The New York Giants are coming off of a big Week 10 victory in which superstar running back Saquon Barkley took 35 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown. The Giants improved their record to 7-2 behind Barkley’s fourth 100+ yard rushing performance on the season. As Big Blue prepares to host the Detroit Lions in Week 11, another big day appears to be in store for Saquon and the ground attack.
Saquon Barkley primed for a big game against the Lions
The Detroit Lions possess one of the worst run defenses in the NFL so far this season. Detroit is allowing 160.9 rushing yards per game, ranking 31st in the NFL. New York’s offense is totaling an average of 164.8 rushing yards per game this season, ranking 3rd in the NFL. Brian Daboll and Mike Kafka have run the offense through Saquon Barkley all season long. With a favorable matchup ahead of him, that game plan is doubtful to change in Week 11.
Saquon Barkley is on a tear this season. The 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year has returned to form in 2022 to propel Big Blue to a 7-2 record. Saquon currently leads the NFL in rushing yards per game, averaging 103.4 yards per contest. He’s taken 198 carries for 931 and 6 rushing touchdowns so far, while also adding 29 receptions and 197 receiving yards.
Big Blue is enjoying a historic bounce-back season out of Barkley. The 25-year-old has reinvented his skillset, becoming a workhorse running back who routinely carries the ball over 20 times per game. Saquon has taken over 30 carries in two games this season, including a career-high 35 carries in last Sunday’s win over the Texans. The two games in which Barkley took over 30 carries this season are the first two games in which Barkley has taken 30 carries since his NFL career began in 2018.
“Obviously, you would think when you touch the ball that many times, you’re going to be sore,” the running back said this week about the large workload. “It all depends on the week, the team you play. Sometimes you can touch the ball 10 times and be just as sore if you touched the ball 35 times. Sometimes you can touch the ball 35 times and not be that sore. It’s just the grind of the season and that’s how it goes. For me, it’s just continuing to be a pro, take care of my body. We’ve got great people within this facility, and I’ve got great people that I work with outside of the facility to get my body back in shape and get my body right for the next game. There’s never a set day, every week is different.”
Saquon Barkley on the effect a high-volume of carries has on his body via Giants.com
The key to winning football games for the New York Giants this season has been running the football. Feeding Saquon Barkley, playing tough defense, and winning the turnover battle have led the New York Giants to the hot start they are on. To keep the winning ways alive, the Giants will implement the same run-heavy attack against the 3-6 Detroit Lions in Week 11.
The Detroit Lions’ poor run defense is the weakness that the Giants will look to exploit on Sunday. Detroit’s inability to stop the run has hurt them all season long. New York’s ability to run all over their opponents has helped them achieve a record that currently gives them the fifth seed in the NFC. Expect to see the Saquon Barkley Show on full display once again this Sunday as the New York Giants look to improve their record to 8-2.