The Eagles' three remaining healthy running backs knew this was on them, that their coaches wanted to lean on the run game for offensive rhythm and balance Sunday, lifting at least a little of the burden off Carson Wentz in his 2018 debut.
Just in case they'd somehow missed this emphasis during the week of practice for what became a slog of a 20-16 victory over the visiting Indianapolis Colts, Eagles coach Doug Pederson and running backs coach Duce Staley took a moment to remind them, as they prepared to take the field in a steady drizzle.
"We got pulled to the side before the game, and Doug told us and Duce told us what we were going to do and how we were going to do it," said Wendell Smallwood, who gained 56 yards on 10 carries, including the winning touchdown on a 4-yard run that capped a 17-play, 75-yard, 11-minute, 18-second drive that was the football equivalent of World War I trench warfare.