The National Football League named Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant, and Detroit Lions placekicker Jake Bates as the National Football Conference’s best players for Week 7 of the 2024 season.
Barkley became the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after tallying 17 carries for 176 yards and a touchdown against his former team, the New York Giants. In a now-viral video, Barkley opted against setting a new career high to let his fellow running backs gain some playing time. Through six games, Barkley has 108 carries for 658 yards and five touchdowns for the Eagles. The former Penn State standout also has a touchdown off 103 receiving yards.
Meanwhile, Durant was all over the field during the Rams’ Week 7 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, tallying two tackles, two passes defended, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble. Those were his first INT, sack, and FF of the season. Meanwhile, the NFC Defensive Player of the Week has 17 tackles and three passes defended in six games.
Finally, Bates earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after contributing seven points to the Lions’ monumental victory over their NFC North rivals, the Minnesota Vikings. In addition to his four extra points after touchdowns, Bates handed Minnesota their first loss of the 2024 season by converting a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left in regulation.
NFC Players of the Week! (Week 7) pic.twitter.com/og0I3TdSTQ
— NFL (@NFL) October 23, 2024
Barkley and the Eagles will face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8. Durant and the Rams will play the Vikings, while Bates and the Lions will host the Tennessee Titans.
-Lance Fernandez