Saquon Barkley knew what just transpired and realized what had to happen next. 

It did not sound especially enjoyable. The residue of such a physical pounding rarely is. 

“It’s my job to be a pro,” Barkley said. “Go in there, get in the cold tub, get in the hot tub, get ready for next week.” 

With that, Barkley put a final stamp on his Sunday workday. He carried the heaviest load, but not the only load, for a team that attended to business the way it has punched the clock so often this season. 

The Giants came out of their bye week break and relied on Barkley’s massive legs and Daniel Jones’ increasing maturity. They played defense aggressively and often effectively. There were moments when you wondered if the offense could get anything accomplished and other moments when you could envision a bad loss brewing. 

This is a new team and this is a new season, and the Giants opened up the second half the way they often moved through the first half of their season. They did enough to win, beating the lowly Texans 24-16 at MetLife Stadium, disposing of an inferior opponent uneasily and yet effectively. 

Barkley carried the ball a career-high 35 times to amass 152 yards, as the Giants pounded away at the NFL’s bottom-ranked run defense. Jones was accurate (13 of 17) with the few passes he attempted and tossed touchdowns to tight end Lawrence Cager and wide receiver Darius Slayton. 

This was the first time the Giants (7-2) won this season without first falling behind. They trailed in all six of their previous victories. The Texans (1-7-1) lost their fourth consecutive game. 

“To be completely honest, it feels good,’’ Barkley said of the sterling won-loss record. “You’re not too excited about it because you know it’s a long season and you got to keep growing week by week.’’ 

This was another one-score game for the Giants, of course. Eight of their nine games finished up this way. It is the best record to this point in the season for the Giants since 2008, when they were 8-1 after nine games. 

“It’s fun to play football — it’s extra fun when you win,” said nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, who continued to dominate up front. “Football is fun. Losing isn’t fun.” 

There were more (two) displays of frustration from coach Brian Daboll in the first half than there were scoring plays (one) from his team as the Giants took a meager 7-3 lead into halftime. Then the third quarter happened and the Giants’ offense finally awakened. 

Two series, two touchdowns, one on a long burst and another on a sustained drive. 

Jones on third-and-9 on the opening series of the third quarter had to backpedal to avoid the rush and got the ball out short to Slayton. Rookie safety Jalen Pitre overran the play, allowing Slayton to motor to the left sideline, where he received a block from tight end Tanner Hudson and outran defensive backs Steven Nelson and Jonathan Owens to complete a dynamic 54-yard touchdown jaunt for a 14-3 Giants lead. 

“Just a heck of an effort by him to get down the sideline and score,” Jones said. 

“When you’re fast like me, and you tell everybody you’re fast, it goes through your mind like, ‘I can’t get caught,’ ” Slayton said. 

The Texans finally got their passing game going and Davis Mills hit Nico Collins, who beat Fabian Moreau, on a 12-yard scoring pass to make it 14-10. Undeterred, the Giants went 74 yards on 12 plays, the biggest chunk a 26-yard pickup from newcomer Isaiah Hodgins, in the game after Kenny Golladay was benched after a terrible dropped pass late in the second quarter. Barkley powered in from two yards out to extend the lead to 21-10. 

From there, the Giants’ defense used turnovers to turn aside two Texans scoring threats. Leonard Williams yanked the ball loose from rookie running back Dameon Pierce, forcing a fumble that Jaylon Smith recovered on the Giants’ 11-yard line. Then, rookie safety Dane Belton, replacing injured Xavier McKinney, leaped for an interception of Mills in the end zone. 

After the Texans closed to 21-13, they tried and failed on an onside kick. The Giants took over in Houston territory and Graham Gano hit a 49-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining to boost the lead back to 11 points. The Texans kicked a field goal with seven seconds to go to account for the final margin. 

Barkley acknowledged that he engaged in contract talks with the Giants during the bye week but that nothing close to a deal was secured and negotiations will be tabled until after the season. General manager Joe Schoen has expressed a strong desire to re-sign Barkley. As for Barkley, his position is well-established. 

“I think I’ve kind of been vocal about how I feel about this place, what I want my legacy to be in this place and I want to be a Giant for life,” Barkley said. 

“Obviously, he’s having a good season for us,” Daboll said. “He had a good day.” 

Asked about handing the ball off 42 times, Jones said “It was fun to watch.” 

Sounds about right for the Giants through nine games this season.