In a déjà vu moment for the New York Giants and star running back Saquon Barkley, their clash against the Arizona Cardinals took a disheartening turn. As Barkley was slow to rise after his latest carry and had to be assisted off the field, concerns about his health loomed large in the minds of fans and the Giants’ coaching staff.

The sight of Barkley having his ankle taped on the sideline while walking with a noticeable limp left a sense of unease hanging over the stadium. The video footage of the incident did little to alleviate those concerns, as it painted a grim picture of the running back’s condition.

Adding to the frustration, the Giants found themselves in familiar territory as quarterback Daniel Jones’s pass was deflected off Barkley’s hands and into the grasp of Cardinals defensive back Jalen Thompson. This unfortunate interception set the stage for the Cardinals to capitalize on the turnover, with Matt Prater’s 44-yard field goal extending Arizona’s lead to 20-0 at halftime.

The eerie resemblance to Jones’s first interception in the Giants’ humiliating 40-0 defeat to the Cowboys in Week 1 was hard to ignore. In that game, Barkley had briefly secured Jones’s pass on a third-and-19 play in the first quarter before losing possession while being tackled by Trevon Diggs. The ball ended up in the hands of Daron Bland, who returned it for a touchdown, marking Jones’s first pick-six in his career.

The Giants’ struggles were further compounded by their inability to score, making it the third-most points allowed by a team before scoring since 1950, according to Sport Radar. This offensive ineptitude was a major point of concern in Barkley’s contract negotiations with the Giants this offseason, where his ability as a pass-catcher was scrutinized.

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Ironically, Barkley, playing on an adjusted franchise tag, committed two costly errors as a pass-catcher in the opening six quarters of the season. While Barkley’s performance drew attention, the Giants’ defense was equally porous in the first half, allowing Joshua Dobbs to exploit their weaknesses.

Dobbs, a journeyman quarterback, who had never won a game as a starter, showcased his dual-threat abilities with 146 passing yards, 41 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown in the first half. The Cardinals dominated the first half, tallying 16 first downs to the Giants’ five and amassing a staggering 241-81 advantage in total yardage.