INGLEWOOD, Calif. — This unforgettable season will forever be marked by a running back blazing down the field. It’s the fusion of iconic moments: a sharp cut, a clutch catch, a relentless force worthy of MVP recognition, carving his name into the annals of Philadelphia sports history.

On Sunday night, Saquon Barkley delivered two unforgettable runs that will be etched into memory. These plays will be passed around over beers in the most humble of dive bars, revisited on the most mundane of days. “Yeah, but do you remember that run?” someone will ask. A brief pause, and the first run will likely come up. A chuckle will follow, as someone recalls how Landon Dickerson flattened a Rams linebacker, who could do nothing but flail helplessly while Barkley breezed by for a 70-yard touchdown on the opening play of the second half.

A fresh round of drinks will bring up the second story, beer flowing like Barkley did along the left side of the line. “Do you remember how he planted that foot and exploded?” someone will ask. Jared Verse, the Rams edge rusher, grasped only air as Barkley was already off to the races, already leaving defenders behind and simultaneously setting two franchise records with a 72-yard touchdown run.

By then, Barkley’s 255 rushing yards, along with 302 total scrimmage yards, may well have powered an MVP campaign that cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, unprompted, championed in the post-game locker room. To him, the MVP title was the perfect reflection of a player who had driven the Philadelphia Eagles to a dominant 37-20 victory over the Rams at SoFi Stadium.

“It’s my first time being around someone like that,” Rodgers said. “Everything he does just blows me away. It’s all new to me. I’m just enjoying the show, just like everyone else.”

The majority of the 74,400 fans in attendance on Sunday were decked out in green. A boisterous group gathered near one of the stadium tunnels, chanting “M-V-P” as Barkley exited the field. No one in Philadelphia had ever witnessed a running back like him. His teammates, too, struggle to find the words to describe a player who’s racked up seven 100-yard games, helping push the team’s win streak to seven.

“You can’t,” Dickerson said, unable to describe his teammate’s remarkable impact.

At one point, the left guard found himself out in front of Barkley, blocking for a screen pass, one of Barkley’s four receptions that accounted for 47 yards. Barkley is the all-around catalyst. Head coach Nick Sirianni was quick to praise him: “He’s got everything you want in a back.” Sirianni watched as the offense squandered its first two red-zone opportunities, then leaned heavily on Barkley during a second-quarter drive, trailing 7-6. Barkley racked up 42 of the 62 yards on the drive, including a sideline catch for 13 yards that put the Eagles at the Rams’ 7-yard line.

Two plays later, Jalen Hurts connected with A.J. Brown for a 6-yard touchdown, a play that needed an official review. Brown, the three-time Pro Bowler, is benefitting from defenses that can’t keep up with the Eagles’ dual playmakers. Despite DeVonta Smith being sidelined with a hamstring injury, Brown posted six catches for 109 yards.

“When you combine one issue with another, you’ve got a real problem,” Hurts noted.

There were issues to be addressed in the game. But those problems will fade, forgotten by an Eagles team whose offensive firepower and defensive strength can erase any misstep. Three penalties in four plays led to the Eagles settling for a second field goal in the first quarter. Then, inexplicably, Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore dialed up a risky fourth-down draw for Hurts. When it failed, the Rams had two seconds to attempt a Hail Mary just before halftime.

But defensive lineman Josh Sweat quickly sacked Matthew Stafford, preventing any damage. After allowing 8.8 yards per play on their first two drives, the Eagles’ defense shut the Rams down for negative six yards on the next four drives. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s group held the Rams to just 290 total yards, less than Barkley’s yardage alone. They sacked Stafford five times. Brandon Graham’s sack, in particular, energized the crowd and moved him into third place on the franchise’s all-time sack list (76.5), behind only Reggie White (124) and Trent Cole (85.5).

But this moment may be Graham’s last. The veteran defensive lineman revealed after the game that he tore his tricep in the second half. A Rams running back had chipped him, causing pain that initially seemed minor but lingered. He remained on the sideline and later embraced his teammates. In the locker room, he called his wife and kids, and the family shared an emotional moment. Graham, who announced that 2024 would be his final season, may have played his last game.

“It’s unfortunate it had to end like this, but I have no regrets,” Graham said. “I gave it everything I had, just like I do every week. We’ll see where we go from here. But I’m hoping we hold that trophy in the end. The mission’s still the mission, and I’ll still do my part.”

Sirianni wasn’t ready to discuss Graham’s future until more medical assessments were made. “Love him,” Sirianni said. “He’s one of my favorite players I’ve ever coached. We’ll see how things unfold. We’re holding out hope.”

“That sucks,” Barkley said of Graham’s situation. “I’ve only known him for a short time, but it feels like we’ve known each other forever. He made my transition here so much easier. Having a vet like him to talk to about anything is priceless. I remember our talks in the sauna during OTAs, just getting to know each other. The energy and passion he brings, not just to his team but to the city—he embodies what it means to be a Philadelphia Eagle.”

Barkley, too, is fulfilling that legacy. His impact on the Eagles’ success is undeniable. His performance has reached the level of quarterbacks who’ve dominated the NFL MVP race for the last decade. The last non-quarterback to win the MVP was Adrian Peterson in 2012, and Barkley should at least be considered as a serious contender to break that streak. His play is beyond human limits. Standing by his locker, Barkley noticed a league notice for a random drug test — which, humorously, had been placed there by tight end Dallas Goedert as a prank.

Barkley’s time with the Eagles has been about rewriting his narrative. After leaving the Giants, he’s posted career-high numbers, proving the best is yet to come.

“My story’s not finished,” Barkley said. “It’s just beginning. When the season’s over, we’ll look back and smile at what we’ve accomplished, or what we didn’t. But right now, I’m focusing on recovery, getting some rest, and preparing for the next game.”