WATCH: Saquon Barkley gives Giants first win with overtime touchdown

The New York Giants have won their first game of the season, courtesy of Saquon Barkley on a tough six-yard touchdown rush through the defense in overtime. The Giants scored on the first possession of overtime after a 75-yard drive, capped off by Barkley’s touchdown.

SAQUON FOR THE WIN! #TogetherBlue pic.twitter.com/8yLyoD6tcR

— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2021

Saquon Barkley’s overtime touchdown

On first-and-goal from the six-yard line, the Giants put the ball in their star running back’s hands. Starting from the left side of the snap with nowhere to go, Barkley cut across to the right before diving through the hole he found.

After crossing the line of scrimmage, he cut back again to avoid a tackle before meeting the defense at the endzone. As the defense wrestled him down finally, Barkley rolled over and crossed into the endzone with the ball for the win.

It was Barkley’s second touchdown of the game following a 54-yard touchdown reception that helped keep the Giants close during the game. On a wheel route out of the backfield, he found space on the left sideline before blowing by the remaining defenders for the score.

Barkley ended the day with 52 yards rushing and 54 yards receiving with his two touchdowns.

Slow start for Barkley

Barkley had a rather tough start to the season rushing behind a subpar offensive line, and his production hasn’t reflected what he feels he’s capable of.

“People probably do expect me to come out here and jump over people and do crazy things — and obviously I would love to do that, too — but at the end of the day I am human,” Barkley said.

The Saints had allowed just 181 rushing yards through three NFL regular-season games before Sunday, so Barkley’s effort came against a staunch defense.

“But I don’t want to make any excuses,” Barkley said. “I’m not going to do that throughout this whole season. I’m never going to make any excuses. The expectation that people have for me is not even close to the expectations that I have for myself and it never will be for as long as I play football, or whatever I do after football. That’s just my mindset.

“I’ve got to keep going, I’ve got to keep getting better. My team needs me to be better. I’ve just got to keep trusting my knee and trusting the process, and I know that’s going to work and I know that’s going to happen. Just take it one day at a time.”

On3’s Simon Gibbs contributed to this article.