Saquon Barkley has had a historic season and has been the driving force behind the Philadelphia Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl. He rushed for over 2,000 yards in the regular season and has averaged 147.3 rushing yards per game in the three playoff games so far.
Barkley will need another big game in the Super Bowl for the Eagles to have a chance to win against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Greg Jennings doubts the star running back could dominate the Chiefs’ defense.
Greg Jennings Is Not Sold on Saquon Barkley Making an Impact in Super Bowl
During a segment on FS1’s “The Breakfast Ball,” Craig Carton discussed how Barkley would easily rush for over 100 yards in the Super Bowl, but the former Green Bay Packers wideout didn’t believe it.
“I’m not so sure he is,” Jennings said. “Look, here’s the deal, the Chiefs D [defense] has to win the line of scrimmage. You have to win the line of scrimmage and get them out of what they want to do. Make Kellen Moore question running the ball, and then, conversely, your offense [Chiefs] has to get up. That’s the formula to success.”
Jennings, who won the Super Bowl with the Packers in 2011, mentioned that although the Chiefs have always adapted during the Super Bowl games to win, it will be better if they get off to a good start.
He mentioned how the Eagles were rattled in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they were down 24-0 in the second quarter. Since they were down by multiple scores, Philadelphia had to stop running the ball, which forced Barkley out of the game.
"I don't think Kansas City has seen a team as complete as the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles should be favored… Saquon Barkley is running for 100 yards." — @craigcartonlive
"I'm not so sure he is" 👀 — @GregJennings pic.twitter.com/70hcIz1TA7
— Breakfast Ball (@BrkfstBallOnFS1) January 31, 2025
“They [Eagles] got down early. Saquon was having a fantastic game, but he didn’t have a chance to get going,” Jennings added. “10 carries for 84 yards, like eight over eight yards a carry. But when you get down so much and quick, your offensive coordinator, your play-caller now is like, ‘Well, I gotta throw the ball,’ and that’s exactly what you want this team doing.”
As evident by the majority of their playoff games and past Super Bowl matchups, the Chiefs often start playing well once they are down by at least 10 points. They have the experience of playing from behind, but like Jennings said, if Patrick Mahomes and Co. are able to build a lead in the first half, it will force the Eagles to throw the ball.
Jalen Hurts played well in the NFC Championship Game and also put on a show in the Super Bowl matchup against the Chiefs two seasons ago, but he is still considered the weak link on the offense.
The Chiefs’ secondary will be tough to dominate.
Chiefs’ Defense Has Limited RBs Throughout the Season
The Chiefs’ defense always plays significantly better in big moments, and they will be determined to be better in the Super Bowl after allowing 29 points in the AFC Championship Game.
Per Price Carter, the Chiefs have not allowed a running back to rush for over 100 yards since the Week 16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2023 NFL season. In that game, Zamir White rushed for 145 yards on 22 carries.
Since then, Kansas City’s defense has prevented Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson, Alvin Kamara, James Cook, and Joe Mixon (among others) from completely taking over.
The Chiefs haven't allowed a running back to get 100 yards or more since the Christmas day debacle against the Raiders.
Lamar Jackson scrambled for 122 in the season opener this year.
— Price Carter (@priceacarter) January 31, 2025
Cook and Mixon played well against the Chiefs this postseason, but they could not rush for over 100 yards. This gives the defending Super Bowl champions confidence in their ability to limit Barkley.
A player of Barkley’s caliber will be nearly impossible to take out of the game completely. However, if the Chiefs’ defense doesn’t allow long runs, the Eagles will be under pressure and could make mistakes.
The last time these two teams played each other in the Super Bowl, apart from Hurts, the Eagles were able to rush for only 45 yards on 17 carries. So, it will be interesting to see how Nick Sirianni’s team will operate if the Chiefs’ defense can neutralize Barkley.