Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Let LeBron James have the final say on Saquon Barkley’s three-touchdown debut for the Philadelphia Eagles.

“OMG SAQUON SO DAMN FAST!!!!!!! SO GOOD MAN!” the Los Angeles Lakers star wrote on social media.

So fast, so fast, indeed.

The New York Giants couldn’t sign him. The Green Bay Packers couldn’t get him.

Barkley proved Friday that he can be the game-breaking running back the Eagles have long needed in their Super Bowl quest. Barkley rushed for 109 yards and scored on an 18-yard catch and runs of 11 and 2 yards to lead the Eagles to a 34-29 victory over the Packers in the NFL’s debut in Brazil.

With a three-year contract worth $26 million guaranteed, Barkley is the highest-paid running back in franchise history.

He could well become the most valuable.

Yes, it’s just one game, but it’s easy for the Eagles to get excited about what they have in their 27-year-old running back. For all the talent Barkley possessed with the Giants, for all the big numbers he put up for the NFC East team, Barkley has never played on a team that could rival the talent surrounding him on the Eagles. From Jalen Hurts to AJ Brown to a traditionally strong offensive line — one that’s struggled through some growing pains without retired six-time All-Pro center Jason Kelce — Barkley is just one of the key cogs keeping the offense turning.

“The O-line played great. That’s a big reason why I wanted to come to Philly,” Barkley said.

His three touchdowns were the most scored by an Eagles player in his debut since Terrell Owens in 2004.

“There will be games where I get a chance to take over,” Barkley said.

Barkley just has to stay healthy, which is easier said than done for a running back who has battled injuries for most of his tenure with the Giants.

The Eagles have had three players lead the team in rushing over the past three years and declined to sign 2023 leader D’Andre Swift. They expect to use Barkley as a three-down workhorse the likes of which they haven’t seen since LeSean McCoy’s glory days ended a decade ago. He played in 14 games last season, missing three with a high ankle sprain.

He was the go-to player in New York. He’s just part of a talented offense in Philly — a big part, yes. But even Barkley acknowledges that having Pro Bowl players around him could make it easier to have success — possibly a career year — with the Eagles.

“I’m probably on the scouting report, and I don’t have to worry about the top three,” he said.

And here’s another harsh criticism of the Giants: What were they actually thinking when they let Barkley go?

“I’m going to have a hard time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I can tell you that,” Giants owner John Mara said on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” which detailed Barkley’s free agency.

If that’s true, Mara must have been feeling a little sleepy on Saturday.

What works

Kellen Moore’s offense. The first-year coordinator let loose in the opener, his first game since replacing the fired Brian Johnson. Barkley had over 100 yards rushing and Brown had 119 yards receiving and a touchdown. DeVonta Smith had seven catches for 84 yards.

What needs help?

Ball security. The Eagles lost the turnover battle, 3-1. Hurts threw two interceptions — he tied the NFL lead with 15 last season — and fumbled a tush-push snap late in the game, but Barkley pounced and saved the possession, which ended in a field goal for a 34-29 lead.

Stock up

Linebacker Zack Baun sealed the win with a sack on the game’s final play, the highlight of his first game with the Eagles. He had a career-high 15 tackles and was able to solidify the middle of the defense.

Stock down

The defense was statistically all over the place in an uneven performance against the Packers. It held the Packers to just three field goals when they drove inside the 20. Reed Blankenship set up Barkley’s third touchdown with an interception that gave Philadelphia the ball at the Green Bay 25. The Eagles allowed 414 total yards, 163 rushing yards and 7.1 yards per play. That’s not entirely sustainable for a team trying to make a run to the Super Bowl. It’s a work in progress under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, but there were promising plays.

Injuries

The Eagles were lucky to emerge unscathed from the battle on a muddy field in the southern hemisphere.

“Definitely challenging on that field. It’s not the type of field we’re used to playing on,” Hurts said.

With NBA training camp still weeks away, James was clearly interested in the game. Like everyone else, he saw that the court was in poor condition.

“Man this field sucks!!! GB vs PHI,” he wrote on social media.

Key figures

26-9 — Coach Nick Sirianni has a 4-0 record in season openers in his career, a key reason why the Eagles are tied with the Chiefs for the best record (26-9, .743) in the NFL since 2022.

Next steps

The Eagles get a nice break before their home game on Monday night, September 16 against Atlanta.

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