Dec 1, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) takes the field with teammates before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Tommy Gilligan
Of all the statistics you can point to in Saquon Barkley's favor this season, one stands out for the Eagles' running back.
Not only does Barkley lead the NFL with 1,499 rushing yards. But if you take just the yards he's rushed for in the second half of games this season, that would be fourth among all running backs:
Most Rush Yards in the NFL:
1. Saquon Barkley - 1,499
2. Derrick Henry - 1,407
3. Josh Jacobs - 987
4. Saquon Barkley *just in the 2nd half* - 982
5. Jahmyr Gibbs - 973 pic.twitter.com/19z97Jezvg
Sunday was the latest example of Barkley eventually wearing an opponent down and gashing them late in a game. Of Barkley's 107 rushing yards in Sunday evening's win over the Baltimore Ravens, 62 came in the second half. To be more accurate, 63 came in the fourth quarter, as Barkley was bottled up and held to -1 rushing yard in the third stanza. But eventually, he broke through, with the 25-yard touchdown run he had with just under eight minutes remaining in the game giving the Eagles a two-possession lead:
Saquon Barkley is on another level right now 🔥
pic.twitter.com/7zhzjbmrqV
LeSean McCoy set the single-season franchise record with 1,607 rushing yards in 2013, when he finished runner-up in Offensive Player of the Year voting. At this point, it's looking like Barkley could come close to matching that number in the second half of games alone, in which case he won't be finishing second in any awards race.
