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: MVP Candidate? Expert Weighs In
**World-Today-News.com** – For those who tuned in to Sunday Night Football, one thing is clear: Saquon Barkley is having a season for the ages. His performance against the Rams was nothing short of spectacular, leaving many to wonder – is he the MVP frontrunner? to delve deeper into Barkley’s dominance, we spoke with renowned sports analyst and former NFL running back, **John Smith**.
**World-Today-News:** John, Barkley’s 255 rushing yards against the Rams was a sight to behold. Is this performance indicative of his entire season,or did something click on Sunday night?
**John Smith:** Saquon has been electrifying all season,but Sunday night was a clinic. He looked unstoppable, wearing down the Rams’ defense with relentless power and speed. This wasn’t just one explosive play; it was sustained excellence throughout the game.Barkley has clearly found a new level of play in Philadelphia.
**World-Today-News:** His 70 and 72-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter were jaw-dropping. Has Barkley redefined what we expect from a running back in today’s NFL?
**John Smith:** His combination of power and elusiveness is truly unique. Those touchdowns weren’t just about speed; they showcased his amazing vision and ability to find holes that others simply wouldn’t see.While quarterbacks dominate MVP conversations these days, Barkley’s performance makes you question if the positional bias should be reconsidered.
**World-Today-News:** He’s leading the NFL in rushing yards and has already broken multiple records this season. how does he compare to other legendary running backs of the past?
**John smith:** It’s still early in his career, but Barkley is displaying the kind of talent that puts him in the conversation with NFL greats. His combination of size,speed,and agility reminds me of Barry Sanders. Both are capable of breaking tackles and making defenders look foolish in the open field.
**World-Today-News:** The Madden video game even updated Barkley’s virtual avatar to reflect his iconic stunt against the Jaguars earlier this season. What does this say about his impact on the game?
**John Smith:** It speaks volumes about his popularity and influence. When you’re making headlines in the real world and the virtual world, you know you’ve achieved something special. Barkley is a marketing machine and a must-watch player every week.
**World-Today-News:** Do you believe Barkley has a legitimate shot at becoming the first non-quarterback MVP since 2012?
**John Smith:** Absolutely. If he continues to perform at this level, it’s going to be tough to ignore him. He’s single-handedly transforming the Eagles’ offense and driving their success. Voters might be tempted to reward a player who commands attention like Barkley does.
This could be the year that a running back reclaims the MVP throne,and Saquon Barkley is the perfect candidate to make it happen.
