Saquon Barkley is determined to get his first win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday as he leads the streaking Philadelphia Eagles into Arlington, Texas.
Barkley went 0-10 against Dallas while playing for the New York Giants from 2018-23. He was sidelined with a torn ACL for New York’s only victory in that span in the 2020 season finale.
Barkley has powered the Eagles (6-2) to four consecutive wins entering the Week 10 clash with the NFC East rival Cowboys (3-5), who have lost three straight and are playing without quarterback Dak Prescott.
The do-it-all back barged into the midseason MVP conversation at midseason. He’s second in the league in rushing yards (925) and yards from scrimmage (1,071) behind Derrick Henry of the Baltimore Ravens. Barkley is also tied for third with three others — including Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts — with eight touchdowns from scrimmage.
“People can say this is vintage Saquon, but this was always who Saquon was,” said Micah Parsons, Cowboys linebacker and fellow Penn State produc.
“The Giants did not appreciate him, and now the rest of the league is facing the consequences of the Giants’ stupidity. This is always who he was. I don’t want to say he lost his confidence, but he probably lost confidence in the system. The people that are blocking for him. I mean, what more can you say? The guy has been dynamic. He’s been worth the money and more.”
Led by Barkley and Hurts, who hasn’t turned the ball over during the win streak, the Eagles’ offense is rolling under former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Dallas led the NFL in scoring and total offense with Moore at the controls in 2021.
Philadelphia ranks No. 2 in the NFL in rushing (174.8 yards per game) and No. 6 in total offense (377.1) and faces a Dallas defense that has struggled without Parsons, ranked 30th against the run (147.8) and 31st in scoring defense (28.1 points per game).
“Division game, that always means something,” Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson said. “We know Dallas, they know us. Gotta get ready to play a great game to beat them, as always. It hasn’t been easy.”
Parsons, out since Week 4 with an ankle injury, practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday and said he plans to play.
Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) and cornerback Trevon Diggs (calf) also were limited, while All-Pro guard Zack Martin (shoulder) and linebacker Eric Kendricks (shoulder) did not participate in practice. Cornerback DaRon Bland also was a DNP as he continues to recover from offseason foot surgery.
Dallas won’t have Prescott, who is 9-4 in his career against the Eagles but is out with a hamstring injury sustained in last week’s 27-21 loss at Atlanta.
Dallas turns to backup quarterback Cooper Rush, who is 5-1 as a starter since joining the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent back in 2017. His only loss came at Philadelphia in Week 6 in 2022 when he was intercepted three times in a 26-17 defeat.
DeVonta Smith (hamstring) did not participate in practice Wednesday and fellow receiver A.J. Brown (knee) was limited but the Eagles did see the return of tight end Dallas Goedert, who hasn’t played since Week 6 due to a hamstring injury. Linebacker Josh Sweat (hip) and offensive lineman Mekhi Becton (ankle) were limited.
–Field Level Media