The biggest victory of Saquon Barkley’s week wasn’t the one against the Commanders that resuscitated the Giants’ season.
It was convincing a diehard Jets fan that he should want the Giants to prevail when the rivals go head-to-head Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
“My dad is a real big Jets fan, having a Jets tattoo,” said Barkley, whose childhood allegiances followed his father’s. “He’s still rooting for the Jets this game, but he hopes we win this time. So, I got him to say that out of his own mouth two or three days ago. I finally got my father on my side.”
Giants-Jets week fuels trash talk in a lot of tristate households.
It’s no different inside Barkley’s family, where younger brother Ali teased Saquon this week about one of the worst games of his six seasons and a moment that admittedly “still weighs heavy on my mind.”
In his only regular-season matchup against the Jets to date, Barkley carried 13 times for a career-low 1 yard in a 34-27 loss on Nov. 10, 2019.
It was reminiscent of when Barry Sanders — Barkley’s favorite all-time running back — had 13 carries for minus-1 yard in a 1994 playoff loss at Green Bay.
“My little brother definitely reminded me,” Barkley said. “That’s when I realized like, dang, I really had 1 rushing yard against this team. At that moment — before I ever had an ACL [tear] or anything like that — that was probably the lowest moment I had as a player.”
Barkley rebounded with 781 yards from scrimmage over the next six games.
“I liked how I responded,” Barkley said. “I think in the next couple of weeks, I played pretty well and had one of my better games two or three weeks after that. So, you learn from it. I’m not the only back that’s ever been part of a game like that.”
Quinnen Williams is the only holdover from the Jets’ defense that stifled Barkley that day.
None of Barkley’s blockers from that day remain, though the offensive line is as much in flux and reliant on backups now as it was then.
“They’re fun to watch, just being a fan of the game,” Barkley said of the “fast, physical” Jets defense. “Watching film of them, trying to learn them and get ready, seeing the way they play, you’ve got to admire it. You’ve got to have respect for what they’re doing over there. So, it’s going to be fun, it’s going to be a challenge, and as competitors, it’s the type of game you want to be a part of.”
Sometimes, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Barkley was four games removed from a three-game absence due to an ankle sprain when the Giants last faced the Jets. Sunday will be his third game back after a three-game absence due to a high ankle sprain.
Not that Barkley showed any ill effects when he totaled 118 yards from scrimmage against the Commanders.
His decisive 32-yard catch-and-run touchdown highlighted his sharp cuts, breakaway speed and tackle-breaking.
“I think you go watch film, everything is all still there,” Barkley said. “It’s still a high ankle, it’s still challenging, but I felt really comfortable in the game. Some of my runs, they only might have gone for 4 or 5 yards, but I felt like I was shifty and was able to make the cuts that I needed to make and set up the linemen a little bit. So, I’m excited. Just keep building off it, keep rehabbing it and getting better each week.”
One weakness for the Jets’ turnover-generating and pass-rushing defense is stopping the run.
Four of six opponents have gained at least 134 on the ground.
As is the case for all Giants’ opponents, the defensive mission figures to start with stopping the run.
“I’d say there’s been some focus on Saquon,” Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka said, “which I think is warranted.”
Also warranted? The hype around this game.
“There’s definitely a little something more to the game,” Barkley said. “I felt that last time I played in it. We ended up losing in a really close game, but you could just feel the atmosphere and the fans that were there. At the end of the day, all you want to do is win and that’s our goal.”