“Giants fans… how we feeling?” Bleacher Report summed up the debut of Saquon Barkley with the Philadelphia Eagles jersey against the Green Bay Packers. This performance is a bitter pill for Giants CEO John Mara, who had previously expressed his dread at the thought of Barkley joining their division rivals.

Barkley’s move to the Eagles has been the talk of the NFL, and his debut performance only adds fuel to the fire. The star running back showcased his prowess, leading the Eagles over the Packers. This game not only highlights Barkley’s talent but also underscores the impact of his departure from the Giants. John Mara’s concerns were well-founded.

 “I might have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia,” New York Giants owner John Mara confessed to GM Joe Schoen before free agency kicked off. Little did he know, his worst nightmare was about to become a reality – and then some.

Saquon Barkley fit right into an Eagles jersey on Sept. 6, 2024. That caused many Giants fans to open the antacids midway through Week 1, as he put three touchdowns against Green Bay in a debut that torched more than just cucumbers. The ex-Big Blue Star standout rushed 24 times for 109 yards and three touchdowns — one receiving, and two rushing.

Barkley scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 4:26 in the third quarter, made possible because he surged ahead for additional yards after being stood up initially at about the one-yard line and gave Philadelphia its lead of the game at 31-26. Within the reach, a moment that seemed to highlight all which once was Giants and now is Eagles. It was a display of the strength, drive, and nose for the end zone that made Barkley a fan favorite in New York through six seasons.

This wasn’t just a waking nightmare for New York; it was the most PPR fantasy points by an Eagles RB since, well 2019 when Boston Scott went off against — you guessed it — the Giants. Fans and pundits alike, unsurprisingly, had a field day on social media over every carry or catch (or touchdown).

When Barkley ripped through the Green Bay defense, that difference between how he was used and what went wrong with NY’s plan became stark. General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll targeted the offensive line in their search for upgrades, signing Jermaine Eluemunor and Jon Runyan as part of that effort. They allowed Barkley to walk and went with the more budget-priced Devin Singletary. But after the Eagles’ shining new running back reached the end zone for a third time, the question arises: had the Giants outsmarted themselves?

Was letting Saquon Barkley walk a costly gamble?

The decision to let Barkley test the free-agent waters wasn’t made lightly. “Hard Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” pulled back the curtain on the negotiations – or lack thereof. Schoen, in a last-ditch phone call with Barkley’s agent, Ed Berry, made his stance clear: “Again, we’re not going to go there. We’re out.”

Mara’s reaction to the news that Barkley had indeed signed with the Eagles was telling. “All right,” he sighed, digesting the details. Schoen attempted to reassure him, saying, “We’re going to be fine.” But as Barkley racked up touchdowns in Midnight Green, that assurance rang hollow. The Giants’ strategy seemed sound on paper.

They needed to shore up an offensive line that allowed an NFL-high 85 sacks in 2023. But in solving one problem, they may have created another. Barkley’s versatility – his ability to catch passes, run between the tackles, and even take direct snaps – is proving difficult to replace. Moreover, the decision to let Barkley go to a division rival has amplified the consequences. It’s one thing to see a beloved player leave; it’s another to watch him thrive with a team you’ll face twice a year.

As Mara put it in a text to Barkley after the signing, the move made him “sick.” After this performance, one can only imagine how the Giants’ owner is feeling. In the end, football is a business, but it’s also a game of emotions and momentum. Barkley’s explosive debut for the Eagles has shifted the narrative in the NFC East. It’s given Philadelphia a dynamic weapon and robbed New York of a fan favorite. As the season progresses, the true impact of this decision will become clearer. But for now, Eagles fans are flying high, while Giants supporters are left wondering what might have been.