One monster worry is whipping through Bird Land right. And that worry is Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.
The Philadelphia Eagles blew a 21-point lead for a slew of reasons in their 24-21 meltdown to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but so much of the angst is plopping down onto Barkley and his miserable performance. Barkley ran for a microscopic 22 yards on 10 carries against Dallas — his lowest production in a game with at least 10 carries since 2022. And, worse, his fourth-quarter fumble squashed Philly’s attempt to snag back the momentum.
Here’s Barkley explaination via inquirer.com, “I’m in a little funk right now. I’ve had funks like this before, just got to break it.”
Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley says he’s in a funk this season(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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But let’s clarify — this isn’t a little funk as Barkley said. It’s a season-long one. He’s rushed for over 100 yards in a game once in 2025 after doing so 11 times last year.
Barkley insists that he’s healthy and shoots down the theory that opposing defenses have solved him. “I’m not getting the run game going,” he said. “I’m not getting yards. I’m tired of the excuse of people trying to stop the run game. I don’t really subscribe to that. Just got to be better, got to make plays.”
Offensive lineman Jordan Mailata knocked the blame off of Barkley (of course). “He’s not in a funk, man,” Mailata said via nbcsportsphiladelphia.com. “He’s hard on himself. … It’s on all of us up front.”
Barkley, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, has rushed for 684 yards and four touchdowns and averaged 3.7 yards per carry through 11 games this season — a steep drop from last season when he ran for a league-leading 2,005 rushing yards and averaged 125.3 yards per game.
“I wouldn’t say frustrated,” Barkley said. “More disappointed with myself, not frustrated with anybody else. I’m a big believer the run game starts with me and ends with me.”
Barkley has a promise, that he’s “gonna get it right.”
And so the Eagles — and their fans — are waiting for Barkley to get it right and to get it right fast, especially with the 8-3 Chicago Bears coming to Philly for Friday’s game.