In an NFL season dominated by quarterbacks and high-flying aerial assaults, New York Giants' running back Saquon Barkley is making a compelling case for the league's MVP honor, despite the long odds for running backs in this quarterback-driven era. Not since Adrian Peterson in 2012 has a running back stood atop the NFL's MVP conversation, but Barkley's performance this season may just deserve that rare accolade.
Second-Half Sensation
Barkley's numbers tell a story of tenacity and unmatched second-half dominance. With 1,392 rushing yards already in the bag this season, Barkley has achieved a remarkable feat: 920 of those yards have come in the second half of games. His ability to wear down defenses and break open games after halftime is not just impressive—it's historic. Averaging 7.9 yards per carry in the second half, Barkley has surpassed rushing benchmarks not seen in the NFL for over 30 years. For context, Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders averaged 6.9 yards per carry during his outstanding 1997 campaign.
Barkley's second-half statistics paint a picture of a relentless runner who thrives as defenses tire. His 116 second-half carries have resulted in seven touchdowns, driving the Giants' offensive resurgence in the latter stages of games. When you stack up his second-half rushing yards against entire teams, the numbers become even more astounding. Barkley has accumulated more rushing yards in the second half than both Chuba Hubbard and Najee Harris combined.
A League of His Own
Currently, Barkley ranks as the NFL's fourth-leading rusher based solely on his second-half performances. This underscores his crucial role in the Giants' game plans. Lane Johnson elaborates on the strategic adjustments made throughout games, stating, "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, you know, some plays that maybe don't run the first half, run the second half. So I think I credit it to that."
Physicality and Persistence
The gritty commitment to the run game can be likened to a process, as emphasized by Mekhi Becton, who said, "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." Barkley embodies this sentiment, persistently attacking gaps and breaking tackles until he breaks out into open turf during the most crucial periods of the game.
Kellen Moore further illustrates the stamina and physicality required for such efforts: "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."
The Giants' Secret Weapon?
While the Philadelphia Eagles lead the league with an average of 118.8 second-half and overtime rushing yards per game, they average 5.9 yards per carry in those scenarios—a full two yards less than Barkley’s individual average. This disparity highlights Barkley's unique ability to outperform contemporary team efforts single-handedly, making him one of the most elite runners in the closing periods of play.
Barkley's capacity to shift momentum with his second-half performances could be the Giants' secret weapon in their quest for playoff contention. As the season progresses, the spotlight on Barkley will inevitably intensify, with each carry seen as another step toward a potential MVP title that would validate his extraordinary contribution to the Giants and further cement his place in the NFL's storied history of standout running backs.
In a league where second-half adjustments and physicality win games, Saquon Barkley exemplifies what it means to be resilient and indefatigable. Whether or not the MVP award finds itself in his hands come season's end, Barkley's remarkable campaign this year has already made an indelible mark on the league.