NFL analyst says what Eagles fans have been begging to hear about Saquon Barkley

It's been a frustrating year for Saquon Barkley, to say the least. After a historic 2024 season in which he won the Offensive Player of the Year Award en route to his first Super Bowl victory, he's been unable to carry his dominance into this season.

ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky thinks Barkley's year might be set to change course. He recently laid out the weaknesses of the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia's Week 7 opponent, in run defense.

If Orlovsky is right, Barkley could finally have the commanding performance that Eagles fans have been waiting for.

Dan Orlovsky projects Saquon Barkley performance Eagles fans have been waiting for

The Vikings haven't been known for weak run defense in recent years. Under Brian Flores, the unit has been one of the best in the league. In fact, they were the second-best run defense in the NFL last season. But it's been a different story in 2025. They rank among the ten worst teams in the league in rushing yards allowed per game. As Orlovsky mentioned, they also rank near the bottom in yards allowed per carry and rushing EPA per play.

This Minnesota defense is vulnerable in the running game. If Barkley and the Eagles offense are going to return to the explosive style of play they thrived on last year, this might be their best chance to do it.

Orlovsky was brutally honest about the current state of the Eagles, though. He said, "47 negative plays for this offense this year, that leads the NFL by a significant margin. They've got to run it better."

He's absolutely right. All season long, Barkley has been bottled up by opposing defenses. In 2024, he was often able to make one cut and explode down the field for big runs. He seemed to always have a hole to run through. Those holes simply haven't been there so far this year.

He offered a solution, saying that the Eagles need to put Jalen Hurts under center more often and run the ball downhill rather than to the outside.

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There's another clear reason why Barkley could be set for a big game. Landon Dickerson, who missed Week 6 with an ankle injury that he suffered during a loss to the Denver Broncos, might be ready to return this weekend. With a healthy offensive line and a favorable matchup against a struggling defense, the Eagles' running back could finally get back on track.