Eagles, Saquon Barkley spoke using ‘we’ in statement win over Rams

The Eagles made a statement to the rest of the NFL in Sunday night’s 37-20 win over the Rams. And when they spoke to each other, they said we, not I.

Seconds after learning he’d broken LeSean McCoy’s single-game franchise rushing record, Saquon Barkley’s first reaction was to congratulate each of his offensive linemen on the sideline, Cam Jurgens, Mekhi Becton, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson.

“Hey, we broke the record! We broke Shady’s record,” said Barkley, shaking hands with each teammate.

“We told you it was coming!” Mailata responded, hugging Barkley.

With his 255 rushing yards, Barkley did more than break McCoy’s record (217) on Sunday night for Philadelphia (9-2). Widely considered a legitimate MVP candidate, Barkley is now on pace for 2,151 rushing yards, 46 more than Eric Dickerson’s all-time NFL record, 2,105 in 1984. And with 302 scrimmage yards, ninth in NFL history, he also erased Duce Staley’s single-game franchise record (262).

There was no “let the other guys eat” like Week 7, primarily because his first and last carries of the second half were 70- and 72-yard touchdown runs, and that offensive line made sure he was virtually untouched. If Barkley isn’t the best player in the NFL this season, he’s certainly the most selfless, something that’s resonated throughout the Philadelphia locker room. Evidence of that came from wide receiver A.J. Brown on the Eagles’ sideline during the game.

“You’re already the best running back in the world,” Brown said, “but I think you’re the best player in the world.”

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has also been vocal about the impact Barkley has had on this Eagles team. Asked postgame about having Barkley as a teammate, Hurts spoke glowingly.

“The laugh and smile should say it all,” Hurts said. “He’s a hell of a player, he’s the best in the league and he’s the best at what he does.”

Barkley’s performance on Sunday was a prime example of good things coming to those who wait. Next week, Barkley goes head-to-head with the Ravens’ Derrick Henry on Sunday in Baltimore (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS).

For more information on the Eagles and Rams, visit the Philadelphia and L.A. Rams team pages at ProFootballPost.com.