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Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles pass game coordinator Kevin Patullo against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Saquon Barkley shuts down Kevin Patullo's doubters before facing fearless Bucs

Originally posted on Inside the Iggles | By Gourab Saha | Last updated Sep 28, 2025 7:00 AM ET

The vibe around a 3-0 team should be like a perfect summer afternoon at the ballpark. But in Philadelphia, it’s been more like a tense and gusty evening wind. Every play is scrutinized. Every quote dissected. The Eagles are winning, but the engine is knocking. And everyone is listening for the next sound.

The second-half explosion against the Rams was historic. But the real story was the conversation it started. Whispers about philosophy and play-calling began to swirl. The narrative was building, waiting for someone to address it head-on.

Saquon Barkley faced the media and provided the clarity everyone was seeking. He was asked, "A lot of guys have been talking about the attack mindset this week. Where's that coming from?" His answer left no room for interpretation. “I think KP,” Barkley began, then corrected himself with conviction.

“I don't think KP; I know KP is. That's kind of like the theme,” Saquon declared. And this was a direct endorsement of offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.

Barkley pointed to the Rams game as the blueprint. “The beauty of the game last week—obviously the first half was so bad, the second half was so good. We got something that we can build off of... Sometimes you can get caught up in what teams are going to try to do to stop us, and not so much of... you have a hard time stopping us. So, that's kind of the mindset that we got to continue to have,” he said. He framed the entire experience as a learning moment for the offense. And the message was unified, not divided.

Barkley then pivoted to the challenge ahead. He knows the Tampa Bay Buccaneers present a unique test. “This team definitely don't fear the Eagles, I can tell you that for sure,” he said, referencing his friendship with Baker Mayfield. This admission sets the stage for a true heavyweight fight. The Eagles cannot afford another slow start.

A Litmus Test in the Florida Heat

The numbers back up Barkley’s urgency. The Eagles' offense ranks in the bottom third of the league. Barkley himself is averaging a modest 3.3 yards per carry. This is a far cry from his record-shattering 2024 season. The Buccaneers' defense, however, presents a formidable wall. They haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 11 games. Meanwhile, Tampa’s history against Philadelphia is equally daunting.

The Bucs are 6-1 in the last seven meetings, including two playoff routs. Jalen Hurts personally owns a sad 1-4 record against Todd Bowles’ defensive schemes. The Eagles are taking the threat seriously, even arriving in Florida early to acclimatize to the sweltering heat. And Baker Mayfield is scoffing at their tactics.

Other Eagles stars have echoed the attack-first mentality. DeVonta Smith simplified it: “Make one guy miss, that’s all she wrote.” A.J. Brown’s initial comments about letting “your killers do their thing” now appear less as criticism and more as a shared offensive vision. Brown later clarified his stance. And the players are all speaking the same language.

The key will be translating that language into action from the first snap. The Buccaneers blitz heavily, creating one-on-one matchups outside. This is precisely the scenario where an aggressive mindset pays dividends. Hurts must have the green light to take shots downfield to Brown and Smith.

This game is more than just a battle of undefeated teams. It is a referendum on the Eagles’ offensive identity. Will the second-half resurgence against the Rams become the new standard? Or will old habits resurface under the Florida sun? The entire league is watching.

The Eagles have the talent to dictate terms to any opponent. The question is whether the mindset will now match the muscle. As the great novelist Haruki Murakami once wrote, “When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in.” Well, on Sunday, we find out who the Eagles plan to become.

This article first appeared on Inside the Iggles and was syndicated with permission.

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