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Saquon Barkley could have been a New York Giant for life. He wanted to be, but they let him become a free agent after refusing to apply the franchise tag to the 6-year running back for a second straight season. So, instead of the Giants spending $12.1 million for a single season, the Eagles singed him to a 3-year deal in May of 2024 for $37.75 million, plus incentives, with $26 million guaranteed.
The Giants finished 3-14 to tie for the worst record in the league, while the Eagles are 17-3 and facing the Kansas City Chiefs (17-2) on Sunday in Super Bowl LIX.
Now, bettors want to know one thing - what are the best Saquon Barkley prop plays for the Super Bowl?
There were certainly doubters that Barkley was going to be the answer to propel Philadelphia back to the Super Bowl where the Eagles are 1.5-point underdogs. The NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2018 had more than his share of missed games due to injures since then -- at least 3 games every season, and nearly all of 2020.
Plus, the Eagles' biggest concern was their defense after ranking 26th in total defense in 2023 and 30th in scoring defense, They were also 30th in Red Zone defense, and 31st in 3rd down defense.
The offense ranked 8th, as did the rushing offense, and they were 7th in scoring.
To be honest, Philadelphia began the season as a team that was expected to finish behind Dallas in its own division and almost definitely behind Detroit in the conference. Well, so much for preseason blather.
Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season. He's added 442 yards in the postseason and 5 more scores. The Eagles hope the best is yet to come as they prepare to avenge their 38-35 collapse against the Chiefs in Super Bowl 57. If he continues to replicate his 2024 numbers, Barkley would top his 6-year totals with the G-men in less than half the amount of time in Philadelphia.
With Barkley on their side, the Eagles improved to No. 2 in rushing offense, while the total offense once again ranked 8th and scoring once again ranked 7th.
Meanwhile, the defense saw dramatic improvements as that unit moved up to No. 1 in yards allowed, No. 1 in pass defense, and No. 2 in scoring defense.
Barkley made his presence known in the very first game of the season with 3 touchdowns (1 receiving), while rushing for 129 yards in a 34-29 game versus Green Bay in Brazil.
There were only five times all season that he was kept under 100 yards, and he topped 100 yards in all 3 playoff games. Twice he went over the 200-yard mark against the Rams as he rumbled for 255 and 2 scores in Los Angeles on November 24, and then amassed 205 and 2 more scores at home in the divisional playoff. The Eagles won the regular season game 37-20 as Barkley's TD runs covered 70 and 72 yards. Philadelphia took the playoff game 28-22 as Barkley again blitzed the Ram's defense for TD runs of 62 and 78 yards.
He also has only had two fumbles (one lost) in the entire season.
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 9/6 | Packers (Brazil) | W 34–29 |
| 9/13 | Falcons | L 21–22 |
| 9/22 | at Saints | W 15–12 |
| 9/29 | at Bucs | L 16–33 |
| 10/13 | Browns | W 20–16 |
| 10/20 | at Giants | W 28–3 |
| 10/27 | at Bengals | W 37–17 |
| 11/3 | Jaguars | W 28–23 |
| 11/10 | at Cowboys | W 34–6 |
| 11/14 | Commanders | W 26–18 |
| 11/24 | at Rams | W 37–20 |
| 12/1 | at Ravens | W 24–19 |
| 12/8 | Panthers | W 22–16 |
| 12/15 | Steelers | W 27–13 |
| 12/22 | at Commanders | L 33–36 |
| 12/29 | Cowboys | W 41–7 |
| 1/5 | Giants | W 20–13 |
| 1/12 | Packers | W 22-10 |
| 1/19 | Rams | W 28–24 |
| 1/26 | Commanders | W 55–23 |
| 2/9 | Chiefs (New Orleans) | ? |