Giants Prepare for Saquon Barkley’s Impact
Numbers can tell a story, and the Giants are well aware of the situation. They know they’re lagging behind, but there’s familiarity with Saquon Barkley — they likely won’t be able to contain him for long.
“We don’t want to be the team that ignites him,” stated nose tackle Dexter Lawrence on Tuesday.
After his explosive performance last season, Barkley hasn’t quite found the same spark in 2025. The Eagles, suffering their first loss and standing at 4-1, saw a lackluster outing from Barkley last week, where he only managed six rushing attempts and a mere 30 yards.
In football, unexpected moments can trigger reactions, and the Giants anticipate the Eagles will respond by relying heavily on Barkley this Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.
“I think everyone expects that,” safety Tyler Nubin remarked. “I’m definitely ready for that.”
Barkley, who spent six seasons with the Giants after being drafted second overall in 2018, has overcome considerable hurdles—from tough seasons to a contentious contract that led him to the rival Eagles, ultimately finding glory as a Super Bowl champion.
His achievements in 2024 were remarkable, making it hard for him to replicate that level of performance. Last year, he rushed for 2,005 yards, averaging 125.3 yards per game. But so far, he’s only managed 267 rushing yards this season, averaging 53.4 yards per game—a stark drop with a pace that suggests he might finish with just 908 yards this year.
Linebacker Bobby Okereke commented, “It’s a tough challenge for great players. Everyone’s thinking, ‘We can’t lose to Saquon.’ That’s definitely our mindset, but they’ve got other talented players who can hurt you too.”
Those who track rushing leaders in the NFL may find themselves scrolling far to see Barkley’s current ranking—21st in the league—sandwiched between Christian McCaffrey and Josh Jacobs.
Nonetheless, the Giants recognize that declining usage doesn’t automatically mean declining performance. Barkley has had a total of 83 rushing attempts this season, with only three players seeing more action than him.
Yet, there have been noticeable absences in his carries. In last week’s game against the Broncos, Barkley managed just six rushes. Nevertheless, he did make a significant impact with a 47-yard touchdown reception.
Interestingly, he showed flashes of his former self with a 17-yard run late in the second quarter but received only one more rushing attempt for the remainder of the game. Despite the Eagles falling behind in the fourth quarter, the run game was largely set aside, and Barkley was minimally involved in their final possessions.
After analyzing that game, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni expressed a desire to balance touches among various key players, including Barkley.
“We want to involve him, although sometimes it happens more through the pass than the run,” Sirianni shared.
In his previous encounter against the Giants last season, Barkley had a standout performance, leading them to a 28-3 victory with 176 rushing yards on 17 carries. His eagerness to replicate that showing is likely strong.
“I think it’s clear to everyone that we’re aiming to run the ball. Saquon has the ability to be the best player on the field at any moment,” Okereke added.
