“The roar of the crowd is my fuel on the field.” It was the game—NFC Championship Sunday, Eagles vs. Commanders—and Saquon Barkley was, per usual, the headline act. But Giants fans? Oh, they were watching with gritted teeth. Not only is their ex-RB running wild for a division rival, but there’s some more news to watch out.

Barkley also has a potential calf issue now. Looks like a dent in the big win. Yeah! the Eagles have landed in the Super Bowl finale as they beat the Commanders 55-23. But what happened during the Championship game? Early on, the cameras caught Barkley getting some attention on that calf. Three carries in and tied with Kenneth Gainwell? That’s a stat you don’t associate with Saquon. It’s like seeing Patrick Mahomes with one touchdown pass—it just feels…off.

There has been no official word from the Eagles on any injury for Barkley. But don’t get it twisted—when he’s on, he’s on. Case in point: In the first play from scrimmage, Saquon grabbed the pigskin and turned the NFC Championship into his highlight reel with a 60-yard touchdown sprint. Eagles up, 7-3, and Commanders fans were left wondering, “Can we even compete with this guy?”

And it wasn’t just a one-off. Later in the first quarter, after Philly forced a fumble and recovered, Barkley punched in a bruising 4-yard touchdown, making it 14-3. At this point, Giants fans probably had to turn off the TV. Oh, and let’s not forget last week’s Divisional Round blizzard showdown where Barkley racked up a casual 205 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Rams. The dude’s in MVP mode—even if his calf isn’t.

So, is Saquon unstoppable? Seems like it. Injured? Maybe. But on the NFC’s biggest stage, he’s still the story.

Saquon Barkley masterclass

If there’s one thing Saquon Barkley gets, it’s hustle. “Nothing is given to you. Everything is earned. You have to have that mindset that you have to work every single day. Learn every single day.” And let’s be real—Saquon’s work ethic is straight out of a Rocky montage. Whether it’s juking defenders out of their cleats or dropping legendary performances in snowstorms, the man doesn’t just play football; he eats, sleeps, and breathes it.

Take his 2018 rookie season with the Giants—chef’s kiss. The guy racked up over 2,028 scrimmage yards like it was light work and casually took home the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. At just 21, Saquon was out here schooling veteran defenders like he was starring in a “Back to the Future” sequel—Marty McFly, but make it football.

Now, fast forward to 2024. Divisional Round. Snow-covered field. Rams defense was thinking they were about to shut him down. LOL, nice try. Barkley hit them with a career-high 205 rushing yards and two touchdowns. That game was less “football match” and more “Saquon Barkley masterclass.” And let’s not ignore the fact that this dude became just the ninth RB in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. If NFL Records were an exclusive club, Barkley’s already got a lifetime membership.

And this NFC Championship? Bro, the man is unreal. The first play was a 60-yard touchdown. BOOM. The Commanders spent seven minutes chewing the clock, thinking they had something going, and then Saquon’s like, “Hold my Gatorade.” Add another TD later in the first quarter, and he had Philly fans losing their minds. With that $37.75 million Eagles contract looking like a steal, Saquon’s proving, week after week, that greatness isn’t handed out—it’s earned. Mic drop.