Sunday Night Football did not disappoint. Rams and Eagles played good football but, above all, the game certified Saquon Barkley‘s candidacy for MVP of the season, assuming that we decide to reward an athlete who does not play the role of quarterback.
Number twenty-six signed a monstrous performance by setting a record for the Eagles with 255 rushing yards and another 47 throwing. Irresistible. Like a Chinese drop, down after down, the running back wore down the Los Angeles defense to the point of demolishing it, a bit like he did with all the others during the season.
Result: the collapse in the last quarter of those who should have stemmed him and his final explosion with two touchdowns of 70 and 72 yards, exactly at the beginning and practically at the end of the fifteen minutes that closed the match with a victory for Philadelphia.
It was well known that Saquon was strong, but after six seasons with the Giants, which also declined due to some injuries, no one could have predicted a championship like the one he is playing with the Eagles.
A phenomenon that is being talked about throughout the football world and also by athletes from other disciplines (see LeBron James) which has pushed the electronic game Madden, as famous in the USA as the football PlayStation is in Italy, to update the “virtual” player with on the 26th by inserting the stunt – the backward jump – from the match with the Jaguars.
An action that immediately ended up in the merchandising blender complete with real-time t-shirts and which we are re-proposing in the drawing with a super heroic line by Lorenzo Ruggiero, penciled by Marvel USA, exclusively for our column. A gesture that has become iconic, in short.
In short, he broke the balance of yesterday’s meeting in the end.
Some numbers to understand the extent of the test. Barkley totaled 302 yards overall – becoming the 12th player in NFL history to surpass 300 and, as mentioned, the first Eagles player – also becoming the first player in the league with two 70-yard rushing touchdowns in a game Maurice Jones-Drew in 2009.
Barkley leads the NFL for RBs with 1,392 rushing yards, including 7 100-yard rushing games, all this in his first season with Philadelphia after those with the Giants (who let him go…).
“To be honest, I’m not surprised,” Barkley said, after the race. “Of course, I didn’t know I would be so successful with Phila, (but) I’m grateful to be here. I’m grateful for the new beginning. One of the main reasons I wanted to come here is that I felt like this is a place where I could have rewritten my story and shown everyone the kind of player I feel I could be and was destined to be, and it’s working right now.”
Averaging 9.8 yards per rush, Barkley shattered LeSean McCoy’s Eagles franchise records of 217 rushing yards in 2013 and Duce Staley’s 296 total yards in 2000. He also had their best rushing performance ever against the Rams, surpassing DeMarco Murray’s 253 yards for Dallas in 2011.
On a day that saw the hard-fought victories of the Chiefs (over the Cinderella Panthers) and the Vikings (over the Bears who were beaten in overtime) and the confirmation of the strength of the Lions (easy over the Colts), Barkley’s performance is the highlight of the day. And an interesting Ravens-Chargers tonight.
Results
Minnesota 30 CHICAGO 27 (OT)
Tennessee 32 HOUSTON 27
Kansas City 30 CAROLINA 27
Detroit 24 INDIANAPOLIS 6
MIAMI 34 New England 15
Tampa Bay 30 GIANTS 7
Dallas 34 WASHINGTON 26
Denver 29 LAS VEGAS 19
SEATTLE 16 Arizona 6
GREEN BAY 38 San Francisco 10
Philadelphia 37 LA RAMS 20
#NFL #recordbreaking #Barkley #stunts #Eagles #Madden
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## Saquon Barkley: A Philly Phenomenon
**World Today News** sits down with acclaimed sports journalist **[Insert Name Here]**, a prominent voice in football coverage, to dissect Saquon Barkley’s dominant performance against the Rams and discuss its implications for the MVP race.
**WTN:** Saquon Barkley shattered records and dominated the Rams on Sunday Night Football.Is this officially his MVP moment?
**[Insert Name Here]:** Without a doubt, Sunday’s performance cemented Barkley’s place in the MVP conversation. He was unstoppable, his 255 rushing yards a testament to his unbelievable power and agility. It wasn’t just the yards, though; it was the way he broke down the Rams’ defense, wearing them down with each carry.
**WTN:** His two explosive touchdowns in the final quarter were reminiscent of something out of a video game.
**[Insert Name Here]:** Precisely! The imagery of those 70 and 72-yard touchdowns will be etched in the minds of football fans for years to come. The “stunt” – the backward jump – against the Jaguars has already become iconic, even featuring in the Madden video game and inspiring merchandise.
**WTN:** Barkley’s resurgence after six seasons with the Giants has been remarkable.What changed for him in Philadelphia?
**[Insert Name Here]:** It’s a combination of factors. Barkley seems revitalized by the fresh start in Philadelphia. He’s playing with a renewed sense of purpose and the Eagles’ offensive line has given him the space and time to shine.
**WTN:** Do you think Barkley can sustain this level of performance throughout the season?
**[Insert Name Here]:** It’ll be tough to maintain this level every week, but Barkley has undoubtedly taken his game to another level. If he can stay healthy and the Eagles continue to support him, he has a legitimate shot at the MVP award. Remember, he’s already leading all running backs in rushing yards and has seven 100-yard rushing games this season.
**WTN:** Some argue that the MVP award should always go to a quarterback. How do you respond to that?
**[Insert Name Here]:** While quarterbacks often dictate the pace of the game, it’s shortsighted to suggest that others can’t be MVP-worthy. Barkley is changing the narrative. If he continues to dominate like this and leads the Eagles to a successful season, he deserves serious consideration.
**WTN:** What’s next for Barkley and the Eagles?
**[Insert Name Here]:** The Eagles are in a great position, thanks in large part to Barkley’s brilliance. They have a potent offense and a solid defense. My prediction? Saquon will continue to be a force, making him a serious contender for MVP and leading the eagles to a deep playoff push.
