Sunday afternoon could provide the backdrop for the most explosive game of the season as the Ravens (8-4) host the Eagles (9-2) at M&T Bank Stadium.
Baltimore has won eight of its past ten games, while Philadelphia is on a seven-game winning streak. The Ravens currently sit a half-game out of first place behind 8-3 Pittsburgh in the AFC North, while Philadelphia holds a 2.5-game lead over 7-5 Washington in the NFC East standings.
The biggest storyline will center around Saquon Barkley (Eagles) and Derrick Henry (Ravens), the NFL’s No. 1 and No. 2 rushers.
Both players are worthy MVP candidates who will battle for the rushing title and a chance at 2,000+ yards rushing.
With both teams returning to practice on Wednesday, here are ten early stats to know.
NFL’s top rushing offenses
Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle (27) tackles Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) in the second quarter of the NFL game at M&T Banks Stadium in Baltimore on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024.
Thanks to both teams’ explosive running backs and dual-threat quarterbacks, Sunday’s game will feature the NFL’s top two rushing teams. Philadelphia is No. 1 in the league with 193.4 yards per game, followed by Baltimore’s 180.2 yards per game. History suggests whichever team dominates on the ground will win this game.
Rushing yards leaders
Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Chinn (11) and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (1) during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Henry has produced the NFL’s second-most rushing yards (1,325), just behind Barkley’s league-high 1,392 yards. Henry has registered as the NFL’s best in total touchdowns (15) and rushing touchdowns (13), while Barkley ranks No. 2 in the league with 12 overall scores (including ten rushing).
Barkley’s impact on Eagles
Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Philadelphia is the third team in NFL history to rush for 150+ yards and 2+ touchdowns in six consecutive games (1948 49ers and 1949 Eagles).
Average per Carry
Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) reacts after his touchdown run against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Both players are averaging close to a first down (10 yards) every time they run with the football. Barkley is averaging 6.2 yards per carry this season, while Henry is close behind with a 6.0 average per carry.
Saquon Barkley
Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) reacts after his touchdown run against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
On top of leading the league in rushing yards, Barkley leads the league in rushing yards per game (126.5), rushing average (6.2), and 100+ yard rushing games (seven, including five in the last six games). Barkley is T-4th in the NFL in rushing touchdowns (10), behind Henry (13), Jalen Hurts (11) and David Montgomery (11), while he is 1st in rushing touchdowns of 20+ yards (5), 30+ yards (4), 40+ yards (3) and 70+ yards (2).
Derrick Henry is a machine
Henry is the NFL’s only running back this season to rank Top 5 each in yards before (2.11) and after contact (3.93) per rush.
More Barkley
Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cheer as running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Barkley is the fifth player in NFL history to rush for 1,390+ yards and 10+ touchdowns through the first 11 games of a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Terrell Davis (1998), Walter Payton (1977), O.J. Simpson (1973, ‘75) and Jim Brown (1963). Among that group, only Brown (6.8) had more yards per carry through 11 games than Barkley (6.2).
Henry is the greatest Raven ever
Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) reacts after Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle (27) tackled Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) in the second quarter of the NFL game at M&T Banks Stadium in Baltimore on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024.
With 15 total scores (13 rushing, 2 receiving) this season through 12 games played, Henry has already tied former Baltimore running backs Ray Rice (15 in 2011) and Mark Ingram II (15 in 2019) for the most times reaching the end zone in Ravens single-season history with five games to play.
More Derrick Henry
Nov 3, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) scores a third quarter touchdown against the Denver Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Henry is the only player since the 1970 merger to log at least 1,300 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns on 6.0 yards per attempt through the first 12 games of a season.
Barkley making Eagles history
Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) gets pushed out-of-bound by Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (right) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alex Gallardo-Imagn Images
Barkley’s 1,392 rushing yards are the most by an NFL player through 11 games in their first year with a team. He ranks 5th in single-season franchise history (most by an Eagle through 11 contests), trailing only LeSean McCoy in 2013 (1,607), Wilbert Montgomery in 1979 (1,512), Ricky Watters in 1996 (1,411) and Montgomery in 1981 (1,402).
