Ralph Vacchiano
NFL reporter
The Washington Commanders have far exceeded everybody’s expectations this season. They did extra within the first yr of a brand new regime, enjoying behind a rookie quarterback, than anybody thought doable. In reality, there’s actually just one factor they have not been in a position to accomplish:
They have not discovered a option to persistently cease the run on protection.
And that is a giant deal since Saquon Barkley is hindering a visit to Super Bowl LIX.
Barkley, clearly, has been an issue for everybody this season, however he believes he shall be a giant drawback for the Commanders (14-5) and their Thirtieth-ranked operating protection after they face the Philadelphia Eagles (16-3) on Sunday in Philadelphia the NFC championship recreation. It’s not simply that Barkley is coming off a 205-yard efficiency in a divisional playoff recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams, and even that he is averaged greater than 160 dashing yards in his final 4 video games.
It’s additionally that he is already rushed twice in opposition to the Commanders this season, totaling 296 yards on 5.4 yards per carry in two video games in opposition to them this season — not stunning contemplating solely two groups have given up extra on this season than the 137.5 yards per recreation Washington has given up. on the bottom.
“This is de facto the worst doable matchup for them,” stated an NFC scout who watched each groups lately. “They do not get loads of push offensively. It’s not one of the best tackling crew. And it hasn’t gotten higher, even with (defensive sort out) Jonathan Allen coming again in December.
“A crew with a powerful offensive line and a superb operating again — and the Eagles clearly have each — can actually dictate the tempo of the sport. That protection could be moved.”
This, in fact, is what the Eagles do finest. They have been the #1 racing crew. 2 within the NFL this season, averaging 179.3 yards per recreation, due to Barkley’s unimaginable season (2,005 yards in 16 video games) and nice assist from their dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts (630 dashing yards in 15 video games). This sort of 1-2 punch places defenses on their heels and makes potential tacklers hesitate on the snap.
And when that occurs, Barkley specifically can actually make defenses pay, simply as he did final weekend in a 28-22 win over the Rams when he averaged 7.9 yards per carry and ripped off landing runs of 62 and 78 yards. And it isn’t far off what he did in two video games in opposition to the Commanders through the common season, when he scored touchdowns of 23, 39 and 68 yards.
Running behind one of the best offensive line within the NFL, big holes have been created for Barkley. And when that occurs, as a rule, it goes away.
“That Rams protection is healthier operating, higher offensively than Washington,” the scout stated. “And look what Barkley did to them (205 and 255 yards in two video games this season). The numbers weren’t that nice in opposition to the Commanders, however loads of the holes he went by have been.”
Stopping Barkley is perhaps not possible if his line eliminates extra holes like that. He’s averaging 129.4 dashing yards per recreation this season, together with the playoffs, on a ridiculous 5.9 yards per carry. He has topped 100 yards in 13 of 18 video games, together with his final 4, eight of his final 9 and 11 of his final 13. In his final 4 video games, he has averaged 160.3 yards.
The Commanders, in the meantime, have given up 4.8 yards per carry this yr, fourth-worst within the NFL. Some of their points have been attributable to the truth that they misplaced Allen to a torn pectoral muscle in Week 6. But even within the 4 video games following his return, they nonetheless gave up 144.5 dashing yards per recreation. That included 201 at Detroit final Saturday in Washington’s 45-31 win, the place Lions operating again Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns on simply 14 makes an attempt.
Clearly, the Lions would have been higher off leaning on Gibbs extra. The Eagles, although, will not make the identical mistake with Barkley, who has thrown the ball a career-high 396 instances this season — or 22 instances per recreation. And do not forget they will all the time deal with Hurts too. He ran for 80 yards and a landing on 13 carries in opposition to the Commanders this season. And regardless of being slowed by accidents (and snow) final Sunday in opposition to the Rams he totaled 70 yards and a 44-yard landing on simply seven carries.
All of this actually looks like a giant plus for the Eagles and an enormous drawback for the Commanders to beat.
“Obviously, Washington can overcome this. The Rams virtually did. And the Commanders simply beat a Lions crew that even they could not cease on the bottom,” the scout stated. “But it simply places monumental strain on different elements of their recreation, particularly Jayden Daniels.
“Maybe Daniels has one other nice recreation. Maybe he can take them to the Super Bowl. Or perhaps Jalen Hurts struggles once more with the Eagles being one-dimensional, which has occurred to them at instances. But the reality is, if the commanders cannot cease Barkley, profitable this recreation goes to be actually tough.”
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He spent the earlier six years overlaying the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New Yorkand earlier than that, 16 years overlaying the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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