Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles is on the brink of making history as he attempts to break the NFL's single-season rushing record. With only two regular-season games remaining, running back Barkley is just 268 yards shy of eclipsing Eric Dickerson's long-standing record of 2,105 yards, established during his remarkable 1984 season with the Los Angeles Rams.
Barkley's current stats are impressive: as of now, he has compiled 1,838 rushing yards over 15 games, averaging 122.5 yards per game. To break Dickerson's record, Barkley must average 134 rushing yards across his last two games. With the Eagles slated to face the Dallas Cowboys and then Barkley’s former team, the New York Giants, the pressure is on for him to perform at his best.
Reflecting on the pursuit of his record, Eric Dickerson shared his thoughts during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. He expressed doubt about Barkley surpassing his iconic mark, stating, “I don’t think he’ll break it. But if he breaks it, he breaks it. Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not.” His sentiments encapsulate the competitive spirit characteristic of sports legends.
Despite his reservations, Dickerson acknowledges Barkley's talent, referring to him as “a great player” who runs tough and seems to be thriving with the Eagles, particularly due to the team’s stronger offensive line compared to his former team, the Giants. Dickerson remarked on Barkley’s capacity to catch the ball and be elusive, but still cannot shake the competitive edge tempered with preference for retaining his longstanding record.
The historical weight of Dickerson's record cannot be understated. When he set it, there were only 16 games scheduled during the regular season. Now, with the NFL implementing a 17-game schedule, there's much debate about how to weigh the achievements of players across different eras. Dickerson suggests, “He had 17 games to do it? Hey, football is football. That’s the way I look at it.” His perspective indicates he feels Barkley's potential success may be somewhat colored by the extra game.
Subtle shifts have occurred within the NFL; it is now markedly challenging for running backs to rack up such substantial yards due to the prevalent shift toward running back-by-committee strategies. Still, Barkley finds himself as one of the few backs to exceed 1,800 rushing yards this season, marking his work as historic. Apart from Barkley, only Jonathan Taylor has surpassed the 1,700-yard mark since the change to the expanded schedule.
With Jalen Hurts likely sidelined due to concussion protocols heading toward Week 17, the Eagles may lean heavily on Barkley. This circumstance could dramatically alter Barkley's chances to achieve the record. Dickerson even called attention to the potential storyline of Barkley breaking the record against the Giants, the team he departed from prior to this season. “How ironic would it be for him to break the record on them, the teamthat let him go? A true slap in the face,” Dickerson suggested.
Looking back at his own legendary status, Dickerson’s rushing record, established under intense competition, stands resilient. He acknowledges the achievement of reaching over 2,000 yards is monumental, but would rather not see his mark surpassed. “Getting to 2,000 is an accomplishment itself. I got close to it three other times,” he recalled, shedding light on the challenges faced when striving for such remarkable statistics.
If Barkley does not eclipse the 2,105 yard benchmark this season, it may very well extend Dickerson's hold on the record for yet another year. The game is ever-evolving — and with teams adopting new strategies, Dickerson’s single-season record stands as one of the most protected marks within football history.
With the regular season winding down, keep your eyes peeled on Barkley. Will he become the next name to be etched alongside legends or will Dickerson's legacy endure for at least another year? One thing is for sure, excitement is brewing as both players represent unique eras of incredible offensive prowess on the field.
