The Philadelphia Eagles have officially decided to bench Saquon Barkley for their Week 18 game against the New York Giants. While the Eagles frame it as a move to protect their stars for the playoffs, the implications have Giants fans buzzing about a deeper, more sinister strategy.
No record for Saquon Barkley, who will rest up for the playoffs. https://t.co/XCIUJZJ0Al
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 1, 2025
Barkley, who is just 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season rushing record, won’t get the opportunity to chase history.
Instead, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said the focus is on preparing for a postseason run. But when paired with Adam Schefter’s earlier report suggesting the Eagles might "help" the Giants win to sabotage their draft position, it paints a clear picture of NFC East pettiness at its peak.
For the Giants, the stakes are massive. With a win, New York could drop as low as the No. 9 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, effectively shutting the door on drafting a franchise-changing quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. A loss keeps them in range to land the future of their franchise, but a victory against a half-hearted Eagles team would set them back years.
The Eagles’ rest plan cheats Giants fans, Eagles fans, and NFL history
The Giants' dramatic 45-33 win over the Colts in Week 17 already cost them the No. 1 overall pick. A victory in Philadelphia could push them even further down the draft order, leaving them at the mercy of other teams for their quarterback of the future. It’s a nightmare scenario for a franchise desperate for stability under center.
From the Eagles’ perspective, the decision to rest Barkley—and likely other key players—is purely pragmatic. They’ve locked up the NFC’s No. 2 seed, and a win against the Giants changes nothing for their playoff seeding. But for a team that has thrived on trolling its division rivals, there’s little doubt that this decision doubles as a calculated move to throw a wrench in the Giants’ rebuilding plans.
The timing couldn’t be more frustrating for Giants fans. After a year of misery, highlighted by quarterback roulette and a 10-game losing streak, the silver lining was the potential to land a franchise-altering quarterback at the top of the draft. Now, that dream is at risk, all because the Eagles might let them "win."
For Saquon Barkley, this is also a bittersweet moment. After carrying the Eagles to a division title with over 2,000 rushing yards this season, missing the chance to break Dickerson’s record has to sting. But from a Giants fan perspective, watching Barkley achieve that milestone in Eagles green would have been a tough pill to swallow (especially against the Giants).
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Sunday’s game could end up being a masterstroke in NFC East pettiness. By benching Barkley and giving the Giants a path to a meaningless win, the Eagles keep their playoff-bound roster healthy while ensuring their division rival stays stuck in quarterback limbo. It’s petty. It’s brilliant. And it’s the exact kind of chaos the NFC East is known for.
For the Giants, the only option is to see the bigger picture. Winning this game would do nothing but hurt their future, especially in a year where their quarterback need is more glaring than ever. If the Eagles are indeed playing the long game, it’s working. Because if Big Blue stumbles into another victory, their rebuild could take a massive hit.