There was an unforgettable scene in “Hard Knocks: Offseason” where the New York Giants co-owner John Mara tells his general manager Joe Schoen that he did not want to see Saquon Barkley walk out the door in free agency, especially to their division rival in the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles. It was mentioned nearly a million times on various social media platforms Friday night.
“I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I’ll tell you that,” Mara said.
Mara might have nightmares, toss and turn, and lose some sleep for a few days at least, after Friday night’s game. Eagles’ fans might not either. Same for Green Bay Packers fans but for a totally different reason.
Barkley was a game changer for the Eagles’ offense in a shootout 34-29 win over the Packers in São Paulo, Brazil. He became the second player in Eagles history to score three touchdowns in his debut, joining Hall of Famer Terrell Owens in 2004.
The game took an unexpected turn for the worse with six seconds left when Packers quarterback Jordan Love had his foot caught underneath an Eagles defender as he was being brought down. Love was down on the field in obvious agony and pain and helped off while backup Malik Willis came on to finish the game under center. The Packers hope that Love’s injury does not cause him to miss any significant time. When asked about Love’s status postgame, coach Matt LaFleur answered simply, “I don’t know.”
Embed from Getty ImagesBarkley went into his tool box and used all of his skills to beat the Packers. He hauled in a great catch on a deep pass, exploded through a huge hole for his first rushing touchdown and bulled his way into the end zone for his third score.
The Eagles did not iron out all the wrinkles and have everything under control in their first game of the season. But they do know that they added a special player on the offensive side of the ball who might lift them upon his broad shoulders and carry them as they figure things out, just like he did in the ‘Big Apple’ for six years. The Eagles have to be pumped up about what their offense could turn in to with Barkley making explosive plays at running back. He is like a cherry on top of a sundae.
The game featured two high-level offensive and had a lot of scoring but it was not always pretty. Both teams had their fair share of problems with the turf, with players on each side slipping. That seemed to improve in the second half as teams changed out their cleats. Other parts of the contest seemed fragmented. You could blame it on a number of factors, whether it was due to being in Brazil, the unusual Friday night kickoff or neither team using starters for almost all of the preseason. It did not help that the game lost its flow due to excessive penalties.
However, there was plenty for the fans in the stadium and at home to cheer about. Barkley had a hat trick of touchdowns. Packers receiver Jayden Reed had two touchdowns, a 33-yard run and a 70-yard catch. A.J. Brown added a 67-yard touchdown catch for the Eagles early in the third quarter.
There were big plays and massive blunders as well. Jalen Hurts threw an unacceptable interception on the first possession of the game and then another head scratching one into the end zone in the fourth quarter when he threw across his body, something you are taught not to do in Pop Warner. Things were not always flawless for Love either. He threw an interception that led to Barkley’s third touchdown and also missed the mark on a lot of passes. Love completed just 50% of his attempts, 17 of 34 for 260 yards. He seemed to be experiencing cramps in the second half, as the training staff worked on his calves and gave him fluids when he was on the sideline.
In the fourth quarter, the Packers had a difficult decision to make on fourth-and-5 from the Eagles’ 8-yard line. There was a little less than eight minutes remaining. They trailed by five, 31-26. They chose to kick a field goal and cut Philly’s lead to two points instead of going for it, hoping they could get a stop and get the ball back needing just a field goal to win it.
But the Eagles, who had moved the ball down the field in large chunks most of the game, got deep into Packers territory while milking the clock. The Packers seemed to have a third-down stop but veteran defensive lineman Kenny Clark was called for holding, the second questionable defensive holding call on that drive. DeVonta Smith had two clutch first-down catches just before the two-minute warning. The Eagles could not punch it in, fumbling a snap when they were about to try their signature Tush Push, but kicked a chip-shot field goal with 27 seconds left. Love exited with the injury and Willis could not get a Hail Mary attempt off as he was sacked by linebacker Zack Baun, who had a terrific night, and time expired.
Each team had their own separate issues. It might take a few weeks, and certainly a return home, to feel a little more comfortable. But on Friday night, the difference was the Eagles’ new dynamic running back.
The Giants got an outstanding rookie season out of Barkley when they drafted him out of Penn State University with the second overall pick, and he was never able to replicate that production due to injuries, though he was good. The question was whether some injuries had taken their toll on him, or if the Giants’ unorthodox situation around Barkley was so bad that it was stunting his growth. The answer came into focus on Friday night.
The Eagles signed Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million deal in the offseason, which was unusual for them. They have generally not invested much in the running back position. Obviously, they thought Barkley was a special talent.
He showed that right off the bat on a leaping touchdown catch in the end zone from Hurts. Not all backs have that type of receiving ability. Barkley rushed for 109 yards, had a big play in the passing game and gave the Eagles offense a jolt that it could have used late in the 2023 campaign.
The Eagles were able to grind out a win with an effective final drive as the Packers desperately tried to get a stop and have one more possession with a chance to win. Barkley was a big part of that game-clinching drive as well. It was not always the prettiest win for the Eagles, especially on defense. But it will be a much better flight back to the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ with a 1-0 record.
