PHILADELPHIA – The framed photographs cling on the wall on the far finish of the Philadelphia Eagles’ locker room, above the couch in an area used as a lounge space. The image on the left is of Saquon Barkley, an motion shot from a sport towards the Commanders. Beneath the body, there’s a strip of masking tape inscribed with “THE CHOSEN ONE.” On the appropriate, one other Barkley snapshot from a sport towards the Rams, and underneath it the tape reads, “OUR SAVIOR.”
An offensive lineman constructed the shrine, considerably in jest, but additionally to pay tribute to the best season by a working again in Eagles historical past.
Perhaps — arguably, no less than — in NFL historical past.
One of the best particular person season could be debated on any sports activities discuss radio present. Barkley can solely increase his credentials along with his efficiency Sunday within the Tremendous Bowl towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The numbers are already staggering, beginning along with his 2,005 yards dashing and his seven (postseason included) landing runs of 60-plus yards. He’s one in all solely two gamers in NFL historical past with no less than 400 yards dashing and 5 touchdowns in a single postseason.
The opposite? Terrell Davis.
Barkley is 30 yards shy of breaking the NFL season dashing file, postseason included, set by Davis in 1998 with the Denver Broncos. Barkley has 2,447 yards (442 within the playoffs); Davis had 2,476 yards and led the Broncos to the Tremendous Bowl title.
“The one factor that makes it particular,” Barkley stated, “is successful a Tremendous Bowl.”
Barkley may very well be the difference-maker for the Eagles this 12 months after their 38-35 loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs two years in the past. Barkley watched a few of that sport on the aircraft journey residence from Arizona, the location of that Tremendous Bowl, the place the previous New York Giants star spent a number of days making varied media rounds selling this and that however definitely not taking part in.
“That stuff is enjoyable, radio row and all that,” Barkley stated. “I like this a little bit bit higher.”
Barkley and the Giants had truly been knocked off that season by the Eagles within the NFC divisional spherical, the one time in his six seasons in New York he made the playoffs. Barkley might need been extra more likely to put on a Travis Kelce jersey on the aircraft journey residence than to ever take into account cheering Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and the remainder of the hated NFC East rivals.
“After all I used to be rooting towards them,” Barkley stated. “There was no a part of me that needed them to win.”
Two 12 months later, Barkley is an MVP finalist in his first season with the Eagles following his televised “Onerous Knocks” breakup with the Giants.
Within the essential scene, Giants common supervisor Joe Schoen instructed Barkley the Giants wouldn’t make him a proposal, nor stick the franchise tag on the No. 2 choose of the 2018 NFL draft. Fairly, the Giants let Barkley take a look at the free-agent market, a transfer that despatched him to the Eagles on a three-year deal for $26 million assured — the richest contract for a working again in franchise historical past.
With out Barkley, the Giants completed 3-14.
Barkley turned the ninth participant in NFL historical past to high 2,000 yards dashing. One of many others, former Tennessee Titans nice Chris Johnson, despatched him a congratulatory textual content to welcome him to the membership. Johnson, who ran for two,006 yards in 2009 and had 11 consecutive video games with no less than 100 yards, stated Barkley is simply as elite now as he was with with the Giants.
“There is no distinction,” Johnson stated. “Saquon’s been Saquon since he is been within the league. That is why everybody says the Giants are (jerks) for even letting him go. When he went to the Eagles, everybody knew what he was going to do in that offense. I do not suppose nobody within the league is stunned by what he is doing.”
Johnson stated had he been in Barkley’s place, he would have pushed more durable to play within the regular-season finale and break Eric Dickerson’s dashing file of two,105 yards, set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni determined to relaxation Barkley and the majority of the starters in a sport with nothing at stake, leaving Barkley 101 yards shy of breaking the file.
Johnson, who topped 1,000 yards dashing six occasions in his profession, conceded he could not knock Barkley’s finish end result.
“His aim was to get a Tremendous Bowl. You’ll be able to inform that’s what his complete mindset is on,” he stated.
Barkley acquired there — and now the Chiefs are in his manner of successful one.
Barkley, who turns 28 on Tremendous Bowl Sunday, has been a menace within the playoffs — with TD runs of 62, 78 and 60 yards — however now runs up towards a Chiefs protection that didn’t permit any participant to succeed in 90 yards dashing in a sport.
“The factor we all the time speak about is constructing it, setting it and monitoring it,” Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo stated. “Constructing a wall, setting the sting and monitoring the hip. You’ve seen the best way he cuts again and that is when he has a few of his huge runs. Not permitting him — not creating these seams and permitting him to search out it — goes to be actually necessary for us.”
Lose observe of Barkley and be careful — he can rip off a protracted one all the best way into the tip zone, with so lots of these Eagles he rooted towards two years now redecorating the locker room in his honor.
“It is loopy to think about how shut I’m to a number of these guys when nonetheless many months in the past I simply walked into the constructing,” Barkley stated. “Being aware of a number of them, going towards them, understanding them by means of competing, however with the ability to truly develop relationships and friendships with these guys has been all the things.”
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