(Video) Eagles Saquon Barkley slows down to taunt Rams Jared Verse before long touchdown
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley could not pass up on the opportunity to taunt Rams linebacker Jared Verse who said he hates Eagles fans.
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Saquon Barkley taunted Jared Verse (Image via IMAGO/X)
Saquon Barkley kept receipts. After Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse called out the entire Philadelphia Eagles fanbase, Barkley knew he had to respond.
With just over a minute left until the end of the first quarter, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts handed the ball to Barkley on 3rd & 4. The 27-year-old RB raced past the Rams defensive line with ease for the end zone.
While he was steaming down the near touchline, cameras picked up a Rams player chasing Barkley down. It was rookie Jared Verse who reached speeds up to 21.6 mph (NextGen Stats) to stop the Eagles rusher.
Jared Verse hit 21.6 mph chasing Saquon Barkley down on his long TD run (per @NextGenStats).
— Underdog (@UnderdogFantasy) January 19, 2025
That's faster than Xavier Worthy's top ball carrier speed this season (21.46 mph).
Freak athlete. pic.twitter.com/hMkwpWTUTa
The gap between Verse and Barkley was too vast and despite his best efforts, he failed to close it. Right before crossing the white line, Barkley looked back a couple of times at Verse and gestured at him.
Jared Verse spent the week saying how much he hates Eagles fans so Saquon slowed down to taunt him during his 60+ yard TD run. Playoff football is the best 🤣🤣pic.twitter.com/P2Wk2MFKTr
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) January 19, 2025
The Eagles-Rams NFC Divisional fixture already generated much hype following the successful Saturday results. Verse poured oil into the raging fire by calling out the Philly fans.
Barkley heard about the Alabama graduate’s words and advised him that it wasn’t wise to give Eagles fans more leverage.
Probably not the smartest thing to say coming to Philadelphia…Probably wouldn’t give them extra fuel.
Saquon Barkley said in an interview
They put signs of Verse’s statement, “I hate Eagles fans,” at the tailgate, and even the jumbotron flashed the quote during the kickoff to build the atmosphere further. Verse was welcomed with a wave of boos when he walked out of the tunnel, and the icing on the cake was Saquon Barkley scoring a touchdown by outpacing him.
Give him credit. #Rams’ Jared Verse did a lap and said hello to his not-so-adoring #Eagles fans. pic.twitter.com/8LaPT2o14K
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 19, 2025
Saquon Barkley breaks another rushing yards record
Barkley set several franchise records for the Eagles in his first year at Philly. The most rushing yards in a season with 2005, the first Eagles running back to reach 2,000 rushing yards, and the most rushing yards in a single game (255 yards against the Los Angeles Rams in November).
The Rams appear to be his favorite opponents because he chooses to extend his milestones against Sean McVay’s team. On Sunday he became the holder of the third most overall rushing yards (regular season including playoffs). He is behind Terrell Davis, who occupies both the top two spots.
- 1998 Terrell Davis 2,476
- 1997 Terrell Davis 2,331
- 2024 Saquon Barkley 2,329
- 1984 Eric Dickerson 2,212
- 2012 Adrian Peterson 2,196
Barkley can easily take the second spot in the NFC Championship game after defeating the Rams. The NFL awarded his third Pro Bowl title and included him in the 2024 All-Pro team.
Related: Skip Bayless admits being “sick” of NFL protecting Patrick Mahomes: “Prisoner of the Swifties”
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Ishan Misra
(3051 Articles Published)