Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley and Baltimore Ravens’ Derrick Henry are proving to be the dominant running backs in the NFL this season. Open Extended Reactions Less than 24 hours apart, they demonstrated their exceptional abilities, slashing through and racing past defenders at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. This incredible pair has shown a massive impact, showcasing remarkable talent and proving why their position matters more than ever in today’s NFL. Barkley, with a dazzling display of leaps over tacklers, currently leads the NFL in rushing with 1,392 yards—67 more than Henry. Simultaneously, Henry is the league leader in touchdown runs, with a staggering 13, two more than Barkley. This impact is driving success for their respective teams. Henry’s words to Barkley after their recent win— “Slow your ass down. Damn”—perfectly sums up the intense competition between these two top-tier running backs.
Ravens’ Henry: A King on the Field
When the Ravens signed Henry, 30, this offseason, Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s excitement was palpable. The addition of this four-time Pro Bowl running back proved to be a game-changer for the Baltimore offense. Henry’s impressive 1,325 rushing yards are significantly more than any Ravens running back has accumulated since Jackson became the starter. Jackson has seen a notable decrease in rushing attempts and hits taken due to Henry’s impact.
Impact on Team Performance
Despite some initial doubts about Henry’s production after a slightly slower year in Tennessee, he’s delivered beyond expectations. His 13 red zone touchdowns are tied for a career high and a major reason the Ravens boast an impressive 78.7% red zone efficiency. This efficiency is only surpassed by the 2020 Green Bay Packers among the past 25 years. Teammates are raving about his impact, calling him “everything you want in a running back.”
Eagles’ Barkley: A Force to be Reckoned With
The Eagles’ season took a significant turn for the better when they embraced a Barkley-led ground attack. Switching gears from their initial strategy of fewer rushing attempts, the Eagles saw remarkable improvement. The surge has resulted in an average of 41 rushes per game, and a phenomenal 7-0 win streak. This increased commitment to the run game is primarily due to the efforts of offensive linemen Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson, and Jordan Mailata. Barkley’s exceptional 4.56 yards before contact per rush is also a testament to his immense talent and impact.
Impact on Team Performance
Barkley’s impressive performances have earned him four Offensive Player of the Week awards and set franchise records in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage. His remarkable abilities, from reverse leap-frogging defenders to scoring 70-plus yard touchdown runs, have garnered him praise from teammates, with one teammate even calling him the best player in the world!
Workload and Burnout: A Balancing Act
Concerns about burnout among both players have been raised, but coaches have addressed these concerns. The Ravens’ strategy is to manage Henry’s workload, avoiding a heavy load of 30 carries in a single game. While Henry has played a critical role in the Ravens’ 8-1 record when receiving 15 or more carries, he has had more rushing attempts at this point in previous seasons. The Eagles, under coach Sirianni, prioritize load management throughout the week and during comfortable wins in the fourth quarter.
Both players have demonstrated their dedication to their health and are remaining largely healthy, emphasizing the importance of offseason training to endure high workloads during the season.
The historic runs of Barkley and Henry are a clear sign that running backs are not a relic of the past in the NFL. They are essential to the game and, in this case, have helped shape how the league is playing football. The fact that these two stars are facing each other again proves their importance and showcases a great battle of running backs. Leave a comment below about your favorite running backs. Share this article with your friends.
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