Giants' Daniel Jones Reacts to Saquon Barkley Return

There’s something special about a Sunday contest defined by a rivalry. The opportunity to put a dent in an enemy’s playoff chances, to send a familiar foe back home with their heads down. It just means more .

In Week 7, the New York Giants will host its second divisional contest of the year, welcoming the Philadelphia Eagles to MetLife Stadium.

Separated by 97 miles and a superstar running back, there will be no shortage of storylines on Sunday.

Of course, no bout between Philadelphia and New York can proceed without the spotlight shining on running back Saquon Barkley , who the Giants let walk in free agency. The Eagles would lure him in with a three-year, $37.75 million deal and a chance to play behind the best offensive line of his career.

New York quarterback Daniel Jones spoke on Wednesday about what it will be like to see his former partner in the backfield try to outpace his offense.

“Yeah, definitely a little different seeing him in another uniform,” Jones said . “But we're competing this week, it's time to go. It'll be different at first, but just another big divisional game.”

The Giants (2-4) are essentially in must-win mode, at least as far as their playoff hopes go. After losing left tackle Andrew Thomas to injury, those odds seem slimmer than ever. A home win against a talented Eagles team, though, could take Philadelphia down a peg while offering New York a glimpse of hope.

Thus, MetLife Stadium will be rowdy, ruthless, and not-so-kind to Barkley, who Giants fans are more than willing to leave in the dust if it means finding their third win of the year.

“If I had to guess, probably not warmly. It's a competitive game,” Jones said, regarding the fan’s reception to his return. “It's Eagles vs. Giants. Big divisional game, there's a lot going on outside of Saquon Barkley being back.”

However, Jones has also seen the “bad side” of the New York faithful, from jeers to waiting outside the stadium to call him out. And when the fans turned on him, it was Barkley who encouraged him, even if it broke some out-dated tradition of rivals rooting on each other’s demise.

As quickly as New York has written of the running back as a traitor, he’s still a friend to many in the organization. The Giants as a collective don’t share the same vitriol that their fans do.

“He's a great teammate, a great friend, and obviously a really good player,” Jones continued. “Spent a lot of time together on and off the field, and someone who helped me out a ton as I was getting into the league and through my first few years. I have a ton of respect and appreciation for who he is as a person.”

Related: Giants Underdogs in Barkley's Return to MetLife

However one feels about the superstar running back, he’ll be important to slow down on Sunday. He’s fourth in the league in rushing yards and is ripping off big plays like a much younger version of himself. Philadelphia has the talent to run – literally and figuratively – away from this New York defense.

Think Barkley’s legacy is complicated now? Wait for Giants fans to grapple with being on the wrong side of his game-changing talent.

“I mean he did a lot for this franchise, worked really hard, and was a great leader and teammate in this locker room. So, I think that's important to keep in mind. On Sunday, it's about that game, it's about that day and playing well, and winning the game.”