Saquon Barkley takes a page out of AJ Brown’s book to help the Birds turn things around this week in Minnesota

Two straight losses for Saquon Barkley and the Birds brought two-straight weeks of panic across Philadelphia. Playing Thursday Night Football is a gift and a curse.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, losing your second-straight last Thursday didn’t do them any favors. It was even worse because that loss came at the hands of the lowly New York Giants.

That of course, opened the flood gates for every media talking head to light up the torches and set fire to the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles like they aren’t 4-2 and in first place in the NFC East.

We’ve seen anonymous sources forming narratives, dopes like Howard Eskin saying that Tanner McKee should be starting, and the usual filth pouring out over the airwaves for over a week at this point.

It’s insane. We desperately need a win in Minnesota this week for general health.

Luckily, none of that shit really matters. When you hear from actual Eagles players, there’s a different tone being set that brings us hope we are going to get back on track. Here’s what AJ Brown said to the media yesterday.

AJ Brown on the noise:

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Saquon Barkley is taking a similar route to AJ Brown, which is obviously a good sign. Instead of screaming into the void like the rest of us, the veteran running back is doing what every great competitor does when the noise gets loud by going back to the basics. That starts with a book called Chop Wood, Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great which helped him rediscover himself years ago.

Saquon Barkley’s plan to save the Eagles season

Saquon Barkley is reading a book to help get his season on track.

“Chop Wood Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great”

“Just falling in love again with the process. You can lose sight of that. That’s what I get back to: just falling in love with the… pic.twitter.com/bS4NAOFGFy

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 16, 2025

The book is all about embracing the grind and mastering the daily repetitions that build greatness. For a team that’s been sloppy, inconsistent, and flat-out underachieving at times this season, Saquon Barkley’s mindset might be exactly what the locker room needs to break out of whatever the hell we’ve witnessed over the first six games of the season.

Again, the Eagles are sitting at 4-2. I’m not buying into the outrage… yet. That’s a solid record on paper but anyone watching knows that things have simply looked “off” for Jalen Hurts and company. Barkley is trying to operate behind an injured o-line. He’s only rushed for 325 yards on 95 carries (3.4 YPC). No stat lines are popping right now, so it makes sense to look inwards at the leadership and self-reflect to ignite a spark.

The “Reading Era” That Saved a Season

None of this is new. AJ Brown was reading books on the sidelines last season. The media clowned him. Fans made jokes. Inner Excellence soared to the top of the charts and the Birds caught fire. They won the NFC East, steamrolled through the playoffs, and dismantled the Chiefs dynasty in Super Bowl LIX.

If Saquon Barkley wants to follow the same strategy, then let’s ride. Maybe cracking open Chop Wood, Carry Water is the 2025 version of that moment. The exact spark this locker room needs to tune out the noise, realign their mindset, and start believing again.

I hope every player on that sideline starts reading something. Whatever it takes to get this team rolling again.

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