PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley’s recent “minor injury” may have significantly impacted his quest to break Eric Dickerson’s illustrious single-season rushing record. After achieving over 100 rushing yards in each of his previous four matches, Barkley recorded only 65 yards on 19 carries—averaging a mere 3.4 yards—during the Eagles’ 27-13 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Sunday.
Despite this setback, Barkley remains the leading rusher in the NFL with 1,688 yards. However, he will need to perform exceptionally well in the upcoming three games to surpass Dickerson’s record of 2,105 rushing yards, achieved with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.
Barkley must accumulate 418 yards over the final three matches, equating to an average of over 139 yards per game, to etch his name in the record books. The 27-year-old has managed to achieve this feat five times during the current season.
A silver lining for Barkley is the extended regular season that allows him the extra game, unlike the 16-game season Dickerson played in 1984.
As for his position in the record chase, Barkley leads the league with a 214-yard advantage over Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, who stands at 1,474 yards.
In the game against Pittsburgh, Barkley encountered some physicality when he was hit in the right knee by Minkah Fitzpatrick before falling on his right shoulder late in the first quarter. After a quick examination, he returned to the sidelines but only managed a couple of runs for a total of 3 additional yards before halftime.
Barkley did not elaborate much on his condition, stating only that his right knee felt fine and confirming that he was not injured by Fitzpatrick’s hit. He mentioned, “Nothing crazy. Just a little minor. I’ll get ready for next week.”
Looking ahead, Barkley faces a favorable schedule in terms of defensive challenges. After the tough outing against the Steelers, he is set to face off against teams like Washington, Dallas, and the Giants—all of whom have struggled defensively against the rush.
The Washington Commanders rank 26th in rushing defense in the NFL, while the New York Giants are among the teams that have surrendered over 2,000 rushing yards this season. The Dallas Cowboys are close behind, allowing 1,905 yards.
Barkley has enjoyed a successful first season with the Eagles, and there is a tantalizing prospect of him potentially breaking the record against his former team, the Giants, although he might not appreciate the additional game statistic attached to it.
Originally drafted from Penn State as the second overall pick in the 2018 draft, Barkley had an impressive rookie season in New York, finishing with 1,307 rushing yards. During his six-year tenure with the Giants, he accumulated a total of 5,211 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns, complemented by 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and another 12 touchdowns.
After the Giants opted not to franchise tag him, he became a free agent and subsequently signed a three-year contract worth $26 million guaranteed and $37.75 million overall with the Eagles, making him the highest-paid running back in the organization’s history. His journey through free agency was highlighted in the sports documentary series, “Hard Knocks.”
In a notable exchange in the series, the Giants’ general manager informed Barkley that they would not present an offer, allowing him to explore free agency. This decision was met with concern from team owner John Mara, who expressed his discomfort at the thought of Barkley joining a division rival.
Historically, the Eagles have been hesitant to allocate high draft picks or salary cap resources toward running backs, but Barkley has proven to be a worthy exception.
Staying healthy is crucial for Barkley as he has taken on a heavy workload this season, demonstrating durability with 285 carries. Throughout his career, he has dealt with many injuries but has played through minor ones and has consistently shown resilience.
In their initial encounters, Barkley’s performances against division rivals yielded substantial rushing yardage — totaling 146 yards and two touchdowns against Washington, along with 176 yards in his debut against the Giants. However, his 66 yards against Dallas may hinder him from breaking the record based on his past outings.
Eric Dickerson, known for his signature goggles and Jheri curl, was regarded as one of the greatest running backs of the 1980s. Over the course of his career, Dickerson amassed 13,259 rushing yards, a figure that ranks ninth in NFL history. The all-time rushing leader remains Emmitt Smith, with 18,355 yards.
In 1984, Dickerson shattered the record for rushing yards in a single season, previously held by O.J. Simpson, by accruing 2,105 yards, achieving this feat during a time when the regular season consisted of 14 games before subsequent NFL expansions. Now, with a 17-game season, new records can be set—if Barkley can manage to stay healthy and perform at the top of his game.