In an era of football defined by aerial assaults and precise passing attacks, Saquon Barkley is making a compelling case for a running back's return to dominance in the NFL. This season, Barkley sets his sights on becoming the first running back in over a decade to capture the coveted NFL MVP award, a feat last achieved by a player at his position in 2012.
Playing for the New York Giants, Barkley's performances this season have been nothing short of remarkable. He has amassed 1,392 rushing yards, with a staggering 920 of those yards coming in the second half of games. His second-half dominance is highlighted by an average of 7.9 yards per carry, a statistical achievement unmatched in the last 30 years. To put it into perspective, the legendary Barry Sanders averaged 6.9 yards per carry in his iconic 1997 season. Barkley's ability to maintain such high efficiency as games progress underscores his value to the Giants and the league.
A significant portion of Barkley's success can be attributed to his late-game performances, where his second-half carries total 116. In those critical moments, Barkley found the end zone seven times. His contributions have not only bolstered the Giants' offense but have also outpaced other notable rushers; Barkley's second-half yardage eclipses the combined efforts of Chuba Hubbard and Najee Harris.
Around the league, the Philadelphia Eagles lead with an average of 118.8 second-half and overtime rushing yards per game, complemented by a 5.9-yard average per carry during these crucial stages. However, it's Barkley's second-half prowess that places him as the NFL's fourth-leading rusher based solely on his post-halftime production. The Giants' reliance on Barkley's grinding rushes epitomizes a classic football philosophy.
Adapting Plays and Physicality
In the strategic chess match that is professional football, players like Barkley must often adapt to shifting defensive looks. Reflecting on this dynamic, Lane Johnson commented, "There's a lot of stuff you can game plan through throughout the week, and then, you know, you get to the game and they may show up in a different defense. You have to make those adjustments after each series and like halftime, you know, some plays that maybe don't run the first half, run the second half. So I think I credit it to that."
Mekhi Becton, summarizing the essence of Barkley's contribution, added, "Like the run game isn't always gonna hit off the first run. It's one of those things where we gotta keep going and going and wait for it to just hit. I feel like we've done that every game this year." This philosophy of perseverance and adaptation resonates throughout the Giants' strategy, allowing Barkley to capitalize when defenses begin to wear down.
The Mental and Physical Grind
For players like Barkley, whose success is contingent on maintaining physicality throughout the game, the mental and physical aspects of preparation cannot be understated. Kellen Moore encapsulates this by saying, "I do think there is an element of -- we pride ourselves on being a really physical run game, and those things wear on you as the game goes on when you get the opportunities we get. And the way the games have played out, you can keep grinding it out as the second half progresses, and those big plays eventually pop."
Indeed, it's this grinding mentality, both in preparation and execution during games, that continues to fuel Barkley's standout season. As the Giants' bell cow, Barkley has turned second halves into his personal showcase, leaving defenses scrambling to adapt to his persistent presence.
As the season unfolds, Barkley's pursuit of the MVP award remains a storyline rich with tradition, challenge, and the possibility of redefining what it means to be a running back in today's NFL. With every breaking run and every tackle evaded, Barkley is not just carrying the Giants forward; he's making a broader case for the vital place of running backs in the game's hierarchy.