Eagles' Saquon Barkley again addresses lackluster stats after award-winning season

Earlier this month, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley emphasized that he was more focused on winning games than on putting up stats that could earn him individual honors in February. 

On Thursday, Barkley again discussed the disappointing numbers he posted as the Eagles won five of their first seven games this season. 

Saquon Barkley not "a big numbers guy" amid disappointing season

"I'm not really a big numbers guy," Barkley explained, per Zach Berman of The Athletic. "Wasn't really good at numbers in school, either. People use numbers — what's the saying, 'Men lie, women lie, numbers don't?' — I don't really get caught up in that. I don't think it defines me as a player."

Barkley received the Offensive Player of the Year Award for the 2024 season after leading the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards and 2,283 yards from scrimmage. According to StatMuse, he is ranked 25th in the league with 504 total yards from scrimmage for the ongoing campaign. ESPN stats show that Barkley is 23rd in the NFL with 369 rushing yards, despite having the league's third-most carries (113) from Week 1 through Week 7. 

Barkley was mostly a non-factor in Philadelphia's 28-22 victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 19, a game where Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts posted a perfect passer rating.

"I still know what I bring to the table," Barkley added on Thursday. "But I do know we have to be more efficient in the running game. That's something we're focused on. But at the end of the day, our whole goal is to go 6-2 and win another football game. Whatever that looks like, that's what matters."

Landon Dickerson sticks up for Saquon Barkley

On Friday, Bob Brookover of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com noted that Eagles guard Landon Dickerson recently suggested he and his fellow offensive linemen are to blame for Barkley's struggles. 

"He looks the same to me," Dickerson said about Barkley. "I see people very much honoring who he is as a running back and what he’s able to accomplish. You want to avoid him getting started and having 200 rushing yards in a game. I mean, that’s just the way to start this year, that teams have really played us is to try to shut him down." 

Barkley will look to get back on track when the Eagles host the New York Giants (2-5), his former team, on Sunday. As of Friday morning, ESPN BET had Philadelphia as a 7.5-point favorite.