Bleeding Green Nation
Saquon Barkley is authoring a legendary Eagles season, so where does he stack up among the greatest Eagles seasons ever?
Sunday’s match-up between the Ravens and Eagles was significant not only because it featured two of the NFL’s heavyweights going at it in a nationally-televised game in the late-afternoon window, but also as a barometer for two of this year’s leading MVP candidates.
Saquon Barkley and Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson have been at or near the top of the MVP odds for most of the last few months and, on Sunday, we got to see them go head-to-head. By the end of a Birds’ 24-19 victory that was not as close as the score would indicate, Barkley has undoubtedly moved ahead of the Ravens’ signal caller in the race for Most Valuable Player.
No player in franchise history has ever won the AP NFL MVP award, although some have come close. Below is a list of all Eagles players to earn at least one MVP vote since 1960.
Barkley will undoubtedly be in the conversation this year, although he faces stiff competition from Jackson and Buffalo QB Josh Allen, the presumptive favorite at the moment. It would likely take a near-record breaking season from Barkley to earn the MVP nod, but regardless of whether he wins or not, he is already authoring one of the greatest single seasons in franchise history.
So where does it rank? Here’s my list:
Carson Wentz’ favorite target (something that became a bit of an issue inside the locker room among some of the wide receivers) hauled in a team-record 116 passes, 10 more than what had been the previous team-high of 90 by Brian Westbrook in 2007. Ertz also scored eight touchdowns and averaged 10 yards per catch. We don’t remember it much because the ‘18 season was so weird (Wentz hurt again, Nick Foles emerges for a second straight playoff run), but it was a wildly productive season by the best tight end in team history.
I had to include at least one Westbrook season here and I chose 2007 because it produced the second-most yards from scrimmage in team history. His 1,333 rushing yards and 771 yards receiving game him a total of 2,104 from scrimmage and earned him the only 1st-team All Pro nod of his career in an otherwise lost season.
The ‘83 Eagles started 4-2 and then lost seven straight, finishing with a 5-11 record, the first season under head coach Marion Campbell, who replaced Dick Vermeil following his resignation due to burnout. Lost in all that...
