Giants moving on in NFL playoffs thanks to Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley proving worth | Opinion
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The New York Giants wouldn’t be traveling to Philadelphia next week for a divisional round matchup if it weren’t for quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley – two players on expiring contracts.
Both players made their playoff debuts on Sunday, and the duo engineered the Giants to a 31-24 NFC wild-card playoff victory over the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
“It’s a big win for us,” Jones told reporters postgame. “It was a big playoff game. I thought we played well in all three phases and did enough to win the game. We’ll enjoy it tonight, but we have a lot of work to do going forward.”
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Playing in the biggest game of his football life, Jones had perhaps the best performance of his career. Jones passed for 301 yards and two touchdowns, and his 78 rushing yards were the most ever by a Giants quarterback in postseason history. Jones’ stat line made him the first quarterback in playoff history with over 300 passing yards, at least two touchdowns and 70-plus rushing yards in a playoff game, per NFL Research.
Barkley compiled 109 yards from scrimmage (53 rushing and 56 receiving) and two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“Whatever I got to do to help the team win,” Barkley said. “If it’s carry the ball 50 times, block, run the ball as many times, that’s what I’m going to do.”
The Giants offense amassed 431 total yards and all five of their scoring drives were at least 75 yards.
“The gameplan that we put together on offense, kind of was the gameplan for the game. What we did is what we wanted to do,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “There are always adjustments, but I thought (offensive coordinator) (Mike) Kafka and all the assistant coaches had those guys ready to play.”
Sunday’s win, though, was an endorsement for the Giants’ two most indispensable players on offense who are both playing in the final year of their respective contracts.
The Giants declined Jones’ fifth-year option last April and Barkley’s fifth-year option of his rookie deal is set to expire. Both will become unrestricted free agents. The Giants will have $54 million in cap space this offseason, according to overthecap.com.
Barkley, the two-time Pro Bowler and 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has battled injuries throughout his career. But when he’s healthy, he’s still one of the best running backs in the NFL. He’s topped 1,000 yards rushing in three of his first five seasons, including a career-high 1,312 rushing yards this year.
Jones has had an up-and-down time in New York, but on a contract year and with a new coaching staff, he is playing revitalized. The fourth-year quarterback had a single-season best 3,205 passing yards this year. His 92.5 passer rating in 2022 was also a career best.
“I’m just trying to focus on what I got to do and focus on just executing. Keeping it that simple. Not thinking bigger than that or not getting outside that moment,” Jones said Sunday. “Just trying to stay present and locked into what I got to do.”
Barkley and Jones showed the Giants organization that they need to strongly consider bringing them both back in 2023, regardless of next week’s outcome in Philly. The two were instrumental in the Giants’ first playoff victory since the franchise went on its Super Bowl run in 2011.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on Twitter @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giants moving on in NFL playoffs thanks to Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley proving worth | Opinion