SAO PAULO – Saquon Barkley made an explosive debut for the Philadelphia Eagles, scoring three touchdowns to lead his new team to a thrilling 34-29 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Friday.
Barkley, who rushed for 109 yards, became just the second player in Eagles history to score three touchdowns in his first game, a feat last accomplished by Terrell Owens in 2004. Barkley’s performance electrified both fans and teammates, with quarterback Jalen Hurts praising him: “He had a hell of a game tonight. It’s exciting to watch him play. I’m happy that he’s on our side.”
Barkley opened the scoring in the second quarter, catching an 18-yard pass from Hurts in the end zone. “Yeah, I’m the first person to ever score in South America,” Barkley joked, acknowledging the historic nature of the game.
His dominant performance continued with two additional rushing touchdowns, fulfilling the expectations set by his three-year, $37.75 million contract signed during free agency. Barkley expressed his excitement about playing behind the Eagles’ strong offensive line and alongside standout teammates such as A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, stating, “What I pictured was kind of similar to this, I guess you could say.”
As Barkley reflected on the team’s support and chemistry, he added, “It was never no hate, no none of that. It was like, ‘Go ahead, go get four.’ That’s what you need with a team like this that has so many stars.”
With this stellar debut, Barkley has already made a lasting impression, and the Eagles look poised for a strong season ahead.
