Bobby Wagner on Saquon Barkley: We have to stay disciplined throughout the game

The Chiefs played the Eagles twice during the regular season, so they know what their NFC Championship Game opponent wants to do on offense.

Saquon Barkley ran for 2,329 yards in 18 games with the Eagles this season and 296 of them came against the Chiefs. Barkley ran for more than five yards in those games and scored four touchdowns, making keeping him from ruining their day a top priority for the defense.

This has been the priority for the Packers and the Rams over the past two weeks as well, and doing so is a whole different story. On Thursday, Commanders quarterback Bobby Wagner explained what he believes the team needs to do in order to keep Barkley out.

“You’re just trying to contain it,” Wagner said via audio from the team. “This is going to be a discipline game. Last game (against the Rams), they did a pretty good job for the most part, but he’s waiting for that guy to come out of the hole. He’s waiting for that guy to be undisciplined. . . . That’s going to be our challenge.” – To be disciplined at all times, throughout the match. He has the ability and talent to break the run at any moment, and we need to make sure that does not happen.

Beating the Eagles will require strong performances across the board from the leaders, but keeping Barkley in check looms larger than most of the other items on the roster.