PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a daunting task on Sunday when it comes to stopping Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley, who is on track to break the NFL single-season rushing record. He needs 483 yards in final four games to break the record.
Barkley is run away as the NFL’s rushing leader with 1,623 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. He’s also averaging a whopping 6.1 yards per carry.
Barkley had a ridiculous 180-degree hurdle in the Eagles’ Week 9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt knows it will take a team effort to limit the league MVP candidate.
“Yeah obviously he has highlights that everybody sees, but more than anything it’s the contact balance, the lateral quicks, the ability to get to speed as quickly as he can,” Steelers All-Pro outside Watt said. “He’s going to be a tough challenge for us. I think we have a good plan overall, but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t execute.”
The Eagles have the No. 1 rushing offense, averaging 190.5 yards per game. The Steelers have been stout against the run this year, however. The defense is surrendering 91.5 yards per game, which is fourth-best in the NFL.
The Steelers held Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry to 65 yards on 13 carries in the team’s Week 11 win, but Barkley presents a different kind of challenge.
“He does everything, whether he’s in space, whether he’s in the box, whether he’s one-on-one with a DB or linebacker. He’s always (playing) at a high level,” Steelers All-Pro free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “He has extremely great feet, high motor. Knows when the next defender is coming for him, which allows him to break tackles. Turn small runs into long runs. He’s a really good back and he’s going to be a challenge to stop.”
So what’s the plan to stopping Barkley, or at least limit him?
“You got to do your job. Get as many hats to him as possible,” Fitzpatrick said. “Sure tackles when you’re in his vicinity, you can’t just shoot your shot and think you’re going to get him down with a leg sweep. You gotta have sure tackles and a lot of hats to the ball.”
Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen doesn’t think there’s an argument for anyone else as the league’s best back.
“I think Saquon’s got that title this year,” Queen said. “You see what he’s doing. He’s unstoppable right now. Getting in space, even when he’s not in space, he’s able to break tackles and stuff. Just all around a good back. Elusive. Strong. Can make multiple guys miss at one time. He’s definitely the No. 1 running back in the league.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin raved about Barkley during his weekly Tuesday press conference.
“The acquisition of Saquon Barkley has got to be the most significant acquisition in the NFL in 2024,” Tomlin said. “That’s what the tape looks like. He’s been dominant, eye-opening at times. Highlight reel-caliber plays, long runs, touchdowns etc. It starts there for us. If you don’t minimize him in some way, you’re not even going to position yourself to have a chance to be successful. So obviously he’s got a lot of our attention at the early stages of the week.
“He’s dynamic. He checks all the boxes in terms of physical talent. He’s got top-end speed. He can hit the home run, there’s evidence in the Rams game. He’s good in tight space areas, he can get downhill. He can lower his pads and run behind his pads, he’s good lateral abilities, he can make people miss. He’s just a really complete player.”
Sunday will be Barkley’s second career game against the Steelers. He rushed for only 6 yards on 15 carries against the Steelers in Week 1 of the 2020 season. That’s when he was with the New York Giants, however.
The Eagles have an elite offensive line, a franchise quarterback and two top-flight wide receivers. This time around, Barkley has a strong supporting cast.
One thing is clear, though. The offense runs through Barkley. Philadelphia’s offense has gone six straight games with more rushing than receiving yardage.
“But the bottom line is if you don’t slow that running game down, you have no chance,” Steelers defensive coordinator Terryl Austin said. “That’s really the biggest takeaway, that’s the biggest thing you’ll learn from them. If they’re able to run the ball, whether it’s Saquon [Barkley] or the quarterback escaping, quarterback design runs, it’s going to be a long day.”
Alan Saunders and Aaron Becker provided reporting from Pittsburgh.