NYG Postgame (vs. Packers) Transcript: RB Saquon Barkley
December 11, 2023
Q: Did you want to have an opportunity to get the ball back after fumbling?
A: “Yeah, definitely hoping to get an opportunity. Teammates had my back, (New York Giants QB) Tommy DeVito, Dale (New York Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson), everyone caught a pass on that drive. Kaf (New York Giants Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka) did a great job calling plays on that drive and that’s the NFL. Got to win games like that and I wish I didn’t put my team in that position but could be worse. We found a way to get a win. I’ve just got to be better.”
Q: What happened on that play? Obviously, you were tripped up but kept going--?
A: “To be honest, I was running, I knew where the sideline was and was trying to make sure I didn’t go out of bounds in that situation and tried to fall down, and the ball just popped out on me, which is inexcusable. Got to be better. I can’t put my team in that situation.”
Q: Can you describe the range of emotions between the time that ball got free, and the time the winning field goal goes through the uprights?
A: “Yeah, definitely a lot of praying going on. Didn’t even watch the field goal. (New York Giants RB Eric) Gray told me to keep my head down, he’s going to watch it for me but had the faith that we would make it. You don’t want to, I don’t know, the player that I know I am, and I want to be, I can’t let that happen. But also, that happens to great players in the league, and I want to be a great player in this league. So, it’s about how you respond, and I’ve got to respond, got to get back to the drawing board, get better, come out like fire and that’s it.”
Q: Does New York Giants K Randy Bullock get a steak dinner?
A: Whatever he wants man, whatever he wants. Tell him to hit me up, whatever he needs. We can go to Carbone, whatever he wants, any restaurant in New York he wants, let me know.
Q: What did Tommy show you on that last drive there, 4-for-4, did lead you guys down 93-seconds?
A: Great! I think the biggest thing in that situation is just stay calm, don’t force anything, two of those throws were check downs, one was a big throw to Wan’Dale. I forgot the other one. I think three of those were just reading the defense, taking what they give you, snap it and keep going. That’s rare for a rookie quarterback, but with the confidence and swagger he plays with, you could feel it through the stadium, you could feel it on the sideline, and happy we were able to get the win today.
Q: You said this week in the locker room you guys are still in this--?
A: In what?
Q: In--?
A: This--?
Q: I can’t, I can’t do that. How much does that get reinforced by a win like this against a perhaps playoff team?
A: You acknowledge it, understanding that that’s still here but still got a lot to do. So, you can’t get too focused on that. I think coach (New York Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll) said it best, keep the main thing the main thing and that’s what we’ve got to continue to do. Watch film, get better from this and get ready for our opponent. Going into a tough environment next week against the (New Orleans) Saints and got to try to find a way to get another win.
Q: What did you think of your defense tonight in the time that you saw?
A: Our defense is amazing. Our defense don’t get enough credit. All those guys every week go out there and ball out, play lights out.
Q: New York Giants OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux and New York Giants DL Dexter Lawrence II looked dominant tonight.
A: Yeah, they’re monsters. (New York Giants OLB) Azeez (Ojulari) got back in flow getting him a sack too. Make big plays, they’ve been making big plays all year long and I think as an offense, we’re starting to find our stride a little bit more. So, on the back stretch of this thing, hopefully we continue to do that.
Q: Happy Isaiah Hodgins got a touchdown again?
A: Yeah, yeah, Isaiah’s my guy. Big catch, strong hands, we call him ‘big man’ for a reason. He always finds a way to make a big play for us.
Q: Can you take us through the ups and downs, the emotions of this game, especially the last five minutes?
A: Yeah, for sure. I mean, the emotions were definitely high, and the vibes were great. I wouldn’t really say the emotions were low at all after I fumbled. It was more myself, getting in my head, but still at the same time, knowing that an NFL football game and if our defense doesn’t get the stop, we’ve still got to find a way to win the game. So, that happened quick. My teammates came up to me and told me that they’ve got my back, and we’re going to find a way to win this game, and we did that.
Q: What did you see from Tommy DeVito in the huddle on that final possession?
A: Calm, poised, cool, collected, taking what the defense gives him. I think Kaf called a great two-minute drive too and we found a way to get the win.
