Saquon Barkley's Eagles debut produces the franchise's best since the NFL merger

We haven't seen a Philadelphia Eagles debut that has been this good in 20 years. That isn't just some poetic way to describe Saquon Barkley's first appearance in a Birds jersey. That's statistically accurate when you look it up.

Friday night brought two things we probably never thought we'd see before this past March. We saw Philly play a football game as the home team IN BRAZIL. We saw Saquon score a TD as an Eagles jersey.

Then, he did it again... And, he did it again...

Saquon Barkley's hat trick isn't just a win for Fantasy football owners who are starting him on their roster. It's one of two of the best debuts we've seen since the NFL merger.

Saquon Barkley joins Terrell Owens in Eagles lore.

It was one of those games that everyone remembers. It's also one of those game where you remember where you were when it was played.

Where were you when Terrell Owens caught three TD passes in his Eagles debut?

T.O.'s first season in Eagles green ended with a mammoth performance in the Super Bowl, albeit in a loss. It began just under five months earlier on September 12th, 2004.

A 31-17 beatdown of the hated New York Giants was the result of that day's action. Owens hauled in eight receptions for 68 yards. He also reached the end zone on three separate occasions.

Almost 20 years later to the day, Saquon's first day as an Eagles also produced three TDs. Owens and Barkley's hat tricks tie for the most in an Eagles debut since the AFL and NFL joined forces in 1966.

As impressive as T.O.'s day was, we'd have to give Barkley a slight nod as being better. He was a Swiss Army knife of sorts. He did work as a rusher and receiver.

24 carries led to 109 yards rushing and two TDs. He caught two more passes for 23 yards and scored as a receiver. In short, he did it all.

His Eagles career is off to a thunderous start. Let's just hope Saquon's Eagles tale has a happier ending than T.O.'s did. Something tells us that it will though.

Read more Eagles news and notes