The change of scenery this season has been very kind to [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag]. The former Penn State running back, in his first season with the Philadelphia Eagles, became just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for at least 2,000 yards in a single season. He now has a real shot to become the NFL’s record holder for the most rushing yards in a single season.
Barkley rushed for 167 yards in the Eagles’ 41-7 blowout of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon in Lincoln Financial Stadium in Philadelphia. Despite a slow start to the rushing total, Barkley piled on in the second half to join the NFL’s 2,000-yard club before getting a curtain call in the fourth quarter.
Barkley already owns the Eagles’ single-season rushing record but now sits just 102 yards away from tying the NFL’s single-season rushing record. Former Los Angeles Rams running back Eric Dickerson currently holds the record with 2,105 rushing yards in 1984. The question is now whether or not Barkley will get a chance to chase the record.
With the Eagles clinching the NFC East on Sunday, the Eagles are virtually locked into the second seed in the NFC playoff picture no matter what happens in the rest of this week’s schedule or next week’s games. A shot at the top seed is not completely out of reach but highly unlikely with one game remaining to play. The Eagles could be in a position to rest key players before hosting a playoff game in two weeks, and risking any injury to Barkley would be ill-advised.
But the record is entirely within reach, and he could do it against his former team.
The Eagles will host the New York Giants in the regular-season finale next week in Philadelphia. The Eagles giving Barkley a shot at the NFL single-season rushing record in the final game against the team that let Barkley walk in free agency would be something to witness. And it is possible the Eagles will give Barkley a shot to get the record.
Earlier this season, Barkley rushed for a career-high 176 yards in his first game against the Giants. He later topped that career-high with a 255-yard outburst against the Los Angeles Rams. All he needs now is 103 more yards.
Will he get the chance to make some NFL history?