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The Philadelphia Eagles started their season a bit shaky, but now they’re doing really well. They’re about to play against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13. Some people think the Eagles might be the best team in their conference. Even though the Detroit Lions are also playing great, the Eagles have been strong on both offense and defense.
Their recent games have been against easier teams, but that’s about to change.
With a challenging game against the Ravens coming up, the Eagles face another hurdle. DeVonta Smith, a key player, was supposed to play but is now out due to a hamstring injury. This marks his second missed game of the season. Without him, the Eagles will need others to step up, especially Saquon Barkley.
Saquon Barkley joined the Eagles this offseason, and everyone knew he’d make an impact. Behind their strong offensive line, he was expected to perform well—and he’s exceeded those expectations.
At 27, Barkley has already amassed 1,392 rushing yards on 223 attempts and scored 10 touchdowns on the ground. Plus, he’s added 257 receiving yards and two more touchdowns. He’s leading the NFL in multiple categories, including rushing attempts and yards per game. His performance has even sparked MVP talks despite being a running back.
Despite Barkley’s incredible stats, the Eagles were planning to rely on their star receivers like Smith and A.J. Brown in this game. The Ravens have struggled with pass defense, allowing 277.7 passing yards per game, which is quite high. However, they excel at stopping the run, allowing just 77.9 rushing yards per game.
With Smith sidelined, the Eagles will lean more on Barkley. A.J. Brown remains active, but the Ravens can focus more on him now. Jahan Dotson steps into the WR2 role due to Smith’s absence, giving the Ravens a chance to neutralize Brown and put pressure on Barkley. It’s a tough task against a formidable run defense, but MVPs shine in games like these.
