Saquon Barkley’s historic debut and more Philadelphia Eagles stats to know from their win over the Green Bay Packers

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Philadelphia Eagles held out and defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-29in the team’s season opener in São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday.

Saquon Barkley wasted no time in making an impression after signing with the Birds with three scores and three touchdowns. Jalen Hurts was up and down, but made some great throws late to help the Eagles seal the victory.

Here are some stats you need to know after Philadelphia’s Week 1 win over Green Bay.

Saquon Barkley’s historic debut

Barkley, the Eagles’ big free agency signing, made a historic debut Friday night in Brazil. The Penn State product had 109 yards rushing and three total touchdowns — two rushing, one receiving — in Philly’s victory. He also had two receptions for 23 yards.

Barkley’s three touchdowns in his debut were the most the Eagles had in their first game since former wideout Terrell Owens made his debut for the team on Sept. 12, 2004, against the New York Giants. In that game, Owens had eight catches for 68 yards and three touchdowns in a 31–17 victory over New York.

Barkley was the first Eagles player to score two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in a season opener since former quarterback Wilbert Montgomery on Sept. 12, 1982, against Washington.

Barkley also became the first Eagles player to record two rushing touchdowns and one catch in a single game since former quarterback Jordan Howard did so against the Packers in 2019.

Kellen-Moore effect

Last season Eagles used the move the least in the NFL. The offense lacked creativity and became predictable for opposing teams.

But in one match of the 2024 season, everything changed.

The Eagles fired former offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and hired Kellen Moore, a veteran offensive quarterback who spent several years with the Dallas Cowboys before leading the Los Angeles Chargers offense last year.

In his debut as the Eagles’ offense, Moore used motion on 48 of 73 plays, or 65.8%, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, their highest single-game rate since the 2020 season under Doug Pederson.

The move helped create space for wide receivers AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, including one that led to Hurts’ 67-yard touchdown pass to Brown to open the third quarter.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Hurts was 15-of-21 for 212 yards and two touchdowns when the play included movement. But he was 5-of-13 for 66 yards and two interceptions without it.

Zack Baun’s Career Night

After Eagles signed Bryce Huff and Barkley free agencysigned linebacker Zack Baun at the start of free agency.

Baun was a reserve player with the Saints for four seasons and never played more than 27 percent of New Orleans’ defensive snaps in a season.

But Baun didn’t leave the field Friday night. He played in all 67 of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps and had the best night of his career.

Baun had a game-high 15 tackles and two sacks. He now has more tackles in a game than he did in his rookie season in 2020.

If he stays healthy, Baun will set career records in several statistical categories with the Eagles in 2024.