Saquon Barkley, Eagles run game explode against Giants

It took just two plays for the Giants to get a taste of what they were in for Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.

Saquon Barkley took a handoff 65 yards for a touchdown just seconds into the game, the start of what was a 276-yard rushing outing for the Eagles, who improved to 6-2 heading into their Bye Week.

The Giants were more physical than the Eagles two weeks ago at MetLife Stadium, and it was a topic of conversation amongst Eagles players coming into the Week 8 matchup. Philadelphia responded by running all over New York and into a week off.

"We just wanted to be the more physical team today. It didn't matter what it looked like," left tackle Jordan Mailata said. "... Mission accomplished."

Bigsby's initial role with the Eagles was as a kick returner, but that since has shifted, and his top priority is doing whatever is asked to the best of his ability.

"You wait until you get your opportunity. When you get your opportunity, you go out and be who you are," Bigsby said. "Just keep being a great team player. [If] coach needs me on special teams, coach needs me at running back, coach needs me at tight end, I'd probably go out there and play tight end, whatever it is. Just being the best team player I can be."

Five of Bigsby's runs went for 10+ yards, including a 29-yard run on 2nd-and-26. He took his final attempt of the game 17 yards, carrying a load of Giants defenders with him to the ground.

"There was a play today where there was bad communication on our part up front and (it) wasn't as clean. Some guys would just kind of take the loss. He got the ball, picked a hole, and hit it," said Brett Toth, who started at center in place of the injured Cam Jurgens. "It's not blocked for what he hit and he made, I think, a 12-yard gain off of it. As an O-lineman, you look at it and say, 'That's a guy you'll fight for. Took his own shot. Made his own block.' It's awesome to see him get his shine as well."

Dodgers' 'nine man guessing game' dilemma could hand the Blue Jays the World Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers have faced one major problem for most of the year: the bullpen. At one point during the regular season, the bullpen was the Dodgers’ worst nightmare. That’s also why Roki Sasaki was moved to the bullpen on such short notice. For the World Series, the Dodgers are without one of their top bullpen arms, Alex Vesia.

“Alex Vesia is off the World Series roster and not on a bereavement list that would allow him to return between three and seven days, by the way. The Dodgers will try to secure another championship without one of their most trusted relievers,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote.

Not only will the Dodgers be without Vesia, but they will also be missing their top offseason addition, Tanner Scott. Scott was unable to make the World Series roster after coming back from a minor procedure.

“Regardless, Scott hasn't shown enough to rush him back to the Fall Classic roster, and the Dodgers might just be better off without him, especially with the emergence of Roki Sasaki to take the ball during high-leverage situations,” SI’s Gabe Smallson wrote. “With his struggles as of late and however long it will take him to ramp up, it appears unlikely fans will see Scott in the World Series.”

With all of this going on, MLB insider Jon Heyman believes the Toronto Blue Jays have an advantage.

“The LA pen was filled with big names with bigger reps to start the season, but Tanner Scott, Evan Phillips, Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech and Brusdar Graterol are all out with injuries. What remains is a nine-man guessing game,” Heyman wrote. “Dodgers manager Dave Roberts seemed reluctant to employ his bullpen in previous rounds, and this performance, with the first eight batters LA’s pen faced driving in nine runs, can’t aid his confidence in the group."

There’s no hiding the fact that the Dodgers’ bullpen is a major concern. Each game, it’s unclear who can be relied upon.

If the Dodgers are to lose this series, it very well could be due to bullpen blunders. Either Roberts guesses the right arm at the right time, or the team could suffer blowup innings in the worst way possible.

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