EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Saquon Barkley leads the NFL with 676 yards from scrimmage, an early-season statistical achievement that has impressed many people except … Saquon Barkley.
"Not really," he said today when asked if it means anything to him. "As a competitor, I'm not going to sit and lie, you want to do this, you want to accomplish this, you want to accomplish that, but at the end of the day, the ultimate goal is to go out there and win games. Me being up in that category, I feel like helps the team. That's more of the motivation. Whatever I can do to help the team be successful, to help us win games, put ourselves in positions to win games is what I'm willing to do.
"I'm all about finding ways to win games. I really don't care about the individual stats. At the end of the day, I'm a big believer in that's all going to take care of itself. If I continue to have the right mindset and the right work ethic and continue to do the things that I've been able to do – that's going to take care of itself. Whatever I can do to help the team win games."
Something that's included in that category is Barkley lining up as a wildcat quarterback, as he's done the last two games. Against Chicago on Oct. 2, the move was borne out of necessity, because quarterbacks Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor were both injured. Last week vs. Green Bay in London, it was included as part of the offensive gameplan. Barkley took a direct snap and scored the deciding touchdown on a two-yard run with 6:08 remaining.
"I ran it in college, I ran it last year a little bit," Barkley said. "I just listen to the rules that I'm told and follow it. That's really all I do. The guy I got to read, read him. If he does this, do one thing. If he does that, do another. That's really it. When the ball is in my hand, try to make a play and whether it's running with it or making the right decision and handing it off."
Or throw it, as one reporter suggested?
"Or throw it, you're right," he said. "That's a good point. Or throw it."
Barkley does not have a pass attempt in his career. But with the versatility he has shown thus far it just might happen.
*Punter Jamie Gillan was back with the team today after his return from London was delayed due to a visa issue.
"To clear things up for you guys, there was no 'stuck in London' or anything like that," said Gillan, a Scottish native. "This is something that we knew we had to do for a while. I just had to get my passport, P1 Visa, extended to get back into the country. So, we did. Humongous thanks to the Giants' organization and Laurie Tisch for allowing that to happen, talking to the right people and the people at the U.S. Embassy. Fantastic people there. They were really helpful because those people were quite involved. We had a goal to get me back in two days and we did. We did it, so I'm back here."
Gillan said if the Giants had not played in London, he would have taken care of the visa issue after the season.
Though he would have preferred to return to New Jersey with the team, Gillan made good use of his extra two days in London.
"I stayed in an Airbnb with my family," he said. "We got some food and hung out. Then we got on a plane at six o'clock last night.
"It was great. I was able to use a gym there, I had my iPad with me to watch film and stuff of the game and our opponents. Then I was back on Wednesday."
*When they host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Giants will celebrate Latino Heritage Month in partnership with Ford and supported by Dunkin' and PNC Private Bank. Fans will be welcomed with several plaza festivities, including sampling of Latin cuisine, live DJ, Latin style dance exhibition, Super Bowl trophy on display (weather permitting), and more. The festivities will take place on the plaza between MetLife and Verizon gates.
*Each of the Giants' four victories have come against opponents outside the NFC East. The Giants have never won their first five non-divisional games in a season. In 2021, the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams each won their first five games outside of the NFC West.
*The Giants are the second team since 2000 to win 4+ games in the previous season and match their win total in the first five games (the other team was 2019 San Francisco 49ers, who played in Super Bowl LIV).
