Sports

MINNEAPOLIS — The New York Giants and star running back Saquon Barkley didn’t need the ball for long before scoring their first touchdown in an NFC wild-card game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Barkley took a handoff on the Giants’ fifth play from scrimmage and reached the edge. He used his speed to race down the sideline for a 28-yard touchdown that made it 7-7 less than 10 minutes into the contest.

It was a quick answer from New York after Minnesota marched 65 yards for a score on its opening drive. The Giants went 85 yards after their first play was called back for a hold. Quarterback Daniel Jones had a pair of completions for 35 yards and two runs for 22 yards. Then on first-and-10 from the 28-yard line, Barkley took a pitch out left. He followed pulling center Jon Feliciano and reached the sideline.

That is when Barkley kicked it into high gear to reach the end zone. It was his first career playoff touchdown on his first official postseason carry.

Barkley was untouched on his touchdown run. It was his longest untouched rushing touchdown since his rookie season in 2018.