Steelers coach Mike Tomlin calls Eagles RB Saquon Barkley the ‘most significant acquisition in the NFL′
The last time Barkley played the Steelers and Tomlin as a member of the New York Giants in 2020, Pittsburgh held him to six yards on 15 carries.
The Eagles hope to keep their nine-game winning streak alive as they host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday (4:25 p.m., Fox29). The Birds are coming off a win that left fans concerned about the team’s passing game in a 22-16 win over the three win Carolina Panthers.
The Steelers (10-3) are coming off a 27-14 win over the Cleveland Browns. Winners in seven of their last eight games, Pittsburgh stands atop the AFC North, leading the Baltimore Ravens by two games. Against Cleveland, the Steelers’ defense intercepted Jameis Winston twice and sacked him three times.
Meanwhile, the Eagles scraped out a win over the Carolina to clinch a spot in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Despite the Birds entering last week’s game as 12-point favorites, the passing game struggled as Jalen Hurts completed 14 of 21 passes for just 108 yards.
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The Steelers will focus their attention on Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. Here’s what the Steelers are saying about their matchup in Philadelphia.
Slowing down Barkley
Barkley was a bright spot in the Eagles’ win Sunday. He finished with 124 yards on 20 carries, his fourth straight game with over 100 rushing yards. He also set the franchise single-season rushing record, eclipsing LeSean McCoy’s record set in 2013 (1,607).
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin believes their chances of winning on Sunday depend on whether or not they can stop Barkley.
“The acquisition of Saquon Barkley has got to be the most significant acquisition in the NFL in 2024,” Tomlin told reporters. “That’s what the tape looks like. He’s been dominant. Eye opening at times, obviously. Highlight reel caliber plays, long runs, touchdowns, etc. It starts there for us. If you don’t minimize him in some way, you’re not even going to position yourself to have a chance to be successful.
“Obviously, he has a lot of our attention at the early stages of the week. But he can’t have the totality of your attention. I remember the last time we were in a stadium with him, I think it was 2020 and he was playing for the Giants and Daniel Jones was a very young quarterback at that time. We were able to focus a significant amount of energy on him. We’re not afforded that this time around.”
The Steelers last played Barkley on Sep. 14, 2020 at MetLife Stadium. The Steelers defeated the Giants, 26-16, holding Barkley to six yards on 15 carries.
‘Bring the fight to them’
Barkley is on pace to break the NFL’s single-season rushing record set by Eric Dickerson in 1984 (2,105 yards). Barkley currently has 1,623 rushing yards after Sunday’s game. Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen praised Barkley for chasing the record.
“That’s huge,” Queen said. “It’s been a while since that’s been up there. For him to find a new team and be able to get to that part in his career is something you don’t see, at all. That’s hats off to his team he’s on, his offensive coordinator, his line and him. The guys are doing a good job so we got to go out there and play physical football and stop that.”
When asked how the Steelers plan to stop Barkley, Queen responded “Everybody got to do their job.”
“I think some teams are unaware of how good Saquon is. I think that’s got to be your focus, especially playing a guy like that, a team like that with all the pieces they got,” Queen said. A good O-line, good running backs, good receivers. Everybody just got to do their job … You never know what you’re getting with him [Barkley]. So that’s what I mean by being physical. You just got to bring the fight to them.”