It didn’t take long for the Eagles to bet on Saquon Barkley to pay significant dividends.

When assessing the reasoning behind the decision to sign Barkley this offseason, it wasn’t a complicated formula. One of the best running backs in the NFL behind one of the league’s best offensive lines equals a dominant running game.

That combination was on full display in the Eagles’ 28-23 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, when Barkley ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, caught three passes for 40 more yards and another score, while also providing one of the most memorable moments in the NFL. the modern era.

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Watching All-22 film of Barkley’s big day, the broken tackles aren’t the only thing that stands out, though. The raw power of the Eagles offensive line is hard to miss and is key to how the 27-year-old has managed 23 explosive runs (on runs of 10+ yards) this season.

Let’s watch the movie:

Early strikes

Besides the addition of Barkley and his ability to create extra yards after contact, a major difference in the Eagles’ running game from last year is the diversity of running schemes they have available.

It might be reductive to say that most teams only stick to gap schemes with shooting guards and down blocks or zone run schemes with linemen moving laterally and moving up to the second level, but the Eagles alternate between the two in visibly.

Barkley’s first carry came on a run under center — another wrinkle from last year’s system — with zone blocking while Fred Johnson and Like Jurgens worked up to the second level. Landon Dickerson got an initial snap against Jacksonville defensive tackle Davon Hamilton to reset the line of scrimmage, and Jack Stoll did a nice job sealing Josh Hines-Allen, creating space for Barkley’s 6-yard gain.

What’s telling about the play is how close he came to punting for more, with Fred Johnson sidestepped in the hole instead of replacing Jags linebacker Devin Lloyd on his way to the tackle.

Barkley made his impact felt in the passing game with a 20-yard touchdown catch after beating Jacksonville safety Darnell Savage on a wheel route down the sideline.

On second-and-10, with the Jaguars running a high safety look, the Eagles moved wide receiver Jahan Dotson across the formation in a “blind” move behind the quarterback. The Jags looked to pass Dotson to the deep safety, signaling man coverage and isolating Barkley against Savage, with tight end Grant Calcaterra occupying the outside cornerback on a post route.

Take note of when Jalen hurts begins his throwing motion, as the confidence he has in Barkley to win the game is evident.

The Barkley Bounce

Before we get to Barkley’s most impressive moment of the night, it’s worth noting what happened a few plays earlier.

With the Eagles facing second-and-3 late in the first quarter, Barkley broke off his first big run of the game thanks to Lane Johnsonhis awareness to shut down Jacksonville linebacker Ventrell Miller at the second level. He finishes the run by dropping his shoulder against Savage, who drops his head just before the impact. Barkley was visibly frustrated after the 11-yard gain.

Three plays later, Barkley chose the audacious hurdle back against Jags cornerback Jarrian Jones instead of lowering his shoulder to end the Eagles coach’s play. Nick Sirianni he said it was the greatest he had ever seen.

It’s probably worth including more than one angle.

Alley pavement

Even on the no-hit runs for the Eagles offense, the frequency with which the offensive line moved the Jaguars’ defensive front stands out.

Facing first and 20 late in the second quarter, Dickerson and Jurgens had a great combination block on an inside zone run that was broken up by right guard Mekhi Becton, getting beat on the face for a 2 loss meters.

Becton had his share of highlights though. One of his best came late in the fourth quarter when the Eagles showed they can create space in the run game even when their opponents are loading the box to sell against the run. There are some blocks worth watching here, but it’s worth highlighting Becton, who sheds Jag defensive tackle Tyler Lacy to clear space with Lane Johnson.

Speaking of Johnson, the All-Pro right tackle showed why he is, in fact, an All-Pro right tackle.

Along with the 11-yard run mentioned earlier, where Johnson reacts quickly to shut down a linebacker on the second level, Johnson showed his ability to adjust to angles in the run game early in the third quarter. Eagles left tackle Fred Johnson takes a kick step at the snap, which puts him in the path of Lane Johnson as the right tackle pulled the formation to make way for Barkley.

Johnson adjusts from the collision and still works his way up to the second level to cover Lloyd enough for Barkley to gain 13 yards. It’s also worth noting that these are the shifts in the gap scheme that the Eagles are so adept at calling to balance out zone runs.

Jurgens had his share of well-executed blocks both in space and in tandem with Becton. On Barkley’s first-quarter touchdown run, Jurgens did well to get to the second level to occupy a linebacker long enough for Barkley to gain advantage against the Jags’ out-of-position defensive back.

Good plus good equals great

While most of these clips show what Barkley looks like and the offensive line works well in tandem, there are times when Barkley made the right face and made the unblocked defenders miss.

He did just that late in the third quarter with the Eagles offensive line pulling one way and Barkley running the other after taking the handoff from Hurts. Isolated with an edge defender in space, Barkley gives up ground in a way that most running backs would be discouraged from doing, but is able to win the race, pick up the sideline and gain 9 yards on the play.

The play helps explain why Barkley took the Eagles’ running game to the next level. Not only does he enjoy the most yards before touchdown of his career according to Next Gen Stats, he also creates the most yards per carry after contact in games like the one above.