The Eagles signed Saquon Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million contract this offseason, and the move has already paid off.
The star running back ran for 109 yards and scored three touchdowns and led the Eagles to a 34-29 victory in the season opener over the Packers in Brazil on Friday night.
He scored on runs of 11 and 2 yards, with an 18-yard touchdown catch in between.
This tied Barkley’s career-high in touchdowns, as he also scored three in a game against the Bucs while with the Giants in 2018. Barkley spent six seasons with the Giants before becoming a free agent and joining the rival team.
The Eagles overcame three turnovers by Jalen Hurts with a shaky performance. He threw an interception on the Eagles’ third play, lost a fumble on an aborted shotgun snap on the sixth play, and then threw another interception in the end zone in the fourth quarter when the Eagles were at the Green Bay 14-yard line.
Hurts completed 20 of 34 passes for 278 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and achieved a passer rating of 80.3. AJ Brown caught five passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.
The Packers gained 414 yards but did themselves in with 10 penalties for 71 yards and compensating penalties that negated a touchdown and two red zone field goals of 31 and 23 yards by rookie Brayden Narveson, who missed a 43-yard attempt at the right upright in the second half. Jordan Love also threw a costly interception.
The Eagles had a 7:25 drive on their final possession that left the Packers with 27 seconds left and a touchdown to win. The Packers’ best chance came when Hurts dropped the ball with 1:12 left on what would have been a quarterback push play, but Barkley saved the day by picking the ball back up.
On the final drive, Love took the Packers to the Eagles’ 47 before being pressured. Although he blocked the ball and threw it backwards to Josh Jacobs, Love did not get up and doubled over in pain, eventually limping to the sideline.
The Packers therefore have an even bigger concern than defeat.
Love completed 17 of 34 passes for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Jayden Reed was the Packers’ star with a 33-yard touchdown run and a 70-yard touchdown catch. He finished with four catches for 138 yards.
Jacobs had 16 carries for 84 yards and two catches for 20 yards in his debut for the Packers.
