Saquon Barkley Not a ‘Secret Weapon,’ However He is Tom Brady’s First 3-Time LFG Participant of the Recreation

Saquon Barkley’s determination to signal with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 was a franchise-altering transfer, and that was obvious once more on Sunday.

The Eagles’ working again rushed for 88 yards on 4 yards per carry of their 20-17 win over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. As Barkley stood out in a sport the place yards had been laborious to come back by for each groups, he additionally made historical past once more. He gained Tom Brady’s LFG Participant of the Recreation for the third time, changing into the primary three-time winner of the award.

Barkley has given the Eagles a serious benefit in big-time matchups during the last two seasons, like Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl LIX rematch. Nonetheless, Barkley downplayed the concept he is been the distinction maker for the Eagles during the last two seasons. 

“I would not say I am the key weapon,” Barkley informed Brady with amusing. “They positively make me earn each single yard. To come back into this atmosphere, that is my first time taking part in at Arrowhead, you gotta give respect. It was an superior atmosphere. It was a enjoyable sport, robust sport. The mindset was no matter it takes, come out right here and win. We did that as a workforce.”

Whereas Barkley disputed Brady’s notion that he is been the distinction maker for the Eagles, it is laborious to argue that he hasn’t been that participant for them. He rushed 2,005 yards within the common season final 12 months earlier than including 499 speeding yards within the playoffs. Barkley’s 2,504 speeding yards had been essentially the most ever by a participant in a single season (common season and postseason mixed).

However the Chiefs truly had success slowing down Barkley within the Eagles’ 40-22 victory in Tremendous Bowl LIX. He solely rushed for 57 yards on 2.5 yards per carry in that sport and did not attain the tip zone.

So, Barkley understandably wished to point out out in Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl rematch.

“It is uncommon to have a postseason really feel in Week 2,” Barkley mentioned. “We’re used to that on the Linc (Lincoln Monetary Area). To have the ability to come right here at Arrowhead and expertise this atmosphere, shout out to the followers right here, they did an awesome job. Shout out to the Eagles followers who all confirmed up. 

“Most significantly, we knew it was going to be a canine struggle. We got here to struggle and we bought the win.”

Barkley’s 13-yard landing opened the scoring for Sunday’s sport within the first quarter. He additionally had a handful of different carries that helped the Eagles transfer the ball in a sport that became a discipline place battle at factors.

Nonetheless, the play of the sport belonged to Eagles security Andrew Mukuba. With the Chiefs driving to the Eagles’ 6-yard line within the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, the rookie made a heads-up play when Patrick Mahomes’ move to Travis Kelce bounced off the tight finish’s fingers as he made the seize for an interception.

Mukuba additionally returned Mahomes’ interception to the Eagles’ 41-yard line, giving his workforce quick discipline place. They scored a landing on the following drive to take a 20-10 lead on the time. 

Despite the fact that Barkley and the Eagles’ offense had been in a position to get the job performed after the interception, the working again jokingly expressed some disappointment that Mukuba wasn’t in a position to return the interception all the way in which. 

“I used to be shedding my thoughts. I’ve gotta educate him slightly bit easy methods to take it to the home,” Barkley mentioned. “Nevertheless it was hell of a play. We belief our protection. Our motto is: we’ll make the performs, bend do not break. You might sense a turnover was going to occur. 

“It sort of turned the sport round for us.”

Tom Brady breaks down Eagles’ win in opposition to Chiefs | NFL on FOX

Try Tom Brady’s break down of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 20-17 win in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

Barkley expressed some disappointment once more, although, when he discovered from Brady that it was Chiefs offensive deal with Josh Simmons who took down Mukuba. 

“I am positively going to provide him some stuff within the locker room for getting tackled by an offensive lineman,” Barkley mentioned.

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