Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.
Last Season Was All About the Running of Barkley. To Repeat — It Will Put the Receivers on Center Stage.
PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images
Just hours after Donovan McNabb turned in an incredible performance throwing four touchdown passes on a broken ankle against the Arizona Cardinals in November of 2022— former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman (who was broadcasting for FOX at the time) got a phone call from Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid. Reid was testing the waters to see if Aikman was willing to return to the field from the Broadcast Booth to help fill in while McNabb was recovering.
If you grew up detesting the Cowboys like I did — the days of the Super Bowls of Troy Aikman’s Cowboys of the 1990’s were like being in mourning. If you were like me growing up — you probably knew that same feeling. No matter what the Eagles were doing — it’s always a plus when America’s Team is abysmal.
But love or hate them — what Jimmy Johnson knew about rebuilding the Cowboys from the last bottom dwelling days of Tom Landry and to develop a dynasty was to have an elite running game was not enough when they acquired Emmitt Smith in 1990. It was a player already on the roster who would round out the Dallas offensive receiving game in Michael Irvin.
Now the Eagles are the elite team in the National Football League poised to make a run at NFL history with two of the best wide receivers in the game — helping them to two Super Bowls in the last three years and three appearances in the last seven.
NFL Defenses will be keying on the running of Saquon Barkley all year this year who has the daunting task of following a 2,000 yard performance with equally high expectations.
Perhaps the biggest key to aiding Barkley’s success is the combinations of AJ Brown and Devonta Smith who hauled in a combined 135 receptions for over 1,900 yards and fourteen touchdowns in 2024–2025.
Last season — the tone was set by the running of Barkley on offense for the Eagles — an ode to the days reminiscent of dominant NFL running backs in t-formation downhill running that defined the NFL for decades until it gave way to being a pass-happy league. Now the focal point in 2025 can be one of the best pair of wide receivers ever in the game.
Troy Aikman never did leave FOX to go back and quarterback the Eagles. Instead Koy Detmer and AJ Feeley stepped in. The 2002 Philadelphia Eagles would win the NFC East and advance to their second consecutive NFC Championship Game.
The feeling of whats ahead for these Eagles? That feels so much better.
Tags: AJ Brown Andy Reid DeVonta Smith Donovan McNabb Troy Aikman
Categorized:Uncategorized