Ralph Vacchiano
NFL Reporter
Saquon Barkley has at all times insisted that he did not signal with the Philadelphia Eagles simply due to the cash. It was concerning the likelihood to lastly play on a superb group, behind a strong offensive line. And it was about getting an opportunity to remind the world how good he actually is.
That’s precisely what Barkley did on Friday night time throughout his stellar Eagles debut. He scored three touchdowns — two speeding and one receiving. He ran for 109 yards on 24 carries and caught two passes for 23 yards. He confirmed off his velocity, his open-field strikes, and his unimaginable power and energy.
He was the principle cog within the Eagles offense throughout their thrilling, 34-29 win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Sao Paolo, Brazil. He confirmed he can nonetheless be a dominant participant. He helped the Eagles present they’re nonetheless one of many NFL’s greatest groups.
And the very best half about it’s that it was solely the start. As Barkley stated, after his three-touchdown efficiency, “A hat trick is rarely a foul factor. However there’s a lot extra that I can do.”
“I wish to be particular,” Barkley added. “I wish to be particular on this offense. I wish to be particular for this group. I wish to give Philly one thing they are often pleased with. I believe they will be proud of the beginning.”
Everybody ought to be thrilled with Barkley’s begin, as a result of he actually did perform a little of every little thing for the Eagles, and confirmed them a lot of what they have been lacking throughout their 1-6 collapse late final season. He confirmed off his receiving expertise by operating an ideal route and making a leaping catch in visitors for an 18-yard landing within the first quarter. Then within the second quarter he flashed his quickness and shiftiness, making a fast lower to the precise on an 11-yard landing run.
Then within the third quarter, he introduced out the ability, beginning with a 9-yard run during which he bullied his technique to the Packers’ 2, establishing an equally highly effective 2-yard landing run.
That is all why the Eagles gave him that three-year, $37.75 million deal again in March — a blockbuster these days for a operating again. They have not had a operating again with that type of energy or versatility in years in Philadelphia. They’d actually good operating backs the final two seasons with D’Andre Swift (1,049 speeding yards in 2023) and Miles Sanders (1,269 in 2022). However Barkley’s simply totally different.Â
He makes their offense extra full.
“We’re so excited to have him,” stated Eagles coach Nick Sirianni. “He made some big, big performs all through this whole recreation. He made it within the move recreation, he made performs within the run recreation. He made some big performs in vital moments.Â
“Man, to have him on our soccer group means loads. He is a playmaker.”
He made sufficient performs to bail out an in any other case sloppy efficiency from the Eagles’ offense. Quarterback Jalen Hurts accomplished 20 of 34 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, however he additionally threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball twice (shedding it as soon as). He had his share of huge performs—  like a 67-yard landing move to A.J. Brown (5 catches, 119 yards), however it was Barkley that saved the offense shifting persistently.
He can do this as a result of he actually is that gifted — a uncommon operating again who can carry a group on this pass-happy period. He will not have to do this on a regular basis in Philadelphia, not with gamers like Brown, Hurts and receiver DeVonta Smith (7-84) round him. However simply his presence — simply the specter of what he can do — clearly opened issues up for everybody else.
That was actually evident on the Eagles’ last drive of the sport — a 16-play, 62-yard subject aim march that took 7:25 off the clock and did not give the Packers the ball again till there have been simply 27 seconds left within the recreation. It was an old-school, soul-crushing, grind-it-out drive — the sort the Eagles appeared incapable of mounting late in video games final season.
Barkley ran eight occasions on that drive, however just for 15 yards. However the protection was so keyed on stopping him that it opened issues up for some huge runs by quarterback Hurts and large passes to Smith that saved the drive alive and the Packers off the sphere.
If that factor is added again into the Eagles offense this season, they actually might be arduous to cease. They did not have an influence speeding recreation that would grind groups down and run the clock. Aside from the “Tush Push” they actually weren’t capable of choose up powerful yards persistently.
Barkley offers them that potential. And as he confirmed on Friday night time, he offers them a lot extra.
“I do know he is an incredible participant,” Hurts stated. “He had a hell of a recreation tonight. I am excited to look at him play. I am comfortable he is on our aspect. What a debut for him.”
It was fairly a debut, certainly. Barkley grew to become the primary Eagles to attain three touchdowns in a season opener since receiver Terrell Owens did it in 2004. That recreation was additionally Owens’ Eagles debut. And oh, by the best way, he led the Eagles to a Tremendous Bowl look that season.
That is the return the Eagles are hoping to get on their funding in Barkley too. They have been satisfied he was nonetheless the participant that former Giants normal supervisor Dave Gettleman famously stated was “touched by the hand of God.” They believed he’d thrive outdoors of New York, in a greater scenario, surrounded by extra expertise.
Barkley knew he would, too. And on Friday night time he lastly acquired to indicate it. It regarded like the proper marriage. He wanted the Eagles as a lot as they wanted him. They clearly appear to have the ability to convey out the very best in one another.
Though so far as Barkley is anxious, that greatest is but to come back.
“There’s a lot I proceed to play again in my thoughts that I might’ve been higher on,” Barkley stated. “I felt like I left loads on the market. But it surely was an incredible begin.”
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent the earlier six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Every day Information. Observe him Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
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