EAST RUTHERFORD – Saquon Barkley’s return to MetLife Stadium turned out to be a memorable affair, albeit for the wrong reasons for the New York Giants. On Sunday, Barkley, now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, showcased his skills during a 28-3 rout against his former team. The Giants’ offense, led by quarterback Daniel Jones, struggled greatly throughout the game, even with Malik Nabers back in action.
Jones appeared hesitant in his decision-making, likely impacted by a significantly faltering offensive line. The team was playing without star left tackle Andrew Thomas, who is out for the season due to his recent Lisfranc injury surgery. With Josh Ezeudu taking over for Thomas, the offensive line struggled from the start, allowing a total of eight sacks by the Eagles (4-2).
This highly anticipated matchup was marked on the calendars of both franchises following Barkley’s departure from the Giants to the Eagles during free agency. The last time Barkley participated in this rivalry, he helped the Giants secure a victory against the Eagles in January.
Barkley’s transition to the Eagles was heavily scrutinized, especially after Giants co-owner John Mara expressed concerns about the possibility of losing him to their rivals. Unfortunately for Mara, that concern came to fruition as Barkley played a pivotal role in his team’s commanding victory, finishing with 176 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. His explosive runs of 55 and 38 yards demonstrated the talent that made him the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
The Giants (2-5) saw Drew Lock replace Jones at quarterback by the end of the game, as Jones completed 14 of 21 passes for just 99 yards. This performance raises questions about whether Giants coach Brian Daboll will consider a change at quarterback ahead of their upcoming matchup against the Steelers.
The Giants’ offense continues to be in disarray, having scored only 10 touchdowns this season, among the lowest in the league. They currently average just 14.14 points per game, with Daboll at the helm of play-calling. Notably, the Giants have yet to win at home this season, with their only touchdown at MetLife coming in the past.
As the team has been hit hard by injuries, including Thomas sidelined for the year and Kayvon Thibodeaux on injured reserve, the pressure now mounts on Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen to navigate this pivotal moment in the season.
During the game, the Eagles took a commanding lead as Jalen Hurts scored on a quarterback sneak, pushing the score to 21-3 in the third quarter, with Barkley significantly contributing to the Eagles’ offensive effort. The Giants’ defense, while managing to sack Hurts multiple times, was unable to stop Barkley from showcasing his talent.
In a glimpse of how the Giants’ offense has struggled, rookie Theo Johnson had a touchdown catch negated by penalty just before halftime, forcing the Giants to settle for a field goal to get on the scoreboard. As the matchup progressed, the lack of offensive production from the Giants further highlighted their ongoing difficulties this season.