Saquon Barkley scores first three Eagles touchdowns in unreal start with new team
By Andrew Battifarano,
2024-09-07
Saquon Barkley’s Eagles tenure got off to an inauspicious start.
But he quickly rebounded with a trio of touchdowns — two on the ground and one in the air — as the former Giants star led Philadelphia to a week 1 victory.
He finished with 109 rushing yards and 23 receiving yards on two catches in a 34-29 win over the Packers in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Barkley snagged the Eagle’s first score of the season in the second quarter of their season opener with an 18-yard reception.
He quickly followed that up with an 11-yard rushing touchdown to put the Eagles up 14-12 with under six minutes to go in the first half.
In the third quarter, he added a two-yard rushing touchdown for his third of the day, becoming the first Eagle since Terrell Owens in 2004 to score three touchdowns in a debut with the team.
Saquon Barkley catches a touchdown pass over linebacker Isaiah McDuffie during the first half of the Eagles’ 34-29 Week 1 win over the Packers on Sept. 6, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. AP
Barkley broke the the century mark just once with the Giants last season.
“I’m always about visualizing success and putting positivity in my mind,” Barkley said. “That’s one of my goals this year: Be more of a positive thinker.”
Barkley’s first run with the Eagles did not exactly go as planned, as he caught a quick pitch from Jalen Hurts, slipping on the NeoQuimica Arena turf and losing four yards.
Saquon Barkley celebrates after scoring one of his three touchdowns in the Eagles’ win. REUTERS
Saquon Barkley celebrates as he leaves to field after their Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Packers. AP
After a Jalen Hurts interception to close out a dismal opening series and a fumble from the quarterback on the subsequent Eagles drive, Philadelphia finally got things going on the third time out on offense.
On a second-and-11 deep in Packers territory, Hurts heaved up a lob down the near side — over two Green Bay defensive backs — and into the hands of a leaping Barkley.
The Penn State product caught 12 touchdown passes over six seasons with the Giants, and now, he has his first with Big Blue’s NFC East rival.
On the ground, he averaged 4.5 yards per attempt, which included a game-best 34 yard run.
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