Game Preview: Saquon Barkley returns to MetLife Stadium

Tomorrow’s comeback for the player with the most rushing yards in MetLife Stadium history will be very different from his previous outing. In the Giants’ season-ending 24-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on January 7, Barkley ran for 46 yards and two touchdowns and grabbed two catches for 51 yards. Barkley, who was perhaps the most prolific and well-liked Giants player over the previous six seasons, signed a three-year contract with Philadelphia on March 13—65 days later. He makes his first appearance as the opponent in green tomorrow when the Giants play the Eagles.

 

In Philadelphia this week, Barkley told reporters, “I don’t have to prove anything to them.” “From (owner) Jeffrey (Lurie) to (general manager) Howie (Roseman), I am grateful for the chance this organization has given me. That’s who I need to prove it to, along with my teammates. At the end of the day, winning is what matters most. I don’t have so much pride or ego that if I go out there and ball, it’s like I’m staring at those people and saying, ‘Look what you guys let go.’ It doesn’t matter if I go for 300 yards or 10 yards as long as we win.

There isn’t any hate there. However, I am also aware that it is a significant game. I’m going to go in there with everything I’ve got to try to help us win the game because it’s a division rival.” Barkley left behind a remarkable legacy, no doubt. This year, a group of specialists ranked him as the 95th best player in the Giants’ 100-year history. He was fourth in team history with 5,211 rushing yards and eleventh with 47 touchdowns (35 rushing). He was a two-time Pro Bowler and the 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year. In an odd split with 2,600 yards in Giants home games and one in MetLife Stadium, Barkley ran for 2,601 yards.

I’ve reacted negatively to previous guys that came here and left. I think it’s football at the end of the day. The Eagles are the team in front of you this week, and you have to defeat them. That’s the strategy. I can’t wait to play a whole game versus Saquon. Simply exert some of my will on him.” Daniel Jones, the quarterback, remarked, “Seeing him in another uniform will definitely be a little different.” “But it’s time to leave; we have a competition this week. Although it will initially be different, it will be another significant divisional game.