Saquon Barkley Chooses Victory Over Touchdown in Eagles’ Playoff Win

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — In a decisive moment during Sunday’s NFL playoff game, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley prioritized victory over personal glory, opting to slide down after securing a first down rather than scoring a touchdown that would have had no impact on the game’s outcome.

With the Eagles leading 22-10 against the Green Bay Packers and just over a minute left on the clock, Barkley broke free on a handoff, racing toward the end zone. However, instead of scoring, he chose to slide down at the Eagles’ 41-yard line, ensuring the first down and effectively sealing the win. The decision left many bettors disappointed, as Barkley had been a popular choice to score a touchdown in multiple sportsbooks.

“It wasn’t tempting,” Barkley said postgame. “It’s first down, you win the game, so it’s get the first down and get down. Don’t matter.” Barkley, who finished with 119 rushing yards and no touchdowns, emphasized that the only stat that mattered was the win. “Stats don’t matter. The only stat that matters is the win,” he added.

Barkley’s decision was a textbook example of situational football, a concept he highlighted in his postgame comments. “Situational football. A first down you win the game? Get the first down and sit down,” he said. Despite some playful ribbing from teammates about missing a highlight-reel touchdown, Barkley remained focused on the bigger picture. “They told me I should’ve taken a little bit more, but at the end of the day, the most important thing in the playoffs is winning and advancing,” he told Fox after the game.

The Eagles’ victory over the Packers advances them in the playoffs, with Barkley’s selfless play embodying the team-first mentality that has defined their season. “The most important thing is winning games,” Barkley reiterated. “The stat line don’t matter. The only stat that matters is getting Ws.”