In a bearish NFL running back market, tailbacks have formed a fraternity trying to change perceptions and payouts. Running like bulls in a china shop, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley have more than done their part.
Both free agents this offseason, they sit at No. 1 and No. 2 in the league in rushing yards and have been obvious difference-makers for their new teams. Barkley has 1,392 yards and Henry is 67 behind with 1,325.
But on Sunday, Henry and Barkley won't be on the same team. When the Ravens and Eagles kick off against each other Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium, it will be a throwback battle where star running backs take center stage, each looking to outrace the other.
"You have the best two running backs in the NFL facing each other. It's cool, especially for today's NFL," Ravens fullback Patrick Ricard said. "Running backs are getting the premier look of being franchise players."
Sunday's game will mark the first meeting between the top two leaders in scrimmage yards in Week 13 or later of a season since 2009 (Tennessee's Chris Johnson vs. St. Louis Rams' Steven Jackson). It will mark the first meeting between players each with at least 1,300 rushing yards in a season since 2012 (Minnesota's Adrian Peterson vs. Houston's Arian Foster).
Henry has been paying attention to what Barkley has done this season. It's nearly impossible to miss his highlights, from the backwards hurdle to his 255-yard game Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams. Henry gave Barkley a social media shoutout after that record-setting performance.
"I think he is a generational back," Henry said Wednesday. "He's doing a hell of a job [and has] been a great back in this league since he came in. He's been playing well for them this year."
The next night in the same building, Henry rumbled for 140 yards, sparking the Ravens offense and burying the Chargers down the stretch. After the game, Henry jokingly sent a message to Barkley to "slow your ass down."
Henry didn't put much stock into the running back battle Sunday. He's more focused on the Eagles' strong defensive front anchored by big defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.
"It should be fun. [Barkley] has been doing a great job, and it will be an exciting game," Henry said. "I'm just going to do my job. I don't really try to focus on the outside noise."
Henry and Barkley have been similarly effective. Barkley is averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Henry is at 6.0. Henry's longest run is an 87-yard touchdown and he has 14 runs of 20+ yards. Barkley's longest is a 72-yard touchdown and he also has 14 big runs.
They just do it differently. Barkley is more likely to jump over (even in reverse) a defensive back while Henry is more likely to run through them with a stiff-arm.
Lamar Jackson remembers watching Barkley jump over someone's head in a high school football all-star game. Henry said when he saw Barkley do it in the NFL this season, he thought it was "crazy" just like everyone else.
But don't be fooled by the flattery. Henry and the Ravens want to hold that rushing crown by season's end, and they especially want to claim it Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
"It's definitely an exciting challenge for us to try to outrush them because they've been doing such a good job," Ricard said. "Why wouldn't you want your guy to be the top dog? I'm going to do everything I can to try to help him get that spot."
So how will the Ravens try to slow down Saquon?
Barkley has been held below 100 total yards just twice this season. He's averaged 152 rushing yards over his past six games.
So while Henry vs. Barkley is the main attraction, it's the Ravens defense that is most dialed in on the threat he poses and how to stop it.
"Where do you start with Saquon Barkley? He's just a really hard guy to tackle. I think his vision is really good," Head Coach John Harbaugh said.
"They run a lot of different schemes – inside zone is kind of where they start – but inside zone, outside zone [and] they have different gap schemes. Just his vision – his ability to see from edge to edge and all the way across whenever there's a gap that's not defended – he can see it. [He can] not only see it, but get to it. All of the other highlight stuff is there as well, but just his ability to make a defense pay for not being in the right spot is probably the thing that jumps out at me the most."
Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh knows Barkley from being fellow Penn State alums. Oweh said it will be like being back in practice at Beaver Stadium.
"He's a great player, so [we'll] play it honest," Oweh said. "But also, we're trying to take it to him as well."
While Barkley is the NFL's top running back and the Eagles have the NFL's top rushing attack, averaging 193.4 yards per game, the Ravens have the league's No. 2-ranked rush defense, allowing just 77.9 yards per contest.
It's strength vs. strength Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.
"Obviously, he is a great running back, can get out [of] the backfield, elusive, fast, strong, and they've got an O-Line to help him, too," safety Kyle Hamilton said. "So, it's going to be a challenge, but I feel like we've got a pretty good run [defense] ourselves."
