With just three games left in the NFL season, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is inching closer to breaking Eric Dickerson's long-standing single-season rushing record. Barkley's pursuit of history, however, took a slight detour in Week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as he ground out a modest 65 yards on 19 carries. The performance, curtailed partly by what Barkley described as a "minor" knee issue, represents one of his weaker showings this year, but keeps him within striking distance of Dickerson's hallowed mark. "Nothing crazy. Little minor," Barkley said postgame, according to a CBS News Philadelphia interview. The 27-year-old is now tasked to, on average, notch upwards of 139 yards per game for the final stretch if he's to surpass the 2,105-yard record.
A closer look at the numbers reveals Barkley's uphill battle. After the Steelers' game, his season total hovers at 1,688 yards, as per The Philadelphia Inquirer. To exactly break Dickerson's record, he'll need to defy expectations and run down 417 more yards before season's end. While the odds may not be in Barkley's favor, the complimentary weak rushing defenses of the Eagles' upcoming opponents—Cowboys, Giants, and Commanders—could give way to some significant ground gains.
The Eagles' number 26 has already shattered his personal career high for rushing yards in a season, set previously at 1,312 yards with the New York Giants in 2022. Barkley not only transitioned smoothly into the Eagles' offense, but he became the fulcrum of their run-heavy approach, already matching his career-best 11 rushing touchdowns from his rookie season in 2018. According to 6abc, the offensive linemen Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson, and Jordan Mailata have been instrumental in fostering this run-first strategy post a pivotal meet with coach Nick Sirianni.
However, it's not just about breaking records for Barkley, who led the NFL with 285 carries this season. After parting ways with the Giants under less than ideal circumstances, there's to clearly prove something after signing a lucrative deal with Philly. As the season's extraordinary stakes continue to mount, so does the pressure. The legendary record Barkley chases has stood untouched since Dickerson's dominant 1984 campaign. Dickerson himself has been open about his mixed feelings, telling 94.1 WIP in The Philadelphia Inquirer, "I'll tell you the truth. No, I don’t want my record broken. Of course I don’t." Dickerson added, "If he breaks it, he breaks it, and I’m not gonna lose sleep over it."
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