Saquon Barkley Vows to 'Make Teams Pay' as Eagles Prepare for Chiefs Rematch
Saquon Barkley, the Philadelphia Eagles' star running back, is looking to bounce back from two subpar performances as the team prepares to face the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite being held to a 2.7 yards per carry average in his last two games, including the Super Bowl, Barkley believes he can "make teams pay" if they don't adjust their defensive strategies.
Barkley's Super Bowl and Cowboys Struggles
In the Super Bowl against the Chiefs, Barkley rushed 25 times for just 57 yards. The Dallas Cowboys similarly contained him in the Eagles' season opener, limiting him to 60 yards on 18 carries. Both teams employed a strategy of stacking the box, placing eight or more defenders near the line of scrimmage to stifle the Eagles' running game. Despite these struggles, the Eagles emerged victorious in both contests.
Barkley addressed his performance, stating, "Teams tried to stop us last year. No one was really successful besides in the Super Bowl, to be honest. But it opens up a lot of stuff." He added that the Eagles' diverse talent makes them difficult to defend: "If you take away one thing, we have the opportunity to hurt you in another."
The Chiefs Challenge
As the Eagles prepare to face the Chiefs again, Barkley anticipates a similar defensive approach. "That’s going to be the theme for this year," Barkley said. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the Chiefs' defense, spearheaded by defensive tackle Chris Jones and inside linebacker Nick Bolton. He warned, "If you don’t stack the box, I’ll make you pay for it."
Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo emphasized the need for creativity in the Eagles' offensive scheme to create opportunities for Barkley. He mentioned that he and Barkley are in constant communication, analyzing film and exploring new strategies. "He watches a lot of film, and I think that's been really good," Patullo stated.
Team-First Mentality
Barkley highlighted the importance of a team-first mentality, referencing A.J. Brown's unselfishness in the opener. "I think that was a perfect example of what Nick was trying to establish for our team, contribution over credit," he said, praising Brown's focus despite a lack of targets.
Despite the focus on stopping the run, Barkley maintains that the ultimate goal is winning games. "Every game is not going to be 100, 150 yards," he said. "My goal, like I’ve said before, is not to rush for 2,000 yards. It’s to win football games."
Eagles Roster News and Related Stories
Several other Eagles-related stories have emerged leading up to the Chiefs game:
- Cameron Williams was placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury.
- Analysts expect Saquon Barkley to bounce back after pedestrian rushing performances.
- Jeffrey Lurie made a significant jump on the Forbes 400 list.
- Nolan Smith was fined for taunting in Week 1.
- There is speculation regarding Tank Bigsby's potential role in kickoff returns.
The Eagles and Chiefs will face off in Kansas City, with Barkley aiming to lead the Eagles to another victory.