Saquon Barkley is an MVP candidate, however an even bigger trophy may very well be on the horizon

Saquon Barkley simply had among the finest video games from an offensive participant in NFL historical past.

In opposition to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night time Barkley completely went off, operating round, by, and thru the Rams protection to the tune of 255 yards and a pair of touchdowns. While you add within the 47 receiving yards Barkley added within the passing recreation, all of it added as much as 302 yards from scrimmage, which stands because the tenth-best recreation in NFL historical past.

It was additionally the ninth-most speeding yards from a participant in a single recreation in league historical past.

With the Eagles successful by a remaining rating of 37-20, Barkley’s offensive outburst boosted what’s turning into a formidable MVP resume.

“Saquon has that capability to hit residence runs, and so generally that’s the way it goes,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni stated after the sport. “You get some brief acquire, brief acquire, brief acquire — growth, residence run. Saquon is that kind of participant, and our offensive line did a great job of dealing with the variations of the entrance.”

With the Eagles holding a 13-7 lead because the second half received underway Barkley took a handoff from Jalen Hurts, and 70 yards later the operating again was in the long run zone, having utterly modified the complexion of the sport:

This play is classic Barkley, as he shows the imaginative and prescient, the footwork, the change-of-direction abilities, and finally the burst that make him one of many recreation’s finest offensive gamers.

That 70-yard run was not even his largest play of the night time.

That got here later within the second half, with the Eagles holding a 30-14 lead. With Sirianni seeking to wind down the clock and put the sport on ice, he turned to Barkley as soon as extra:

It is a lovely design, with Barkley winding again to the left behind a pair of lead blockers in guard Mekhi Becton, and tight finish Grant Calcaterra. The pair create an ideal gap for him, after which Barkley does the remainder, placing his left leg within the turf and bursting upfield, slicing via the Rams’ secondary for a 72-yard landing run.

And placing the sport on ice, identical to his head coach needed.

The sport additionally went into the document books for each groups. For Philadelphia, Barkley broke the crew’s franchise information of 217 yards speeding by LeSean McCoy in 2013, and 296 complete yards from scrimmage by Duce Staley in 2000.

The sport additionally went into the document books as probably the most speeding yards allowed in a single recreation by the Rams, breaking the mark of 253 set by DeMarco Murray for the Dallas Cowboys again in 2011.

Rams head coach Sean McVay praised Barkley after the sport.

“[Barkley] is getting robust, hard-earned yards, and then you definately give him a vertical seam like he received a few occasions,” McVay stated. “He has the explosiveness and lengthy pace and the flexibility to complete. That’s what opened and blew the sport up for him. He was excellent.”

With Barkley delivering performances like those he delivered Sunday night time, he’s definitely making a case not only for Offensive Participant of the Yr, however for MVP honors. It’s a case we made right here at SB Nation after one other command efficiency, that point in opposition to the Washington Commanders.

However extra importantly, Barkley is an enormous cause the Eagles at the moment are 9-2, and searching like a really troublesome out within the NFC come playoff time.

“Workforce Tiers” as calculated by RBSDM, which examined Anticipated Factors Added per Play on each offense and protection, the Eagles are among the many league’s elite groups, up there with the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Payments:

And looking out simply at offenses, the Eagles paved the way in relation to EPA within the run recreation:

Put these collectively, and it may give Barkley an opportunity at successful a fair greater trophy come February.