Bill Belichick Shares Secret to Success of Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry This Season

The NFL season is inching closer and closer to the playoffs, meaning those who have had an opportunity to stand out this season have done exactly such.

Two running backs, in particular, have been excellent while playing for entirely new franchises within a new scheme. Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry both left their long-tenured teams in free agency, and the grass has certainly been greener.

The New York Giants opted to pay quarterback Daniel Jones a hefty amount on his contract, though he's no longer on their roster, which led to Barkley's eventual departure.

Henry was on a Tennessee Titans squad not fit to compete at the highest level anymore, and his production was taking a hit because of such.

Now, the two are thriving and reminding the NFL world just how important an elite rushing attack can be. On Sunday, Barkley rushed for 255 yards for the Philadelphia Eagles, helping them to a big win over the Los Angeles Rams.

The teams that let the superstar backs walk are certainly suffering in hindsight. Bill Belichick shares the secret to the newfound success the two running backs are finding during "The Pat McAfee Show."

"It's always best offensively when you have good balance," Belichick said. "Derrick Henry is a great back, he's having a great year. So is [Saquon] Barkley. But when you look at the rest of the offense -- Lamar [Jackson] is a huge problem. Hurts is a problem. The Eagles have really good receivers. ...It's the same thing with the Ravens.

"Yes, Henry is a big problem. Lamar Jackson is probably an even bigger problem. ...The balance makes it hard to defend. If you give it all up on one play on a long pass or a thirty, forty-yard pass, it's very discouraging.

"If you're playing a little more balanced, you know, guys like Henry, [Josh] Jacobs and Barkley and those guys can do a lot of damage. So I think it's really benefitted them to be on a well-balanced offense."

Not every team has the luxury of having a versatile quarterback, but an offense finding balance, in any capacity, will ultimately help every skill player. Receivers will find more space, running backs will have more room. The Detroit Lions are a perfect example from a team perspective, with Henry and Barkley posing great independent examples.