This isn’t a kind of seasons the place a quarterback wills his crew to a Tremendous Bowl title.
Oh no, it’ll come right down to the presence of a star participant at a place common managers and expertise evaluators have determined to downsize.
Operating again Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles are simply two victories away from being champions.
And Barkley is the explanation why Philadelphia shall be taking the Lombardi Trophy residence from New Orleans.
What a distinction it has made for the Eagles to have Barkley on the roster after he joined them as a free agent in March.
In fact, Barkley obtained to go away the New York Giants after seven seasons, in order that’s undoubtedly a step up in groups and organizations.
All Barkley has carried out is put up among the finest working again seasons in NFL historical past by dashing for two,005 yards and 13 touchdowns in 16 common season video games. He’s the ninth participant in NFL historical past to prime 2,000 dashing yards.
He has continued to run wild within the postseason with 119 yards towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers and 205 yards and two scores towards the Los Angeles Rams. He has a 6.4 common within the playoffs.
That’s 2,329 dashing yards general. Barry Sanders may even blush a little bit bit at that output. (We all know Eric Dickerson will not).
It actually helps that the Eagles have one of many prime offensive strains within the NFL. You recognize, who wants Jason Kelce anyway?
Cam Jurgens changed Kelce at middle and is certainly one of three Philadelphia offensive linemen who had been named to the Professional Bowl. The others are guard Landon Dickerson and sort out Lane Johnson—the latter will draw main consideration for the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame sometime.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts handed for 18 touchdowns and rushed for 14 scores within the common season. Barkley’s productiveness has taken strain off Hurts, and that can pay enormous dividends over the remainder of the playoffs.
The Eagles received their first two playoff video games with Hurts passing for simply 131 and 128 yards whereas finishing 28 of 41 general.
Let’s not overlook that Hurts was the most effective participant on the sphere when the Eagles misplaced 38-35 to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the Tremendous Bowl following the 2022 season. He was 27 of 38 for 304 yards and one landing and rushed for 70 yards, three landing and a two-point conversion.
With Barkley on his facet, Hurts can sit up for getting that ring finger sized.
Philadelphia may play a bit on the defensive facet of the ball. C.J. Gardner-Johnson has excelled with six interceptions, and fellow security Reed Blankenship has 4.
How about linebacker Zack Baun? He was a robust particular groups participant and a reserve on protection for many of his 4 seasons with the New Orleans Saints earlier than becoming a member of the Eagles as a free agent in March.
Abruptly, he’s a Professional Bowler who racked up 151 tackles and appears to be all over the place on the sphere. Discuss unleashing a man’s potential.
On the line of defense, sort out Jalen Carter is simply scratching his huge potential, and he is additionally headed to the Professional Bowl. He dictates recreation plans as opponents know working in his path is not more likely to achieve a lot optimistic yards.
The Eagles should get previous the feel-good Washington Commanders first earlier than they’ll critically dissect their Tremendous Bowl possibilities.
The groups cut up their two common season conferences, with Barkley dashing for 146 yards in a 26-18 residence victory on Nov. 14 and gaining 150 throughout a 36-33 highway loss on Dec. 22.
Precisely how do the Commanders count on to cease Barkley on Sunday? They ranked thirtieth in dashing protection at 137.5 yards per recreation within the common season. Even once they upset the Detroit Lions final weekend, Washington gave up 201 dashing yards.
The scene is ready. Barkley figures to have a extremely productive recreation towards the Commanders after which prepare for one final recreation in his magical season.
Once you break it down, it is clear he’ll lead the Eagles to the Tremendous Bowl crown.
