Running Back Saquon Barkley
Q: Can you talk about the confidence level of this team right now?
A: Yeah, we're a very confident team. We've kind of been that way throughout the whole season. Had our ups and downs, faced adversity, but our mindset has kind of been the same – just continue to come out, go out there with a competitive mindset, believe in each other and that gives us the best opportunity.
Q: I know generally the rule in the NFL is what's in the past is in the past, move past it. With the way that first game went against Philadelphia, can you gain anything from pulling motivation from it getting out of hand?
A: Yeah, you can learn from the good, the bad, the ugly. Obviously, the first game they got up right away. Offensively, I think we did some pretty good stuff, but we could be a little more consistent. At the end of the day, we know they're a talented team. They have how many pro bowlers? How many all-pros? They're the number one team in the NFC for a reason. It's going to be a tough challenge, but you can definitely go back and look at film. Also, like I said, learn from the good, the bad and the ugly.
Q: What do you think about the narrative that the Giants are playing with house money as being a surprise in the playoffs?
A: I don't know. I don't really look at it that way. I don't think we look at it that way at all. We're here for a reason. You've got to win football games to get into the playoffs. No one is just invited, you've got to get in. We got in, to make it to where you want to go – you've got to win, or you go home. We did that the first round and now we've got another opportunity in the second round.
Q: You talked last week about studying the all-time great sat your position and someday, maybe being considered one of them. Do you think you have to do it in the postseason to become one of the all-time greats and is that something that you'll carry into this game?
A: Yeah, it's both. You've got to do it in both. Regular season, postseason, throughout your whole career. There's going to be ups, there's going to be downs, but you've got to try to be a consistent player. You want to create a legacy. You look at all the Giants greats – they did it in the postseason. Yeah, that's extra motivation, but when you're looking back and actually playing in my first playoff game – there's nothing that even comes to mind. You're just so locked in, so focused because every play, every quarter is so crucial. The situation becomes so critical because, like I said, it's one game, if you don't take care of one game you go home. That's really what pushes you – your competitive nature just goes to a whole another level. Your intensity just rises because of the nature of game.
Q: Was there ever a time here where you thought; I need to do everything, or I need to do almost everything? You had your first playoff game and you did a lot, but you didn't do everything. (Quarterback) Daniel (Jones) had more carries than you. Is that maybe a change where you don't have to be superman, you can just be what you are?
A: No, I never thought I had to do everything. I think it speaks to the coaching staff, to the players. Our identity changed throughout the season. We're a team that can run the ball 30, 40 times. We've done that. We're a team that can throw the ball 40 times. I feel it speaks to myself as a versatile player; I can run in between the tackles; I feel like if you give me a space – I can be dangerous in space and help us out there. My touches weren't a crazy amount like it has been early in the season, but I think they were efficient touches. (Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka) Kaf and all those guys did a really good job of putting me in a position to be successful and make plays along with the offensive line. Speaking to that, you've got to give credit to the whole offensive coaching staff, the o-line, everyone. Not only myself, but you can see just how we evolve and adapt week by week and throughout the whole season.
Q: How much of your success as an athlete your competitiveness?
A: For me, I think that's where I am, where I'm at right now. I think that's how I got to this point. I've been that way since I was a little kid. I can't speak for everyone else but for me, that competitive nature drives me, and my work ethic drives me, being passionate and wanting to be one of the greats, wanting to be one of the best. For me, it helps me and is a big contribution to my success.
Q: What's the biggest difference that you've seen in Daniel in the way that he's either in the huddle or the way that he conducted the offense Sunday compared to when you first started playing together?
A: The biggest difference is that you grow, you mature, you have experience. I know we don't have playoff experience, but we've been through a lot. Not only myself but DJ, (center Nick Gates) Gatesy – there are so many guys in the locker room. You can just grow with each other. I would say that's the biggest thing from day one to now. The leadership, the determination, the play on the field – obviously all that, but I would say the biggest difference is you go through a lot. You can see that. He's calm, he's poised. When he's poised, he's decisive. He's doing everything that we need from him. We're going to need that again in a big week.
Q: You have not rushed for 100 yards against the Eagles since you were a rookie. What is it about them that is giving you and the Giants in particular trouble throughout the years?
A: They're a good team. They've been really good these last couple years. Ever since I've been in the league, my first year in the league was the year after they won the Super Bowl. They've been a really good team. That's really it.
Q: You've been there a couple of times now – what are you expecting from the crowd, the atmosphere now that it's the playoffs? (Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II) Dex talked about not wanting his mother to come to the game. What do you expect?
A: Pretty much the same, but my mom and dad are definitely going to show up to that game (laughs). I'm not going to say it's going to be the same, but Philly is Philly. Their fan base is crazy. They're going to be loud, there's going to be cheers, there's going to be boos. There might be some double birds. That's Philly, you know? It's funny, when we were coming into the game last time, we were coming in and there was a little kid and his parent. I was just staring, and I was like, 'I'm going to see if he's going to flip us off.' He didn't, he just gave us a thumbs down and I was like, 'Okay, we're going in the right direction here.' Playoffs is definitely – I expect it to be a hostile environment. It's the playoffs. That's how it's going to be. You know how Philly fans are. Growing up in Pennsylvania, obviously I wasn't a Philly fan growing up, but had a lot of Philly fans – I know how passionate they are. It's going to be fun. This is the stuff that you dream about as a kid. That's what the atmosphere was like in Minnesota. Another great atmosphere going to Philadelphia.
Q: I'm sure you grew up and a lot of your friends were Eagles fans. Now that you're at this point and it is against the Eagles, does that mean anything to you?
A: No. I wouldn't say it means anything to me. I kind of got over that phase my first game at Penn State. That was the only time, because I played at Temple the first game and coming to Philly, but other than that – playing Philly means something because I represent the New York Giants. They're a tough opponent and if you want to get to where you want to go, you've got to get through a team like that.
Q: There was a stretch there earlier in the season where, it was after Week 1, where there was a significant number of loaded boxes that you were running against. As (wide receiver) Isaiah (Hodgins) has gotten going a little bit, (wide receiver) Richie (James), (wide receiver) Darius (Slayton) – have you noticed the last few weeks at all that teams are starting to respect the pass which would potentially open up more things for you?
A: Yeah, 100 percent. That's football. We're becoming more of a balanced attack. At the beginning of the season, everyone knew what we were doing. It was impressive because everyone knew what we were doing and we were still finding ways to win football games, still being successful in the run game. Now with Isaiah, Slay and Richie and (tight end Daniel Bellinger) Belly and the way Daniel (Jones) is playing – we're a balanced attack and that's what you need to make a run at it. That's what you saw early in the game or last week against Minnesota. Whether it was me running, whether it was Daniel (Jones) running, or whether it was me catching the ball in space, all those guys catching the ball in space and all those guys catching the ball in space and DJ making plays. Like I said, got to give credit to all the guys on offense and I think it speaks volumes to our team – especially on the offensive side to see how we are able to adapt throughout the season.
Q: You mentioned how it's hard to play in Philadelphia – you haven't played in every one but you guys have had some real heart-breaking loses there. Do those multiply? Do they stay with you at all? I think 2018, 2019 and 2020 blew double-digit leads. When you go back there, do those memories creep in at all?
A: No. I was a part of '18, '19 and I didn't play in '20 because of my knee but no, you don't. It's like a fresh start, it's a whole new season. I know everyone is like, 'Oh, when the playoffs start the season finally starts.' Yeah, it's a whole new season. Anything that happened earlier in the season does not have a correlation to what's going to happen throughout the game. Obviously, you can learn from it in film and can expect what's going to happen, but whatever happened two, four, five, eight – I saw a stat we haven't beat them (in Philadelphia) since whatever (Oct. 27, 2013) – that's all in the past. Only thing we've got is right now and this opportunity coming up on Saturday night against a really good team.
Q: How do you handle the emotions going into this game?
A: I'm chilling, I'm just locked in. That's really it.
Q: What's it like top hit somebody with your spin cycle? You've caught a few defenders on their feet and left them behind. Is that probably one of your favorite moves against somebody?
A: Is the spin my favorite move? No, I would say my jump cut is my favorite move. It's working, it's working right now. The o-line is doing a great job of getting me up to the safety. I feel like that's what I do best. I feel like making people miss. You've got to be above the X's and O's. They're going to scheme it up to get you one on one and you've got to find a way to create the extra yards. Whether it's the toss or spin or using speed or whatever – I feel like that's what separates me from a lot of other backs and hopefully I can continue to show that throughout the rest of the playoffs.
