Eagles' run game still non-existent in crushing loss to Cowboys

The Eagles' rushing attack was missing again on Sunday in their 24-21 loss to the Cowboys.

By Dave Zangaro • Published November 24, 2025

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Eagles still can’t run the ball.

A year ago, Saquon Barkley rushed for 2,000 yards and the Eagles were able to impose their will on opposing defenses week in and week out.

This year? Their run game has been almost non-existent. It didn’t show up again on Sunday in their crushing 24-21 loss to the Cowboys.

"I wouldn’t say frustrated. More disappointed in myself,” Barkley said after the loss. "Not frustrated with anybody else. I’m a big believer that the run game starts with me and ends with me. I’m in a little funk right now. I’ve had funks like this before. Just gotta break it. The only way I know how is by flushing this, working my butt off and getting ready for my next opportunity.”

Barkley on Sunday had just 10 carries for 22 yards. He also caught 7 passes for 52 yards but had a costly fumble in the second half.

But is Saquon in a funk?

"He’s not in a funk, man,” left tackle Jordan Mailata said. "He’s hard on himself. That’s the guy Saquon is. Good dude. One of the greatest dudes I’ve ever known. He’s just being hard on himself. It’s on all of us up front.”

The Eagles on Sunday built a 21-point lead early in the second quarter and then took a 21-7 lead into halftime. The 2024 version of the Eagles would have run the ball down the Cowboys’ throat to kill clock and leave AT&T Stadium with a bully-ball win on the back of the Offensive Player of the Year.

This team just isn’t capable of that right now.

In total, the Eagles had just 63 rushing yards on Sunday afternoon. Barkley had 10 for 22, Jalen Hurts had 7 for 33 and Tank Bigsby had 1 for 8.

"I’m not getting the run game going,” Barkley said. "I’m not getting yards. I’m tired of the excuse of people trying to stop our run game. I don’t really subscribe to that. It’s gotta be better. Gotta make plays.”

A year after having an incredible run game, this year’s Eagles have struggled on the ground and have found that they can’t lean on that facet of their game the way they’d like.

The Eagles have played in 11 games this season and have gone over 200 rushing yards just once. They did that in 8 of 17 games in the regular season last year. And Barkley has gone over 100 yards just once in these 11 games.

Barkley, 28, now has 185 carries for 684 yards, an average of just 3.7 yards per pop this season. Those giant holes he had to run through in 2024 just aren’t there this season.

"It’s not on Saquon,” Mailata said. "It’s on all of us. It’s on all of us. You can just watch the film. We always say we’re one block away and as tiring and as repetitive as that is, that is the truth. I’m tired of saying it. But it starts with us. We gotta do a better job of execution. Until we do that, the run game’s not going anywhere.”

The Eagles had a two-touchdown lead going into the second half on Sunday and Barkley had just four rushing attempts in the second half. You could blame the coaching staff for not giving him the football.

Or you could look at the situation and realize they felt like they had to pivot away from that attack because the Cowboys were shutting it down.

"Anytime you’re one dimensional, that makes it tough,” head coach Nick Sirianni said. "I think we didn’t have the run game going again. When I say that, it’s on everybody. It’s on the coaching and it’s on the playing. In this game of football, it’s never just one thing. We’ve got to identify what it is and try to get better from it.”

The Cowboys utilized more five-man fronts to thwart the run game. The Eagles attempted to throw them out of those looks but it never really worked. While the Eagles’ passing attack helped them build a lead, they didn’t score again after that third touchdown.

It’s obvious that offensive line has not been healthy this season. The Eagles were without Lane Johnson (foot) on Sunday, while Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson have battled through their own injuries all season.

Barkley on Sunday night said he is healthy. That’s notable because he led the NFL in carries and touches last season. 

And he also doesn’t think he’s pressing.

"I’m not playing well,” Barkley said. "Just got to play better. That’s really it.”

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-run-game-cowboys-saquon-barkley-jordan-mailata-nick-sirianni/696966/

The run game isn’t what it was for a number of reasons I think. The OL is banged up and missing starters. Hurts isn’t generally running as much and so isn’t drawing the same attention he had in previous years. And honestly I don’t think Saquon is what he was.

The best thing this team could do right now is go with more Bigsby. He’s a more aggressive runner who’s going to make one cut and get up field. He isn’t as big a home run threat as Saquon but let’s be honest that isn’t happening much this year anyway.

Last season the Eagles had like a once in a lifetime run game. That ish, obviously, ain't happening anymore. For a multitude of reasons.

More Tank carries please 🤓!!