Saquon Barkley, the electrifying running back for the New York Giants, is on a mission this season that has not been accomplished in over a decade: to claim the NFL MVP award as a running back. As the season unfolds, Barkley’s performances have been not only consistent but also historically significant, particularly in the second half of games where he truly comes into his own.
This year, Barkley has amassed a remarkable 1,392 rushing yards, with 920 of those yards coming in the second half of games. His second-half performances speak volumes about his endurance and strategic brilliance on the field. Averaging an impressive 7.9 yards per carry during the latter parts of games, Barkley is outpacing historical benchmarks that have stood the test of time. For context, the legendary Barry Sanders, in his standout 1997 campaign, averaged 6.9 yards per carry.
Much of Barkley’s success can be attributed to his adaptability and the Giants’ ability to adjust their tactics. As Lane Johnson insightfully noted, "There's a lot of stuff you can game plan through throughout the week, and then, you know, you get to the game and they may show up in a different defense. You have to make those adjustments after each series and like halftime, you know, some plays that maybe don't run the first half, run the second half. So I think I credit it to that."
Barkley's 116 second-half carries this season not only highlight his physical prowess but also underline the Giants' strategic emphasis on maintaining a formidable rushing attack as the game progresses. His second-half resilience is demonstrated through his seven touchdowns scored during this period and a knack for turning potentially game-deciding moments into victories for his team.
This kind of commitment and tenacity on the field is recognized by other players across the league. Mekhi Becton commented on the nature of running games, stating, "Like the run game isn't always gonna hit off the first run. It's one of those things where we gotta keep going and going and wait for it to just hit. I feel like we've done that every game this year."
Intriguingly, despite Barkley's staggering individual contributions, the New York Giants are not the league leaders in second-half and overtime rushing outputs. That title belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles, who average an impressive 118.8 rushing yards per game during these crucial periods, boasting a solid average of 5.9 yards per carry.
Yet, when the focus is singularly on a player’s personal contribution, Barkley’s statistics are hard to ignore. His second-half rushing yards total eclipses the combined efforts of Chuba Hubbard and Najee Harris, placing Barkley as the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher based solely on his performance in second halves.
Moreover, the Giants' commitment to a physical run game complements Barkley’s skills perfectly. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore remarked, "I do think there is an element of -- we pride ourselves on being a really physical run game, and those things wear on you as the game goes on when you get the opportunities we get. And the way the games have played out, you can keep grinding it out as the second half progresses, and those big plays eventually pop."
As the season progresses, all eyes will remain on Barkley and the Giants as they seek to capitalize on his second-half dominance. The synergy between player and team strategy highlights what a deeply strategic and physically demanding game football can be, especially when executed at the elite level at which Barkley operates.