There was no player who looked forward to Sunday more than Saquon Barkley.
Barkley already had to answer questions over his critical drop the previous week that started the late game collapse of the Philadelphia Eagles against the Atlanta Falcons, owning up to it at every turn. The best way for Barkley to shake it off was to play another game.
“We just trusted the process. Just kept working,” Barkley said, via a transcript provided by the Saints. “We understand that when things like last weekend happen, everyone thinks the world is ending.”
Needless to say, Barkley just needed to get back on the football field to show the world how good he was. He was completely dominant.
When the Eagles needed a play, there was Barkley to make one. Barkley scored both Eagles touchdowns in the fourth quarter in Sunday’s 15-12 win over the New Orleans Saints, scoring all 15 points for Philadelphia.
At the end of the day, Barkley finished with 17 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns (8.6 yards per carry). He finished with 156 yards from scrimmage and averaged 7.4 yards per touch. In the fourth quarter, Barkley had three carries for 69 yards and two touchdowns — including a 65-yard score that got the Eagles on the board.
“Saquon, specifically, responded to that drop,” The NFL Today on CBS Sports analyst Matt Ryan said Monday. “To go there like he did with the two touchdowns was impressive. It’s not an easy place to come in and get the job done. It was exactly what they needed.”
This is the difference maker the Eagles paid for. Barkley took responsibility for the loss, but certainly didn’t dwell on it.
“It really doesn’t matter what the outside world thinks,” Barkley said. “What’s important is what happens in our locker room. Today, we just trusted each other. Continued to support each other. That’s what team football is all about.”
What Barkley is doing through three games for the Eagles is special. Barkley leads the NFL in rushing yards with 351, the second most for any player through the first three games of a season in team history (LeSean McCoy had 385 in 2011). Among players with 30+ carries, Barkley is third in the NFL in yards per carry (5.6), fifth in yards before contact per rush (2.13), and seventh in yards after contact per rush (3.51).
Barkley is second in the NFL in scrimmage yards (404) and third in yards per touch (5.5) among players with 30+ touches. He is tied for the NFL lead with five touchdowns.
The 65-yard touchdown run showcased the special plays Barkley brings to the offense. Jordan Mailata couldn’t contain his emotions, especially after Barkley scored right after DeVonta Smith went down with a concussion.
“I was pretty excited,” Mailata said. “I gotta stop swearing… Man, that touchdown was crazy, I mean, Saquon MFin’ Barkley. Sorry, excuse my language. Special player.
“It was like, ‘I got your back,’ Saquon made a statement with that play. It was like, “I got your back Smitty. I’m going to make a play.” He made a play. That was terrible.”
Barkley has turned on his teammates — and this Eagles offense — since he arrived. The best may yet be yet to come.
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