In an era where the spotlight tends to gravitate toward quarterbacks, Saquon Barkley is determined to redefine the narrative. The New York Giants running back is on a mission to become the first running back in over a decade to snag the NFL MVP award, and his performance this season makes a compelling case for his consideration.
With 1,392 rushing yards this season, Barkley has established himself as a cornerstone of the Giants' offense. Yet, it's his unparalleled second-half production that has truly turned heads. Accumulating 920 of those yards in the latter halves of games, Barkley boasts an average of 7.9 yards per carry post-halftime, a feat unmatched in the last 30 years. Not even legendary Barry Sanders, with his 6.9 yards per carry average in 1997, matched Barkley’s second-half efficiency.
Barkley's exceptional ability to perform under pressure is further underscored by his 116 second-half carries, which have culminated in seven touchdowns. In fact, he has outgained Chuba Hubbard and Najee Harris combined, solely in the second half of his games. This tremendous output has positioned him as the NFL's fourth-leading rusher based solely on his performance after the break.
As the Giants continue to capitalize on Barkley’s prowess, the league has taken notice, especially when contrasted with the performance of the Philadelphia Eagles. While the Eagles lead the NFL, averaging 118.8 second-half and overtime rushing yards per game at 5.9 yards per carry, it's Barkley’s individual brilliance that threatens to overshadow team accomplishments.
Lane Johnson of the Eagles credits such second-half success to strategic adjustments. He explains, "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."
The sentiment is echoed by Mekhi Becton, who emphasizes persistence in the run game. "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," he remarks. This strategy, of waiting for the right moment to strike, appears to be the key to Barkley's phenomenal late-game surges.
Meanwhile, Kellen Moore underscores the physical aspect of the game, attributing success to grind-it-out gameplay that wears down opponents. "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," he says.
The chorus of voices around the league points to a collective understanding of Barkley’s secret formula: strategic adaptability, relentless persistence, and a physically imposing ground game. These elements have combined to make his second-half performances not only remarkable but record-breaking.
In a season where his ambitions reach beyond team success to individual glory, Barkley's numbers make him a bona fide MVP contender. As the season progresses, the football world will be watching to see if Barkley can continue to defy convention and perhaps make history by becoming the face of the league—not as a quarterback, but as the relentless running back he has proven to be.