Saquon Barkley takes blame for ‘funk’ game

The Philadelphia Eagles‘ they were once again plagued by offensive problems, as their inability to keep the game going had a strong impact on a shocking 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the 12th week. Philadelphia led 21-0 in the first half behind quarterback Jalen Hurtsand wide receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, but the Eagles failed to score in the final 40 minutes, allowing Dallas to fire back with 24 unanswered points.

Much of the Eagles’ offensive problems could be found on the run Saquon Barkleywho carried the ball just 10 times for 22 yards on the season and lost a fumble in the fourth quarter inside Cowboys territory. He averaged just 2.2 yards per carry on the day, and his longest run was seven yards.

On the season, Barkley has 662 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 3.8 yards per carry. Although he ranks fourth in the NFL in total carries, the seven-year veteran posted the 14th-best rushing yards, with just one 100-yard game in 2025 compared to 11 in 2024. He rushed for over 2,000 yards last season.

“I’m a big believer that the running game starts with me, ends with me,” Barkley said, acknowledging his struggles. “I’m in a little bit of a funk right now, I’ve had funks like this before. I just need to get over it. The only way I know what it’s like to wash this off, work off my butt and get ready for the next opportunity.”

Philadelphia offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo managed just 18 runs against Dallas, a strategy that limited Barkley to 10 carries while backup Tank Bigsby had just one rush for eight yards. Bigsby is averaging nearly eight yards per carry on the season, revealing the dearth of options in the backfield. In the second half, Barkley totaled nine yards on four carries as the Eagles shifted their focus from the ground game.

The Eagles’ total rushing attack regressed significantly in 2025. The team is averaging 3.9 yards per carry and 115.2 yards per game, down from 4.9 yards per carry and 179.3 yards per game last season. Their run rate dropped to 48.1% of the plays, though it was still third in the league, compared to 56.3% in 2024. The defense seems more capable of containing Barkley, forcing Philadelphia to resort to more difficult passes led by Hurts, who completed 27 of 39 passes for 289 yards for 289 touchdowns.

The Eagles also faced a season-high 14 penalties for 96 yards, including costly fouls that negated key second-half wins. While they still sit atop the NFC East at 8-3, Philadelphia’s inability to close out the contest remains a concern. Along with injuries on defense and a lackluster running game, these issues are a concern ahead of their Week 13 matchup against the Chicago Bears in a Black Friday primetime game.