A bit of history for Barkley
Pat Shurmur kept describing Daniel Jones’ performance in his first game back from a high ankle sprain as “heroic.”
Let’s call Saquon Barkley’s performance “historic.”
Barkley’s 279 yards from scrimmage Sunday broke Tiki Barber’s Giants record and lifted the Giants to a 41-35 win against the Redskins. He finished with four catches for 90 yards and 22 carries for 189 yards, scoring on the ground and through the air in the same game for the third time in his two-year career.
“He’s the best back in the league and he showed it today,” receiver Sterling Shepard said. “When he gets to the second level [of the defense], he’s dangerous. I ’ ve seen somebody so powerful and strong. He’ll knock down big guys, 300-pounders, with a stiff arm. It’s nasty what he does.”
Barkley’s 279 yards is tied for No. 23 in NFL history, according to Pro Football Reference. Only Adrian Peterson, Julio Jones and Le’Veon Bell have had better games among active players. Barber had 276 against the Eagles on Dec. 28, 2002.
Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones stole the show with 352 yards and five touchdown passes, but his success went hand-in-hand with Barkley, who had three gains of 20 yards or more. No second fiddle here.
“I felt good today, had a great game plan, coaches called it up great, DJ put us in the right positions, offensive line blocked perfectly, tight ends and wide receivers blocked perfectly, too,” Barkley said. “Besides having a great game statistical-wise, the only thing that matters is getting a win.”
As Barkley surges towards an unlikely 1,000-yard rushing season — 89 yards away — the big what-if hanging over the Giants’ season is h i s own high a nkl e sprain. He missed three games and then clearly was not the same runner in his f irst four back, failing to reach 100 yards rushing in his first seven.
“My job is to make that one guy miss,” Barkley said, “and sometimes they are going to make a play, but with the will I have, more times than not I’m going to make that person miss.”
Barkley broke through with a big game last week, but this was a statement he is back to his 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year form. His breakaway speed on a 67-yard touchdown run is the perfect complement to the inside runs he showed against the Dolphins and Eagles.
“His rookie year, he was just doing everything off his ability,” said Redskins safety Landon Collins, Barkley’s former teammate. “Now he’s just become a smart player, a smart running back understanding how to set things up for himself.”
Some innovative play-calling by Shurmur set up Barkley on the perimeter for receptions and sent him streaking out of the backfield down the seam for a wide-open 33-yard touchdown against Cover 4 defense. Most of Barkley’s receiving damage typically comes off check-down passes. “He sort of alluded to the fact after last week that he’s starting to get his groove back,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “He had an outstanding game.”