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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Let LeBron James have the final say on Saquon Barkley’s three-touchdown debut for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“OMG SAQUON SO DAMN FAST!!!!!!! SO GOOD MAN!” the Los Angeles Lakers star wrote on social media.
So fast, really so fast.
The New York Giants couldn’t sign him. The Green Bay Packers couldn’t catch him.
Barkley proved on Friday that he can be the game-winning running back the Eagles have long needed to win the Super Bowl. Barkley rushed for 109 yards and scored a touchdown with an 18-yard catch and runs of 11 and 2 yards to lead the Eagles to a 34-29 victory over the Packers in their NFL debut in Brazil.
With a three-year, $26 million guaranteed contract, Barkley is the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
It could turn out to be the most valuable.
Yes, it’s just one game, but the Eagles can easily be excited about what they have in their 27-year-old running back. For all the talent Barkley had with the Giants, for all the big numbers he put up for the NFC East team, Barkley never played on a team that could keep up with the talent around him on the Eagles. From Jalen Hurts to AJ Brown to a traditionally strong offensive line — which went through some early struggles without the retired six-time All-Pro center Jason Kelce — Barkley is just one of the key pieces that keeps the offense running.
“The O-line played great. That’s a big reason why I wanted to come to Philly,” Barkley said.
His three touchdowns were the most by an Eagles player in his debut since Terrell Owens in 2004.
“There will be games where I have the opportunity to take the lead,” Barkley said.
Barkley just needs to stay healthy, which is easier said than done for a running back who has struggled with injuries throughout most of his time with the Giants.
The Eagles have had three players lead the team in rushing each of the last three years and declined to sign 2023 frontrunner D’Andre Swift. They expect to use Barkley as a three-down workhorse they haven’t seen since LeSean McCoy’s heyday ended a decade ago. He played in 14 games last season, missing three because of a high ankle sprain.
He was the player you could count on in New York. He’s just part of a talented offense in Philly – a big part, yes. But even Barkley admits he might have an easier time finding success with the Eagles – possibly even having a career year.
“I’m probably not even in the top three on the scouting report, which is what you have to worry about,” he said.
And that’s a tough blow to the Giants: What were they thinking letting Barkley go?
“I’m not going to be able to sleep well if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I can tell you that,” Giants owner John Mara said on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” which documented Barkley’s free agency.
If that’s true, Mara must have been a bit sleepy on Saturday.
What works
Kellen Moore’s offense. The first-year coordinator let it rip in the opening play of his first game since replacing the fired Brian Johnson. Barkley rushed for over 100 yards and Brown had 119 passing yards and a touchdown. DeVonta Smith caught seven balls for 84 yards.
What needs help
Ball security. The Eagles lost the battle for possession 3-1. Hurts threw two interceptions – last season he tied for the NFL’s all-time leader with 15 interceptions – and dropped a tush-push snap near the end, but Barkley jumped on the ball and saved the possession, which ended with a field goal to make it 34-29.
Increase
Linebacker Zack Baun sealed the win with a sack on the game’s final play, the highlight of his first game with the Eagles. He had a career-high 15 tackles and could solidify the middle of the defense.
Share price falls
The defense was a complete shambles statistically and put up an inconsistent performance against the Packers, holding the Packers to just three field goals when they advanced inside the 20-yard line. Reed Blankenship set up Barkley’s third touchdown with an interception that gave Philadelphia the ball at the Green Bay 25-yard line. The Eagles allowed 414 total yards, 163 rushing yards and 7.1 yards per play. That’s not entirely sustainable for any team looking to make the Super Bowl. It’s still a work in progress under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, but there were promising plays.
Injuries
The Eagles were lucky to survive the game unscathed on the muddy southern hemisphere pitch.
“It’s definitely a challenge on this field. It’s not the type of field we normally play on,” Hurts said.
With NBA training camp still weeks away, James was obviously interested in the game, and he, like everyone else, knew the court was in poor condition.
“Man this field sucks!!! GB vs. PHI,” he wrote on social media.
Key figures
26-9 – Coach Nick Sirianni has a career 4-0 record in opening games, a major reason why the Eagles have tied with the Chiefs for the best record (26-9, .743) in the NFL since 2022.
Next Steps
The Eagles are taking a nice break before their home opener on Monday night, September 16, against Atlanta.
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