The Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up for a high-stakes playoff clash with the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field this Wildcard Weekend, where there’s no room for error and every snap could define the season. After a year marked by statement wins and frustrating setbacks, the Eagles now find themselves in full-on single-elimination mode, with their Super Bowl hopes hanging in the balance.
As expected, the spotlight will shine brightest on Philadelphia’s stars. Jalen Hurts will be asked to control the game and protect the football, Saquon Barkley must be the engine of the offense, AJ Brown needs to stress the 49ers’ secondary, and Jalen Carter will be counted on to disrupt Kyle Shanahan’s offense at the line of scrimmage. Those headliners give the Eagles a fighting chance against anyone in the league.
But beating a well-drilled, playoff-tested 49ers team usually requires more than just star power. It often comes down to unexpected contributions: the kind that catch an opponent leaning the wrong way. Philadelphia knows it will need help from its role players to tilt the matchup and create those small advantages that matter most in January. According to ClutchPoints, future Eagles Hall of Famer Jason Kelce knows who can be the X-factor in that game.
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Tank Bigsby deserves more playing time alongside Saquon Barkley
That’s where Tank Bigsby enters the conversation. According to future Eagles Hall of Famer Jason Kelce, Bigsby could be a true X-factor in this game. Kelce has spoken highly of the running back’s ability to complement Saquon Barkley, pointing to his physical running style and willingness to do the dirty work between the tackles.
“I hope to see a pretty decent usage of Tank at this point. I mean, how many times does a guy have to flash to be like, ‘Why are we not giving this guy more?’ I mean, that’s the reality of it,” Kelce said on WIP. He explained that Bigsby’s style works perfectly with what Barkley does on the field.
Kelce pointed out that while Barkley is excellent at reading zone plays and choosing the best direction to run, Bigsby plays differently. “Tank isn’t reading anything, I’m convinced. I think he just gets the ball and he just… SHOOM! Right up,” Kelce explained. Just like CM Punk’s bold comparison drew strong reactions, sports fans have passionate opinions about player usage decisions.
This direct running style forces defenders to fill gaps immediately or Bigsby will gain four to five yards. When linebackers adjust to Bigsby’s fast tempo, it makes things easier for Barkley when he comes back in.
Kelce isn’t the only person calling for Bigsby to get more playing time. Ever since general manager Howie Roseman traded for him during the fall, fans have wanted to see the powerful downhill runner get more snaps each game. While an NHL team defended their goaltender from rumors, Eagles fans continue defending their belief that Bigsby deserves more opportunities.
Whether head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo will give Bigsby that bigger role next to Barkley could be important for the Eagles’ chances of reaching the Divisional Round.
Published: Jan 10, 2026 01:30 pm