Saquon Barkley has been the centerpiece of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense this season, and one of the main reasons they are about to play for a Super Bowl title Sunday in New Orleans.

That is not an opinion.

That is not up for argument.

That is a fact.

Barkley has put together the best season of his six-year career. The veteran set career-highs in rushing yards (2,005), average yards per carry (5.8) and rushing touchdowns (13).

Barkley has rushed for 442 yards in three playoff games, an average of 147.3 per game. He is one of only two players in NFL history with at least 400 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a single postseason.

Barkley is just 30 yards away from breaking the NFL season rushing record, postseason included, set by Terrell Davis in 1998 with the Denver Broncos.

Just imagine Barkley capping off this run with a Super Bowl championship! He definitely wants it, and he totally deserves it. All those years of suffering with a terrible franchise, he has earned this opportunity.

Despite Barkley’s success this year, the only thing that matters to him is a championship, and he is just one win away from accomplishing it.

“The only thing that makes it special,” Barkley said, “is winning a Super Bowl.”

Preparing for Barkley is tough, so the Kansas City Chiefs defense will have their work cut out for them in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday. But the two-time defending champions have the right defense for the job.

Kansas City finished the regular season ranked eighth against the run, allowing 4.1 yards per carry and 101.8 yards per game. 

The Chiefs did not allow a single running back to reach 100 yards this season. In fact, the only rusher to eclipse 100 yards was Lamar Jackson in Week 1. Kansas City has gone 18 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher.

It goes even deeper.

Kanas City has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in the postseason under defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The most his defense allowed was 89 to former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette in Bowl LV.

For Eagles’ fans, that’s a scary thought.

Spagnuolo and his Chiefs went up against top running backs in the playoffs, too, like Derick Henry in the 2019 AFC Championship game. Henry rushed for just 69 yards in that game.

In last year’s Super Bowl, Christian McCaffrey, who had a stellar season (not as impressive as Barkley’s, but still a great campaign) was held to just 80 yards. So, Spagnuolo is really good against the run, and having a great front seven helps.

But will Spagnuolo’s streak come to an end?

No team has really slowed down Barkley this season, even though that was the game plan for every team. It’s almost certain Barkley will have at least one big run every game.

And it’s not just Barkley.

Opposing also have to worry about Jalen Hurts running. Not every team has a dual-threat quarterback. The Eagles also have a good passing attack with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert.

Spagnuolo has shown he can take away opposing offense’s biggest threats.

But has he seen a team like this?

The Eagles can hurt you in so many ways. You take away Barkley, which you can only do for so long anyway, the Eagles have other options to attack you.

So, I am not worried about Spagnuolo’s track record, as impressive as it is. I think Barkley may be the first rusher to eclipse 100 yards against him in the postseason.

Why do I think that?

In Kanas City’s last six games, it has allowed an average of 5.1 yards per carry, which is 25% more yards per carry since Week 13. The Chiefs have allowed 40 % more yards since that time, as well.

In the AFC Championship Game, James Cook averaged 6.5 yards per carry.

Barkley can definitely do damage.

The question is how much.

Barkley will most likely be the difference maker, well on offense. Hurts has to get off quick passes (like in the NFC Championship Game) and make sure he takes care of the ball, which he has been doing. If Hurts plays like he did against the Washington Commanders, he will be just fine.

The Eagles need to make sure Barkley remains involved ALL game.

Maybe the Chiefs’ will bottle him up early, but he will break free eventually. That’s the thing with teams that play the Chiefs. They seem to abandon the run. They feel like they have to score fast keep up with Patrick Mahomes, so the passing attack is utilized more.

That is not the Eagles’ identity.

They tun the ball and chew up clock. They make the other team’s defense tired, and then Barkley breaks free for a big run. The Eagles can’t abandon that run game, even if it’s not working early against Spagnuolo’s defense.

Barkley will get a big run eventually.

He will break Spagnuolo’s streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher since Week 1.

Barkley, along with rookie Cooper DeJean will celebrate their birthdays Sunday.

Barkley just got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Anna Congdon. 

He wants a Super Bowl now.

Let Barkley loose, and it could very well happen.