Undisciplined Giants defense torched by Saquon Barkley: Not acceptable

The Giants defense played the patsy Sunday in the storybook and triumphant return of Saquon Barkley to MetLife Stadium. Barkley, who left the Giants in free agency, steamrolled his former team for 176 rushing yards — including three huge chunk runs and a 3-yard touchdown — in the Eagles’ 28-3 run. His bloated numbers spearheaded a rushing attack that amassed 269 yards on the ground, which Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence called “way too much to give up.” “We knew coming into this game all 11 of us had to do our job, and if one person didn’t that’s when they found a big play,” Lawrence said.“That’s tough.

We want to do it 1-through-11, but when you don’t, explosive [plays] like that can happen and it’s not acceptable.” Barkley was booed heavily before Philadelphia’s first offensive possession and every time he touched the ball.There even were videos online of fans burning his old Giants jerseys in the parking lot. “Like I said during the week, I know what kind of player he was to this organization and who he was to me, so I have nothing but respect for him.

I can’t control how other people feel about him, but I know who he is,” Lawrence said.“Me and Saquon are friends.

I don’t have no beefs against him or anything like that.The Eagles beat us, he’s part of the Eagles, and that’s what it is.” Asked if he got a sense that his former teammate “wanted this one more” against the Giants, Lawrence replied, “I don’t know if I got a sense, but that would make sense, if that makes sense.

I played with him for years, and I know his attitude towards the game, and that’s the way he approached it today.” Barkley, who signed a three-year contract worth $37.75 million in free agency, broke a 55-yard run down the left sideline in the second quarter before scoring his sixth touchdown of the season (and fifth on the ground) from three yards out with 8:58 left before halftime.He later ripped off runs of 41 an...