Saquon Barkley has been a revelation for the Philadelphia Eagles, rewriting franchise records and driving them to the brink of Super Bowl glory. However, his dominance hasn’t come without ripple effects.
NFL analyst Mike Florio pointed out on NBC’s Pro Football Talk how Barkley’s performances have subtly shifted quarterback Jalen Hurts into a comfort-zone mindset. Florio suggested that this dynamic could unknowingly back Hurts into a corner.
Mike Florio Calls To Limit Saquon Barkley, Force Jalen Hurts Out of Comfort Zone
Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. has already declared it “11-man football” to stop Barkley ahead of the NFC Championship Game. Whitt’s plan likely involves forcing Hurts to carry the offensive load.
Former NFL safety Rodney Harrison seconded this sentiment: “They’re all going after Saquon, and they’re forcing Jaylen Hurts to keep the ball, to hold the ball, and that’s what you’re supposed to do.”
While Harrison praised the aggressive strategy, Florio warned it could backfire if Barkley gets loose. “If you let Saquon gain 200 yards, you’re done, but if you can keep him between 100 and 150 yards, you’ve got a chance,” Florio said.
The NFL analyst went on to give a roadmap for containing the Eagles. He said, “If you force him to throw and their passing game isn’t as developed especially when you rely so much on Saquon Barkley. It’s like the Vikings when they had Adrian Peterson they never could develop a passing game because we’re just giving the ball to Adrian Peterson.”
He advised the Commanders to force Hurts into the passing game to have a chance to come out on top in the NFC Championship Game. “I think this is part of the effort to force it toward the passing game and not the running game of Jaylen Hurts,” Florio added.
Barkley’s MVP-caliber season has been nothing short of historic. In his debut season with the Eagles, he rushed for 2,005 yards, breaking the franchise record and ranking eighth all-time in NFL history.
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He added six rushing touchdowns of 60+ yards, giving NFL defenses a nightmare. Boasting 2,329 total rushing yards under his belt, the 27-year-old RB is just 148 yards shy of breaking Terrell Davis’ record for most rushing yards in a single season (playoffs included).
Nonetheless, Barkley’s heroics don’t totally put Hurts’ role in the Eagles’ success aside. However, his numbers this season have dipped, with under 3,000 passing yards for the first time since his rookie year. Hurts’ rushing ability still poses a threat, but given his bad knee, Florio stressed that Hurts would focus more on the passing game, especially if the Commanders manage to bottle up Barkley.
