Eagles’ Rushing Attack Looks Familiar: Tank Bigsby Joins Barkley and Hurts in New “Three-Headed Monster”

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA — The Philadelphia Eagles have seen this story before.
A bruising, relentless running attack built on balance, depth, and versatility — the kind that wore down defenses and carried them all the way to the 2017 Super Bowl title.

Seven years later, it looks like that formula might be returning to Lincoln Financial Field.

The names are different — Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, and Jalen Hurts — but the results are starting to feel the same.

Tank Arrives — and Delivers

When the Eagles traded for Tank Bigsby on September 8, just one week into the season, it was viewed as a low-risk, high-upside move. The 22-year-old running back, acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars for a pair of late-round draft picks, had shown flashes of brilliance as a rookie but struggled to find a consistent role.

On Sunday, Philadelphia fans saw why general manager Howie Roseman wanted him.

In the Eagles’ 38–20 win over the New York Giants, Bigsby exploded for 104 yards on nine carries, averaging a stunning 11.6 yards per attempt. It was his second-best rushing total of his young career — and his first breakout game in midnight green.

The performance was so dominant, it sparked immediate comparisons to the power-back rotation that fueled the Eagles’ 2017 championship run, when LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, and Corey Clement combined to bulldoze defenses on the way to a Super Bowl LII victory.

Head coach Nick Sirianni didn’t shy away from the parallel.

“Obviously, there’s a reason we traded for him,” Sirianni said. “He’s a really explosive runner. You see it every day in practice — the power, the burst, the vision. As he’s caught up to our system, we’ve given him more opportunities, and it’s been fun to watch.”

The Legend of “Tank”

Bigsby’s nickname, as his mother once said, was earned early.

“When he was about seven, he took a handoff, lost his helmet, and just kept running,” she recalled. “He ran through everyone — like a tank.”

That fearless energy still defines his playing style today. Against the Giants, he ran downhill, refused to go down on first contact, and consistently turned broken plays into chunk gains.

On one 27-yard carry in the second quarter, Bigsby pinballed between three defenders before bursting through the secondary, a run that drew cheers — and a few knowing smiles — from the Eagles’ sideline.

“He runs angry,” said left tackle Jordan Mailata. “You can feel it when you block for him. It’s contagious. When Tank gets going downhill, nobody wants to be in front of that.”

For Bigsby, the moment wasn’t about personal stats. It was about trust.

“It felt great,” he said postgame. “Just doing what I can to help the team win. I’m thankful for the opportunity and always ready when my number’s called.”

The Return of the Rotation

While Bigsby’s emergence grabbed headlines, the Eagles’ ground game has been strong all season thanks to Saquon Barkley’s leadership and Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat presence.

Barkley remains the “lead dog,” as Sirianni put it, but the addition of Bigsby has given the offense a dangerous new dimension — one that echoes the unpredictability of the 2017 three-headed monster.

That season, the Eagles’ backfield trio was a perfect blend of skill sets: Blount’s power, Ajayi’s speed, and Clement’s versatility. In 2025, the combination looks just as balanced — Barkley’s agility and pass-catching, Bigsby’s power, and Hurts’ threat as a runner and decision-maker in RPOs.

“You can feel it clicking,” Hurts said. “Everyone’s feeding off each other. Saquon sets the tone, Tank brings that juice, and the O-line’s been dominant. That’s Eagles football.”

The numbers back it up. Over the last three games, Philadelphia’s rushing attack has averaged 179 yards per contest, the highest mark since their Super Bowl run.

Why the System Works

At its core, the Eagles’ rushing success isn’t just about talent — it’s about philosophy.

Sirianni and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson have leaned heavily on a zone-read and power-gap hybrid system, designed to maximize the strengths of both Hurts and the backs.

The offensive line — anchored by Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata — remains one of the best in football. Their chemistry and communication create the kind of holes that make running backs look unstoppable.

“You could put a bus through some of those lanes,” joked Barkley after Sunday’s game. “Our line deserves all the credit. They make our jobs easy.”

Still, what sets this version of the Eagles apart is how deep and flexible the run game has become.

When Hurts takes off, defenses have to adjust their coverage. When Barkley cuts inside, linebackers bite. And now, when Bigsby enters the rotation, he brings a punishing downhill element that wears out defenses by the third quarter.

“It’s all about balance,” Sirianni said. “When you can attack from multiple angles — inside zone, outside zone, RPOs, power — you force defenses to play honest. That’s when we’re at our best.”

Echoes of 2017

Fans in Philadelphia have seen this story before — and they like where it’s going.

In 2017, the Eagles didn’t have a 1,000-yard rusher. What they had was depth, discipline, and fresh legs every week. The backfield rotation kept defenses guessing and helped control the clock in crucial playoff moments.

This year’s version has that same DNA. Barkley’s experience mirrors Blount’s veteran leadership; Bigsby’s burst recalls Ajayi’s spark; and Hurts, much like then-quarterback Nick Foles in the postseason, is playing with quiet confidence and control.

“We’ve talked about that 2017 team,” Sirianni admitted. “The way they complemented each other — that’s something every great offense has. And we’re starting to see that with our guys.”

Former Eagles running back Corey Clement, now retired, even chimed in on social media after Bigsby’s breakout:

“This backfield’s got that same energy,” Clement tweeted. “Power, speed, and heart. Philly football.”

What Comes Next

The Eagles’ rushing attack will be tested in the coming weeks, with matchups against physical defensive fronts like Dallas, San Francisco, and Baltimore looming.

But if Sunday’s win was any indication, Philadelphia’s ground game has rediscovered its identity — and possibly its championship formula.

“We’re not there yet,” Hurts cautioned. “But we’re getting closer. It’s about consistency — stacking days, stacking wins.”

Bigsby echoed his quarterback’s sentiment.

“Every week’s a new opportunity,” he said. “We’ve got something special here. We just have to keep building on it.”

And if history is any guide, Eagles fans have every reason to believe that something special might just look familiar — three backs, one unstoppable rhythm, and a city ready to relive a little bit of 2017 magic.