The chants were unmistakable — and very loud.
Flocks of Eagles fans stuck around after Philadelphia’s 26-18 home victory over the Washington Commanders on Thursday night and expressed their gratitude to the team that let Saquon Barkley walk away.
“Thank you, Giants!” the fans roared in unison, interrupting Barkley’s postgame interview with Amazon’s Prime Video.
The mocking chorus came after the do-it-all Barkley totaled 198 yards and two touchdowns, helping the 8-2 Eagles extend their lead atop the NFC East.
Barkley’s big game once again renewed the attention around the Giants’ decision to let the running back leave during the offseason for a three-year, $37.8 million contract with their hated rival.
Barkley, 27, now leads the NFL with 1,137 rushing yards through 10 games. He is averaging 5.8 yards per carry and has 10 total touchdowns.
"Thank you, Giants."
Eagles fans love Saquon Barkley.
pic.twitter.com/COjYrwJcko
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) November 15, 2024
He has already been named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week three times this season and could be in line for the honor again, depending on what happens in the games between now and Monday night.
And Eagles fans are appreciative.
Drafted second overall in 2018 by the previous Giants regime, Barkley hit free agency in March after a drawn-out saga that saw him play on the franchise tag last season.
A long-term contract extension never came. General manager Joe Schoen allowed Barkely to test the open market, then declined to make him a final offer, as documented on HBO’s offseason edition of “Hard Knocks.”
Last month, the Bronx-born Barkely rushed for a season-high 176 yards and a touchdown in a 28-3 win over the Giants in his return to MetLife Stadium.
“It’s not about doing it to them. It’s not about that,” Barkley, who played six seasons with the Giants, told the Daily News afterward. “The beauty of it is I feel like that monkey is off my back. I think it’s the last time I’ve got to talk about the Giants, ya feel me?”
The Giants spent most of their money this offseason to extend pass rusher Brian Burns after acquiring him in a trade with Carolina, and to improve their offensive line with the signings of guard Jon Runyan Jr. and tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.
Overall, the Giants have run the ball better this season, averaging 4.4 yards per carry compared to 4.1 last year. Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy has been a bright spot during a disappointing season for the 2-8 Giants, running for 545 yards and averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
Barkley averaged only 3.9 yards per carry last season as the focal point of a Giants offense filled with issues, and he has a significant injury history.
But the Giants are averaging an NFL-worst 15.6 points per game this year, and they’ve managed only 27 plays of 20 yards or more. Barkley alone has 13 this season.
More and more teams are opting against making long-term commitments to running backs, viewing those at the position as largely replaceable and liable to wear down before they turn 30.
But elite running backs — including San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey, Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor and Baltimore’s Derrick Henry — continue to prove their impact transcends the position.
Barkley meets that standard, too.
