The New York Giants' offense is a complete disaster without Malik Nabers and Saquon Barkley, but even with the world-class running back, the the Philadelphia Eagles aren't faring much better. After Week 5, the reigning Super Bowl champions rank 30th in the NFL in total offense, and their play-calling has been the subject of constant criticism on social media.
Related: Saquon Barkley documentary drops bombshell on Giants at worst possible time
While addressing the media following the Eagles' 21-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, Barkley didn't hold back when discussing his lack of usage. The 27-year-old received just nine touches in Philadelphia's first loss of 2025, and his frustration was more a cause of the result rather than his own personal numbers:
Saquon Barkley: "I don't really know what you want. If I touch the ball too much sometimes, we're not throwing enough. If we throw it too much and I only have nine touches — I'm not in the business of, what are we doing enough? I'm in the business of winning football games. We…
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) October 5, 2025
While Denver's defense stifled Barkley, holding him to just 30 rushing yards while his longest play from scrimmage came on a 47-yard receiving touchdown. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts attempted a season-high 38 passes in the loss, as his 280-yard, two-touchdown game exposed a clear blueprint for slowing down the Eagles' high-powered offense: make them beat you through the air.
Saquon Barkley's frustrations send the Giants a clear message
Barkley is just one year removed from a 2,000-yard campaign in his first season in Philadelphia, but 2025 has told a different story. He is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry while his 267 rushing yards rank 22nd in the NFL—below guys like Rico Dowdle, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and Jordan Mason.
Moreover both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have publicly expressed frustration with Philadelphia’s play-calling in 2025, which has only aided the disconnect between Hurts and the two star wideouts that has been consistently displayed.
Fans weren't complaining about the offensive struggles because the team was winning, while has only added to the pile of evidence that their prior gameplan is no longer sustainable.
Week 5 saw the three-time Pro Bowler be held to under 50 rushing yards for the third consecutive game. Teams are stacking the box and daring the Eagles to abandon their run-first identity, and that could play right into the hands of the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football.
While New York's secondary remains one of the team's biggest weaknesses, their defensive line is among the best in football. Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence II, and Kayvon Thibodeaux have all shined through five weeks, which could be their saving grace in Jaxson Dart's first-career primetime start.
Despite that personnel advantage, Shane Bowen's unit is inside the bottom 10 in the NFL in total defense, pass defense, and run defense, which is where the Iggles' surplus of offensive playmakers could haunt the G-Men.
The Giants could force Hurts to air out the football, but it would be no surprise if he carved their defense just like Spencer Rattler did for 60 minutes in their 26-14 Week 5 loss to the Saints. And it was that performance that has fans completely done with Brian Daboll.
Coming to MetLife Stadium hungry to return to the win column, the Eagles will lean on the former Penn State standout—but the Giants’ defensive front could have other plans for their former first-round pick. Especially with how ugly the breakup has gotten.