilson has proved he is the man for the job.

For the Eagles, their offseason addition of running back Saquon Barkley has more than paid off. His name is being tossed out in 2024 NFL MVP Award discussions.

On top of that, Philadelphia has punched their ticket to the postseason and still have plenty of seeding to play for. Pittsburgh will be rightly pushing for their spot as well.

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The game kicks off on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 4:25 p.m. Lincoln Financial Field.

Don’t miss out on your chance to see it in person. Act soon to catch this huge battle as only limited tickets are still available.

How to buy Eagles vs. Steelers NFL tickets

With plenty on the line, the winner of this one would get Pennsylvania bragging rights which could end up being a huge momentum booster heading into the playoffs.

At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Pittsburgh Steelers are $256.

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Giants’ Malik Nabers has sights set on 1,000-yard season

New York Giants rookie receiver Malik Nabers is focusing on having a 1,000-yard season and breaking some franchise rookie records.

The New York Giants selected LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft because they knew he had star potential.

Nabers has had a bit of a rough go thus far in his rookie season, missing two weeks with a concussion, dealing with a dreaded case of the drops, and more recently, playing through hip and groin ailments.

His unfiltered comments to the media regarding the manner in which the team was using his talents have also put extra pressure on him.

But here we are, in Week 15 with four games to go and Nabers still has a chance to make his mark in both eat NFL and Giants record books.

Nabers has 80 receptions this season. The Giants’ record for receptions is 107, set by Steve Smith back in 2009. The rookie record is 91 shared by Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) and Saquon Barkley (2018).

Nabers is averaging 7.3 receptions per game, which means he should end the season with 109 receptions, which would be a new franchise record.

One record Nabers will have difficulty breaking, however, is Beckham’s rookie record for receiving yards (1,305) but 1,000 yards is well within his grasp.

On Wednesday, Nabers spoke about 1,000 yards being a badge of honor for a wide receiver.

“Yeah. I mean, as a receiver, that’s your landmark for over a year,” he said. “College, whether it be the league, you want to hit 1,000 yards. So yeah, 1,000 yards is in my head for sure.”

The two missed games are probably going to cost Nabers the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. He is up against several quarterbacks (Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams) but his main competition is Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, who has 87 receptions this season.

Still, records and awards aside, Nabers has made the most of the opportunities in front of him. Considering his issues and the Giants’ constantly spinning quarterback wheel, he’s held up well.

Nabers is the only player in NFL history with five or more catches in 10 of his first 11 career games. His 80 receptions are the most by a player in their first 11 games all-time.

The best is yet to come, Giant fans. Hang in there.

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