Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Howard can name his own price

After watching the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense collapse without him post-bye week, Jordan Howard can pretty much name his price to return in 2020.

It’s true, it’s really true. Their offense stinks, their defense stinks, their play calling stinks. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if the air conditioning at the NovaCare Center has been broken since the bye week, as there has to be some explanation as to why this team has been so all around stinky.

Are they actually just… bad?

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Well, one thing the Eagles actually did pretty well in their brutal loss to the Miami Dolphins was run the ball – yes, seriously.

While the decision to only run the ball 19 times looks more and more incongruous with each maddening recollection, when Doug Pederson actually called a run – a rare occurrence that I assume happened against his will – the duo of Miles Sanders and Jay Ajayi ran good against the Dolphins’ 31st ranked rushing defense – amassing 19 carries for 92 yards.

So, you may ponder mouth agape, why didn’t the team ride their workhorse backs – back, Ajayi had two carries for nine-yards – with a two-touchdown lead? Simple: Neither rusher is Jordan Howard.

Ah, do you remember Howard, or is he a fading remnant of when the Eagles actually had a chance to make the playoffs? If so, may I refresh you on the Birds’ (still) leading rusher?

A former fifth-round pick out of UAB via Indiana, Howard spent three highly productive seasons as the Chicago Bears‘ one-cut power runner before being shipped to the City of Brotherly Love for a 2020 sixth-round pick back in March.

Since then, Howard has thoroughly leapfrogged initial club favorite Sanders on the Eagles depth chart en route to four straight starts pre-bye. Why? Because Howard is really, really good.

In games where Howard earned at least 10 carries, the 25-year-old rusher has averaged a little over 66 yards and .71 touchdowns per contest. The Eagles are also 4-3 in games where Howard rushes the ball 10 or more times, a sign of what we already know: The Eagles win when Jordan Howard runs the ball.

Not only that, but the Eagles also score an average of 3.57 more points when Howard is utilized correctly, a stat that is only slightly exaggerated when you consider the last three weeks.

Speaking of the last three weeks, if Howard’s agent really wants to secure his client a big-money deal from another Howard (Roseman), all he has to do is bring the game film from the last three contests.

Like it or not, the Eagles are a team that wins by running the ball. I know it, you know it, and after watching a two-touchdown lead slowing get chipped away by a 37-year-old father of five on his eighth-team in 15 seasons, hopefully Pederson knows it.

That not only means recommitting to a run-heavy – or at least run even – offensive attack, but ensuring that Howard remains an Eagle for a very, very, very long time.

Barring an Ezekiel Elliott-level contract demand, there really isn’t a reason why the team shouldn’t honor their feature back with such a deal.

Next. Philadelphia Eagles watch their playoff hopes dwindle with Miami loss. dark

After watching the team crumble over the past month, it’s clear the Philadelphia Eagles are a team in dire need of a transfusion of young, electrifying talent. And maybe even more so, the Eagles need to retain the young talent they actually have in-house. While he isn’t the most dynamic, or athletic rusher, Jordan Howard is easily the best running back to call the City of Brotherly Love home and should be rewarded for his efforts with a new deal. It’s not like he’d make the team any worse.

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