One of the new wrinkles of the Giants’ supposedly explosive offense is purported to be Saquon Barkley’s expanded role as a pass-catcher.
Well, something new definitely happened when Daniel Jones threw to Barkley in the season opener.
Jones threw the first pick-six of his career Sunday when he targeted Barkley on a third-and-19, and Daron Bland’s touchdown return was the exclamation point on a lopsided first quarter that set the tone for the Giants’ stunning 40-0 loss to the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
Barkley appeared to secure the ball just before Trevon Diggs undercut his legs, forcing the ball to pop in the air for Bland.
“I think we had it against run coverage,” Barkley said. “Diggs made a great play. I have to do a better job of holding the ball.”
Barkley carried 12 times for 51 yards and added three catches for 12 yards in his first game since settling his offseason contract dispute. He reported to training camp on time without trying to force his way into more guaranteed money than the franchise tag offers ($10.1 million) because he didn’t want to disrupt a potentially special season.
Except there was nothing memorable about the way the season started other than the official scorer’s debate over whether to charge Jones with an interception or Barkley with his second career fumble lost in six seasons.
“You can … let those poor-me’s creep in and it can trickle down and have an effect on our season,” Barkley said. “That’s the reality of it. It sucks, but sometimes you need an opening like this.
“You never want it to be this way — 40-0 at home to Dallas — but we got to hold each other a little more accountable.”
The Giants’ desire to transition away from last season’s possession-based ground attack to big plays through the air was thwarted by an offensive line that couldn’t function in allowing seven sacks.
If that is going to continue, the hard truth is Barkley will be as important as ever despite all the chirping that it is not sustainable to rely on a running back in today’s NFL.
Barkley had a career-high 371 offensive touches last season (including the playoffs) but the Giants rewarded three others with long-term extensions, while he was stuck with the franchise tag.
One of the sticking points in negotiations was whether Barkley is a dual-threat who can be explosive as a receiver like the highest-paid back Christian McCaffrey — Barkley says he can — or whether he is the kind of downhill runner to whom he was compared by the front office.
The look of disbelief on Barkley’s face as Bland celebrated a touchdown was the perfect depiction of a disastrous season opener for the Giants.
“Everyone had a bad play,” Barkley said.