Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle leaves the Eagles speechless

PHILADELPHIA – Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is a man of many words, but even he was “speechless” after he beat Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle against a defender in a 28-23 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

“It was the best play I’ve ever seen,” Sirianni said. “What I think is so cool is that there will be kids all over the country and all over Philadelphia trying to play this game, talking about this game and simulating this game while playing backyard football or peewee football. They won’t.” I think he’s the only one in the world who can do it. It was incredible.

When the Eagles faced a third-and-6 early in the second quarter, Barkley picked off a pass from Jalen Hurts in the flat, broke a tackle and then gave Devin Lloyd a spin move that caused Lloyd to go after the Grabbing air as he fell to the ground. Barkley was just warming up. He then backpedaled to cornerback Jarrian Jones, stepped up and blind-passed Jones for another 5 yards in what turned out to be a 14-yard gain.

The fans in attendance stood up and looked at each other in shock.

“I gotta give God credit, man. I’m not going to lie… I feel like God gave me the ability to play that position and gave me some instincts. Sometimes you have to let go and let God and your instincts take over,” Barkley said.

This wasn’t the first time Barkley had made this move: He jumped backwards over an Iowa defender during his sophomore year at Penn State, but said he wasn’t “that cool.” This one was off the charts.

“Crazy,” said receiver DeVonta Smith. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Barkley finished the day with 199 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. He became just the second player in Eagles history to record more than 1,000 scrimmage yards and more than eight touchdowns in eight games, joining LeSean McCoy, who was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame on Sunday.

Barkley wasn’t the only Eagle to shine against Jacksonville. With AJ Brown sidelined with a knee injury sustained at the end of the first half, Smith rose to the occasion and made an incredible one-handed catch in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter difference in the game.

Sirianni did not know the status of Brown, who did not play in the second half.

“It’s always hard when he goes down because he’s such a dynamic player, such a big part of this team and this offense,” Smith said. “If he goes down, I kind of feel like I have to step up. For me, I’m always up for the challenge.”

Fellow receiver Jahan Dotson also had a great catch when he ran over a defender early in the third quarter and brought the ball to himself, giving him a 36-yard gain down the left sideline.

“I feel like there were three plays in this game: Dotson, Smitty and Saquon, plays that just make you say, ‘Wow, this is why I love watching football,'” right tackle Lane Johnson said.