Saquon Barkley is brutally honest about the Eagles’ problem: We gotta get back to that mindset of not really giving a **** what people are trying to do

After delivering one of the most dominant campaigns ever by a running back, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl title and shattering the single-season rushing record, Saquon Barkley has found his second year in Philadelphia far more complicated.  In 2024/25, Barkley was unstoppable, rushing for 2,504 yards (including playoffs) and winning the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.

He was the centerpiece of a relentless offense that powered the Eagles to their second Super Bowl win of the modern era. The team rewarded him with a two-year, $41.2 million extension.  Now, midway through his follow-up campaign, both Barkley and the Eagles are fighting to find their rhythm again. After opening the season 4-0, Philadelphia has dropped two straight games, their latest setback coming in a 34-17 loss to the New York Giants.

The defeat not only stung because of the opponent but also reignited talk about whether the Eagles’ offense has become too predictable.  On Thursday Night Football, the game began promisingly enough. Barkley broke off runs of 18 and 13 yards on Philadelphia’s opening drives, but the Giants quickly adjusted, holding him to just 58 yards on 12 carries the rest of the way.

Following the loss, a reporter asked Barkley whether he believed the offense’s struggles were due to predictability.  “I can’t say that… Last year, do you think we were predictable? Everyone knew we were running the ball, and we still got it off,” Barkley said. “I think we also got to get back to that mindset of not really giving a **** what people are trying to do.”

Barkley’s rare outburst reflects frustration with Eagles’ slump

For someone long known for professionalism and composure, Barkley’s blunt response stood out. He has rarely shown public irritation since joining the Eagles and even less so when discussing his former team. But this time, his candid tone revealed a level of frustration that matches Philadelphia’s recent on-field struggles.  The irony was hard to miss. Against the same Giants defense he shredded for 176 yards and a touchdown last season at MetLife Stadium, Barkley looked constrained and underutilized. While the Eagles’ offensive line struggled to open consistent lanes, questions have swirled around the play-calling as well.

A large portion of the early-season scrutiny had focused on A.J. Brown’s limited targets in key moments, but Barkley’s subdued performance has now shifted the conversation.  As one of the highest-paid players on the roster and the emotional centerpiece of the offense, his ability to reignite Philadelphia’s ground game will be crucial to the team’s recovery.