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Former Penn State legend Saquon Barkley helps lead Giants to playoff win

By Joey Lovell

Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter of a wild card game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter of a wild card game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Penn State Football great Saquon Barkley helped carry the New York Giants to their first playoff win in nearly 11 years. 

After suffering severe injuries that limited his second season and eliminated his third after just two games, many analysts and coaches thought that Saquon Barkley might never regain the form that enabled him to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018.

One unnamed NFL coach went so far as to say this prior to the start of this season: “He doesn’t know how to play running back yet”.

Evidently, Saquon Barkley must have learned a thing or two, as he rushed for 53 yards on nine carries for two touchdowns in his first career playoff game. He added 5 catches for 56 yards, putting his total yards from scrimmage at 109 yards in the New York Giants first playoff win since Super Bowl XLVI.

Minnesota received the ball first and marched down the field, scoring on a Kirk Cousin’s 1 yard plunge. On the Giant’s first play from scrimmage, Barkley took the handoff around the left end for 18 yards. That play was negated by a holding penalty.  New York wasted no time in recovering that yardage and moved the ball quickly down to Minnesota’s 28-yard line.

Barkley took the pitch 28 yards for a touchdown. This run highlighted many of Saquon’s tremendous skills: vision, patience and breakaway speed. His second touchdown, the game-winning score, showcased his impressive attribute: his awesome leg strength.

Sunday’s playoff victory was just another step in Saquon’s road of recovery. The 2022 season showed that his speed had not vanished as some had feared/hoped. He started all 17 games, rushing for 1312 yards, 10 touchdowns while hauling in 57 receptions for 338 yards. Recently named to this year’s Pro Bowl squad, it is easy to see that Saquon’s bounce back year has been instrumental in ending the Giant’s 5-year playoff drought.

To paraphrase the immortal words of the character Jack O’Callahan from the Disney movie “Miracle”: “Barkley’s back baby!!”

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