In a season brimming with compelling storylines and exceptional performances, Saquon Barkley's quest to redefine expectations for NFL running backs takes center stage. As the New York Giants' dynamic running back sets his sights on a historic achievement—becoming the first running back in over a dozen years to clinch the NFL MVP award—his performances, particularly in the second half of games, demand attention.
A Second-Half Force
Barkley has amassed an impressive 1,392 rushing yards this season, with a staggering 920 of those coming in the second half of games. Averaging 7.9 yards per carry post-halftime, Barkley's second-half dominance breaks new ground, far surpassing the achievements of past greats. Consider Barry Sanders, one of the most electrifying running backs in NFL history, who averaged 6.9 yards per carry during his illustrious 1997 campaign. Barkley's performance is a feat not seen in the last 30 years, underscoring his exceptional athletic ability.
With 116 second-half carries this season, Barkley has shown an exceptional ability to wear down opposing defenses, turning grind-it-out possessions into game-changing plays. He has found the end zone seven times during these second-half surges, cementing his role as a crucial component of the Giants' offensive engine.
Strategic Adjustments and Endurance
This extraordinary second-half performance seems to be no accident. As Lane Johnson insightfully notes, the difference can often be attributed to strategic adjustments: “There’s a lot of stuff you can game plan through throughout the week, and then, you know, you get to the game and they may show up in a different defense. You have to make those adjustments after each series and like halftime... I credit it to that.” Barkley's second-half success is as much a testament to his physical prowess as it is to the strategic acumen of the Giants' coaching staff.
Echoing this sentiment, Mekhi Becton emphasizes the importance of persistence in the running game: “Like the run game isn’t always gonna hit off the first run. It’s one of those things where we gotta keep going and going and wait for it to just hit. I feel like we’ve done that every game this year.” This enduring commitment to the ground game appears pivotal to Barkley’s sustained success late in games.
Grinding Down the Opposition
Kellen Moore encapsulates the philosophy driving Barkley and the Giants: “I do think there is an element of—we pride ourselves on being a really physical run game, and those things wear on you as the game goes on when you get the opportunities we get. And the way the games have played out, you can keep grinding it out as the second half progresses, and those big plays eventually pop.” Indeed, Barkley's ability to progressively wear down defenses through relentless, physical play sets the stage for his explosive sprint in the game's latter stages.
League Comparisons and Context
The Philadelphia Eagles currently lead the league with an average of 118.8 second-half and overtime rushing yards per game, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Yet, Barkley's individual statistical achievements remain unmatched, highlighting his significant contributions to team performance. With more second-half rushing yards than both Chuba Hubbard and Najee Harris combined, and ranking as the NFL's fourth-leading rusher based explicitly on his second-half stats, Barkley stands as an imposing figure in today’s NFL landscape.
Saquon Barkley's performance this season has not only set new benchmarks but has also redefined the expectations of what a running back can achieve. Should he manage to secure the MVP honor, it would not only acknowledge his extraordinary individual performance but also reignite the discussion about the invaluable roles running backs play beyond the obvious yardage and touchdowns—a testament to their endurance, their strategic intelligence, and their ability to carve out critical plays under pressure.