Saquon Barkley is on the brink of breaking Eric Dickerson’s long-standing rushing record, but his coach’s decisions may stand in the way. This Sunday, Barkley is just 101 rushing yards shy of setting the NFL’s single-season record against the New York Giants, a team he once played for. However, the Philadelphia Eagles (13-3) have already secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC, meaning the outcome of this game won’t have any impact on playoff standings. Regardless of the game’s result, the Eagles are set to face either the Green Bay Packers or Washington Commanders in an upcoming wild-card playoff matchup.
This pivotal game presents Coach Nick Sirianni with an opportunity to rest key players, minimizing the risk of injuries right before the playoffs, especially since the Eagles do not have a bye week. For Philadelphia, their primary goal is to win the Super Bowl, and with a well-rounded offensive and defensive unit, they appear built for championship contention. Putting team success ahead of individual accomplishments is an important aspect of coaching; risking Barkley’s health for a record during a game lacking playoff significance could be detrimental to the team’s championship prospects. Injuries to starters like quarterback Jalen Hurts, along with receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, would be too costly to the Eagles.
Despite these considerations, Sirianni acknowledges that the choice to rest Barkley isn’t straightforward. He mentioned during a radio interview that he must weigh what’s best for the team as well as the individual players attempting to achieve personal milestones. Sirianni plans to consult various stakeholders within the organization — players, coaches, and executives — before making a final decision on Barkley’s status for the game.
In a previous season, Sirianni opted to rest multiple starters in a similar situation, but allowed wide receiver DeVonta Smith enough playing time to break a rookie receiving record. Barkley, earlier this season, achieved the milestone of 2,000 rushing yards during a lopsided victory over Dallas. Still, when given the chance to pursue a personal best during that game, he chose to prioritize his teammates and exited the game early, eventually surpassing his own record with a stunning performance against the Rams.
As for the record that has eluded him thus far, Barkley remains calm, indicating that if it is meant to happen, it will. He expressed that his focus extends beyond individual records to the broader goal of team success. His statements appear to relieve some of the pressure on Sirianni as the coach deliberates on what constitutes the best course of action.
Prominent figures like Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh have publicly discussed their positions regarding the playing status of starters in these scenarios. Harbaugh emphasized the importance of playing to win, reflecting sentiments from his team captain about achieving more victories as a motivating factor. Meanwhile, Belichick, with extensive experience in similar situations, voiced the challenges in determining who should play, as it’s essential to maintain morale among all players on the roster.
Sirianni’s decision may ultimately also hinge on the health of Jalen Hurts, who has been sidelined due to a concussion. After missing significant game time, there are concerns about Hurts potentially being out of rhythm going into the playoffs; thus, Sirianni may consider giving him some playing time to regain momentum. However, putting Hurts at risk could also have implications for the Eagles’ playoff aspirations.
For Barkley and the entire team, the focus remains on the larger goal: a Super Bowl title. Whether that means chasing personal records in what could be a negligible game or resting to safeguard future success will be a significant consideration as the decision continues to unfold.
