Eagles 34, Packers 29
Q. What was it like scoring your first touchdown?
SAQUON BARKLEY: It was pretty cool, one, just the opportunity was amazing. So thankful to the NFL. So thankful everyone in Brazil. It was super fun. The energy was amazing. You know, I couldn't picture any way better than that. It was a big play and got my feet down.
Q. Following in line with the touchdowns, you not only did a hat trick, what we call in soccer, you almost did a poker, close to that. How important was this win in South America for you and how easy did the offensive line work for you tonight?
SAQUON BARKLEY: It was really important. We knew they were going to be a tough opponent. We didn't make it easier on ourself in the beginning of the game by any means. Defense had our back all three phases, made plays when needed to be made. O-line played great.
That's a big reason why I wanted to come to Philly when I had the opportunity. We still got a lot to improve on, including myself. It meant a lot to come out here and take advantage of the opportunity and be one of the first teams to ever to play in South America, and not only play, but take care of business and get the W, too.
Q. During the game, LeBron James tweeted that this field sucks. After you scored three touchdowns I think it looked pretty good, right?
SAQUON BARKLEY: I will say it was different than what we're used to. You know, the guys who were slipping, including myself on the first three plays, and especially the first one, I just didn't handle it the right way. I went out in warmup and decided to not go with studs because I felt comfortable enough. It's different than warming up and going full speed.
After the first drive I put my studs in, got the first run. I was a little hesitant to get a feel for it. After that, I think it was pretty okay.
Q. I was wondering if you can just describe what you thought or what you expected going into this game about how you would be used and how it turned out compared to those expectations for you.
SAQUON BARKLEY: I think I was expecting guys the whole off-season and the whole camp that there will be games where there is opportunity for me to go out there and take over, and there is going to be games for AJ, DeVonta, Dallas and so on and so on. I didn't have no idea. I think Kellen does a really good job having a feel for the game and a feel for the players.
Still felt like I left a lot out there and can't wait to watch the film and see where I can improve. It's a great start. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to win football games and that's hard to do in this league, and especially against a great team like that.
Q. How was the locker room mood after this great win? I would like to know if you can send a message to all the Brazilian fans here in the game?
SAQUON BARKLEY: I mean, the locker room mood was great. Any time you get a win you're always excited. It's hard to win in this league. Super hard. Some people don't truly understand that.
So the locker room was great. The message I would give to the fans is everyone in Brazil, thank you guys so much. The culture and everything about it here was beautiful. We had a blast. Honestly, I came out here before on my own. So I came out for Carnivale, so got to dive into the culture a little bit more and do the -- funk, am I saying that right? I got to funk and do my best dance version to it.
It was awesome. The National Anthem, obviously I love my country, but when it was your guys' National Anthem I got chills. Never really seen anything like that. It was an honor. Thank you guys so much for having us. Hopefully we put on a show for you guys.
Q. Earlier this week you said, not to sound cocky, but we're going to see more of your abilities in this offense. What is it about this offense that allows you to showcase your talents a little bit more than you had in the past?
SAQUON BARKLEY: One, got to give credit to the offensive line. Starts with the offensive line and Jalen making the right reads and putting us in the right positions, O-line setting me up and making me look better than I actually am.
Doesn't Hurt to have Dallas Goedert, DeVonta Smith, AJ Brown -- I mean, on the scouting report I'm probably not even Top 3 you got to worry about. Makes my job a lot easier.
Kellen does a good job putting us in a position to be special. I am just happy to be here and start off right. Like I said, so much I'm going to continue to playback in my mind that I could have done better on, but that's the beauty of the game.
You learn and you move on and get ready for next week, and get back to Philly and get ready for Atlanta on Monday night.
Q. (No microphone.)
SAQUON BARKLEY: I don't think really was the game that I needed. I think once I signed, I kind of had that monkey off my back. I just was super excited and thankful for the opportunity. Not trying to get too much in the past, but I was able to just lock in.
At the end of the day, like you can say what I want. The money is good and all that, but I truly love this game. I love playing football. I was able to take care of that. Shoutout to my team and agent. Now I'm here.
I want to be special. I want to be special in this offense, special for this team, give Philly somebody they can be proud about. I think they'll be happy with the start being 1-0. Like I said, beautiful to be here and be in South America. Now get to go back home and do it in front of our fans on Monday night.
Q. Welcome to Brazil. How do you assess today's game and what adjustments will be made for the season?
SAQUON BARKLEY: Yeah, today I think we go back, watch film. You know, you got to treat it like if we lost. You can kind of get caught up in details when it's a win. When you win everything feels and seems better.
We got to go lock in on that, watch film, get in meetings, and correct our little things we had. For next ex week, we got a tough opponent. We will be able to watch them on Sunday so have a little more -- it's always weird, especially with this team. We really didn't know much coming in. We had ideas what they were going to do, but it was a new D-coordinator and had new guys over there.
So I have an idea what Atlanta is going to do and got to prepare and get ready because we are going to get their best. Every team we know we're going to get the best because of the hype and the expectations with the team and the guys that we have. We got to be ready.
Q. You had a good game against the Packers in London; scored. Had a great game today; scored. Is it international games or the opponents?
SAQUON BARKLEY: I think it's the international games, right? Two international games and two players of the game. Happened to me twice. Hopefully we can schedule a little bit more and you guys can see me in South America.
I love it. I truly enjoy it. I take pride in it, of growing the game, expanding the brand of the game, and even myself. You know, I never thought when was 7 years old starting football where this game would take me to.
I try to get lost in that and just try to have the most fun that I can and play to the level I know I can.
Q. You not only score your first touchdown with the Eagles, but you score the first touchdown in the NFL Brazil. How was the feeling to score this historic moment and was the atmosphere here, the feeling to be here?
SAQUON BARKLEY: Yeah, I'm the first person to ever score in South America. That's cool. Definitely got to try to get that game going, hang it up or put in my house. The atmosphere, man, it was electric. I kind of knew. One of my boys, he stayed out here for a little bit. Went to the soccer game that was here, or football, sorry, and he sent me a video. I knew what it was going to be about.
Outside just how electric the fans was, that National Anthem, I'm not familiar with Portuguese, but how everyone was saying it and how everyone was all doing it together literally gave me chills. If you ask anybody, we were like, wow, that was special.
I think if you can't get ready for a football game after hearing your National Anthem and seeing your guys' National Anthem and being here and seeing the moment and realizing we're making history, you got to check yourself.
Q. Packers had a great team and solid run defense and you still managed to score two touchdowns. It's a team game obviously. I wonder how happy are you with your performance individually?
SAQUON BARKLEY: Yeah, I think hat trick is never a bad thing. There is so much that I can do, and that's the kind of player that I am. Always going to be like that. Go back and watch film and obviously the good, look at the good, but there is a lot of bad in there too.
I got to do better in four-minute situations. Obviously collectively we did together as a team, but as a running back you got to take pride in that. I don't think I was too great in that scenario this game. Like I said, you go back and watch film and you got to take on that challenge for the next game or next opportunity.
Q. (No microphone.)
SAQUON BARKLEY: I don't look at it like that. I look at it as an opportunity for me to play the game that I love. I put all the BS to the side. I can just go out there and be a little kid and play football. That's my main focus.
And I'm happy. I'm thankful for the last six years I had in New York. I would never -- I wouldn't be the man I am today without it, and I still got great relationships with all those guys.
Talked to Daboll today. I'm just happy to be here, happy to be part of this organization. You know, I just look forward to a future, and the future is next week. I'm not looking too far into it. But ready to watch a little college football when we get back, watch the Penn State Nittany Lions get another win and chill with my family and get ready for Atlanta.
Q. When he was asking the question to Nick about if this felt like a home game, you immediately said no.
SAQUON BARKLEY: I didn't say that.
Q. Who said that?
SAQUON BARKLEY: I think --
Q. Did it feel like a home game?
SAQUON BARKLEY: Yeah, I think it was -- Packers -- go Pack, go. They travel pretty well. When we played them in to London and New York it was definitely Packer loaded over there.
Yeah, shoutout to the Packers fans. They came out and did their thing. There were also a lot of Eagles fans, too. Definitely don't want to it not mention those guys. We heard the, go birds. We could feel the energy too.
And also knowing all the people was watching back home. I think any time you can play the fight song and get a W, good job.
Q. You had a few months to kind of envision what it would be like to be in this offense and playing with guys like Jalen and AJ and DeVonta and Dallas. What were you kind of envisioning and how did it match up against the reality tonight?
SAQUON BARKLEY: Kind of similar to this I guess you could say. I think it's so special that out of all the guys we have on this team that's so talented, and today might have been my day scoring touchdowns, it was never no hate, no none of that. It was like go ahead, go get four. That's what you need with a team like this that has so many stars. It's going to continue be like that going into the season.
Going to be time for AJ going crazy; he's going to have three, four touchdowns, DeVonta, Dallas. In the back of my mind I know they're going crazy, it's going to make me want to block even better for them to set them up to get an opportunity to make their plays.
That's my favorite thing about being part of this team. There is really no selfish personalities here. We have one common goal, and I'm excited to be part of that.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports