In Week 12, Saquon Barkley dashed for 255 rushing yards against the Los Angeles Rams, including a pair of 70-plus-yard scoring blasts, in a 37-20 win.
Ahead of their Divisional Round rematch, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore sees a different Rams defense than the one they ran over earlier in the season.
"Long time between those two games, a bunch of other games," Moore said Tuesday, via the team's official transcript. "They are playing as well as any defense in the league right now, and they are playing really confidently. They will stress us in a lot of different ways. And there will be a lot of challenges associated with our run game based on them having the film and the film they have put out the last month and a half, which has been really, really impressive. It will be a challenge."
Back in November, the score was 13-7 at halftime before Barkley blasted it open. The 2K-back took the first play of the third quarter for a 70-yard touchdown. Then, in the fourth, he soared for a 72-yard score that sealed the matchup.
In two plays, Barkley generated 142 of his 255 rushing yards. He had just one additional run of 10-plus yards on his other 24 carries but picked up chunks -- 4.7 YPC average on his non-TD totes. However, the Rams also held him below three yards on 10 carries. Barkley added four catches for 47 yards, giving him 302 of the Eagles' 481 scrimmage yards in Week 12.
Since giving up 314 rushing yards to Philly, the Rams defense has allowed 100-plus rushing yards in five of seven games, including playoffs. In its last five tilts, L.A. is allowing 96.6 rush yards.
"Playing really clean, really sound football," Moore said of the Rams D. "You can tell every phase of that defense is tied together, and obviously the front is doing an excellent job getting pressure and the challenge when you get into obvious passing situations. Those guys are as good as it gets in this league collectively."
The young L.A. front has bamboozled quarterbacks, culminating in a nine-sack performance against Minnesota in the Wild Card Round. However, since their last meeting, they haven't faced an offensive line as sturdy as the Eagles' crew.
Moore has been impressed with the production from such a young group.
"Any time guys play together, build cohesiveness, build connection, they are going to play better and better and better. They have an excellent staff over there," he said. "Obviously (Rams run game coordinator) Giff (Smith), the defensive line coach, I was with in L.A. He's one of the best in the business. He does an excellent job of getting those guys to play together and just play with the incredible effort that they play with. It is just really impressive on film, and it's going to be a real big challenge for us."
Given the Rams' pass-rushing ability and the Eagles' pass-game struggles, Sunday afternoon profiles as a tilt in which Moore will saddle up Barkley a ton. When every touch could potentially go for a 70-yard score, why wouldn't you give Barkley 20-plus totes?