PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Linebacker Patrick Queen called him unstoppable. Head coach Mike Tomlin called Saquon Barkley the most significant acquisition in 2024. What the Steelers said of defending the Penn Stater who is 483 yards from setting the NFL single-season all-time rushing record.
“If you don’t minimize him in some way, you’re not even going to position yourself to have a chance to be successful,” Tomlin warned.
Still only 27-years-old, Barkley signed for three years, $37.8 million with the Eagles in the offseason. It didn’t start out magical, two of his four non-100-yard games were in September and both were losses (95 yards against Atlanta and 84 against Tampa Bay). He had a game in mid-October against the Browns with only 47 rushing and 54 total yards.
Excluding that, it’s been special. Last four games, 632 yards and five touchdowns including a 255-yard performance against the Rams with a pair of 70-yard runs. Barkley leads the NFL with 1,623 yards, 6.1 yards-per-attempt, 124.8 yards-per-game.
Mike Tomlin used the following words and phrases to describe Barkley this year:
· dominant
· eye-opening
· highlight-reel caliber
· top-end speed
· hits the home run
· good in tight spaces
· gets downhill
· can lower his pads
· good lateral abilities
· makes people miss
“You see what he’s doing,” said Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. “He’s unstoppable right now. Getting him in space and even when he’s not in space he’s able to break tackles. Just an all-around good back, elusive, strong, can make multiple guys miss at one time. He’s definitely the number one runner in the league.”
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Historically, Barkley’s best month is December-1,933 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Steelers defense is also highly rated, coming off its third best performance of the season in allowing 3.4 yards-per-carry to the Browns. Steelers are fourth best in the NFL in rushing yards allowed, sixth best in yards per carry, but bottom third in rushes allowed for a first down.
“We’ve been doing our job, all 11 on the field and including the guys that come in and out,” said Steelers linebacker Elandon Roberts. “Just go on the field and do your job.”
“Obviously, we have the talent, have the mindset. We have the leadership around the defense. When you get out there you don’t have to be always a Superman, it’s doing your job. That’s what we’ve been doing really well from a defensive standpoint.”
“Everybody got to do their job, that’s really all it comes to,” Queen said. “I think some teams are unaware of how good Saquon is. That’s got to be your focus. A team like that with all the pieces they got-good O-line, good running backs, good quarterback, good receivers, everybody got to do their job.”
Last month the Steelers held the NFL’s second-leading rusher, Derrick Henry, to 65 yards on 13 carries. He did have a long of 31 and a touchdown. Can the Steelers defense step up again and minimize Barkley and force Philly to pass and take their chances with that drama?