Rams defense elevates Eagles RB Saquon Barkley to FF demigod status

The LA Rams defense had to know that running back Saquon Barkley was the Philadelphia Eagles' most dependable and dangerous offensive weapon. I knew it, you knew it, and the entire NFL knew it. So you might have anticipated the defensive game plan prioritizing the Eagles star. Well, if that was the plan, they failed miserably.

It's one thing to identify the problem. It's something altogether different to effectively solve that problem. I'm not sure that now, hours after the Week 12 matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the LA Rams on Sunday Night Football that the Rams have any clue how to stop Barkley.

The defense had no idea how to even slow him down in the game:

When he had the football, Rams defenders either never touched him, bounced off him, or took pursuit angles that added distance between themselves and the running back. The more Barkley ran, the stronger he became and the more hapless the defense appeared.

I have seen a lot of football. But I have to say that I have never seen a Rams defense as shredded by a running back as Barkley burst through the defense last night. It often seemed as though the defense showed eight or nine players in the box. But that meant that Barkley simply had to shed one or two tackles and it was off to the races.

Saquon Barkley has been red hot of late:

Congratulations to any and all Fantasy Football GMs who were wise enough to grab Barkley and secure him on your FF team roster. Based on the responses from Pro Football Network to screenshot teams who had Barkley, he put up some huge scores for FF team owners in Week 12.

The Rams' defense has allowed many players to put up season-high performances against them this season. New England Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye had a season-high performance against the Rams. So did Arizona Cardinals rookie WR Marvin Harrison Jr. But Eagles running back Saquon Barkley put on a running back clinic against the Rams.

Barkely set an Eagles franchise record. He carried the football 26 times for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four of four passes for 47 yards, bringing his grand total of the night to 302 yards and two touchdowns. That is more than the entire Rams offense, which only put up 290 yards. That's . . . humbling.

Some NFL analysts project four coaches or players to put on Mount Rushmore. But the Rams defense denied Barkley any chance of that. Instead, they have elevated him to demigod status, worthy of taking his place among ancient Greek gods on Mount Olympus.

As always thanks for reading.

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