What happens if the Eagles clinch home field advantage going into the last game and Barkley is a 125 yards away from the record?

Does the coach play him or rest him?

Does Barkley want the record or allow other players to eat?

Hmm.

Saquon Barkley accomplishes feat through 12 games only Jim Brown has achieved among RBs in NFL history

Barkley has entered Jim Brown territory among running backs

By Jeff Kerr

Dec 3, 2024 at 11:31 am ET

 

There's no denying the MVP candidacy Saquon Barkley is putting up in his first season with the Philadelphia Eagles, yet even Barkley is starting to rewrite the record books for his position. Barkley already has the eighth-most rushing yards in the first 12 games of a season in NFL history, but the numbers dive even deeper. 

Barkley is the first running back since Jim Brown in 1963 to have 1,475+ yards rushing and 10+ rushing touchdowns while averaging 6.0+ yards per carry through the first 12 games in a season. In that 1963 season, Brown ended up finishing second in the MVP award voting -- finishing with 1,863 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Brown led the league in both categories and led the NFL in rushing yards per game (133.1) -- which was a career high. The NFL played 14-game seasons back then, and Brown set the single-season mark for most rushing yards in a season. 

Can Barkley be like Brown and reset the NFL single-season rushing record? Barkley has 1,499 yards rushing on the season, just 606 yards away from matching Eric Dickerson (2,105) for the most rushing yards in a season. Barkley would need to average 121.2 yards rushing per game to match Dickerson over his final five games -- and is currently averaging 124.9 yards rushing per game through 12 games. 

Barkley is on pace to pass Dickerson and finish with 2,123 yards rushing on the season. He also leads the NFL with 147.2 yards from scrimmage per game and has 1,766 on the season. The NFL record is Chris Johnson with 2,509 (2009) and Barkley is on pace for 2,502 -- so he would fall 8 yards shy of the record. 

Regardless, Barkley is still having a historic season and one of the best 12-game starts to a season in NFL history. He certainly has a case to be the first running back to win league MVP since Adrian Peterson in 2012. 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/saquon-barkley-accomplishes-feat-through-12-games-only-jim-brown-has-achieved-among-rbs-in-nfl-history/

21 hours ago, jsdarkstar said:

What happens if the Eagles clinch home field advantage going into the last game and Barkley is a 125 yards away from the record?

Does the coach play him or rest him?

Does Barkley want the record or allow other players to eat?

Hmm.

Tough call.
 

 As far as "allowing other players to eat” that isn’t something that would affect the decision because a once in a lifetime/generational/HOF caliber record would be exponentially more important and of more value to both the team and player than having Gainwell, Shipley or anyone else get 6 more touches than usual.  
 

The only real question would be would they be willing to risk a potential injury for the record, etc?  That would be the only question. 

1 hour ago, Ace Nova said:

Tough call.
 

 As far as "allowing other players to eat” that isn’t something that would affect the decision because a once in a lifetime/generational/HOF caliber record would be exponentially more important and of more value to both the team and player than having Gainwell, Shipley or anyone else get 6 more touches than usual.  
 

The only real question would be would they be willing to risk a potential injury for the record, etc?  That would be the only question. 

I believe that if he has the opportunity to break the record they will let him play and pull him once he does. OJ.then Dickerson and now Barkley. Rare air.

Saquon needs 607 yards to beat Dickerson's record.  In his favor, he will be facing 4 of the 6 worst rush defenses to close out the season:

• Panthers - 32nd
• Steelers - 4th
• Commanders - 27th
• Cowboys - 31st
• Giants - 29th

Knock on wood but he very well may have the record before that final game.  Imagine that ... he has the record and they can sit him week 18 and rest him for the playoffs.  

It would also be huge to do so in 16 games to avoid having to deal with the "need to put an * by it since it was 17 games" people.  

 

TBF, Dickerson's record of 2,105 rushing yards in 16 games should have an asterisk. OJ Simpson's 2,003 rushing yards in 14 games is arguably more impressive. But it was OJ Simpson so we don't talk about it anymore.  

I think the Eagles will rest players against the Giants if they have clinched and/or find themselves unable to clinch the Bye in the playoffs. In that case Barkley won't play.

1 minute ago, toolg said:

TBF, Dickerson's record of 2,105 rushing yards in 16 should have an asterisk. OJ Simpson's 2,003 rushing yards in 14 games is arguably more impressive. But it was OJ Simpson so we don't talk about it anymore.  

 

Exactly!  I've been saying the same.  The people that want the * next to a record because of the 17 game schedule seem to forget that the original records were set in a 14 game season (prior to 1978), so those records broken between 1978-2021 should all have an * next to them too, right?  

11 hours ago, time2rock said:

Exactly!  I've been saying the same.  The people that want the * next to a record because of the 17 game schedule seem to forget that the original records were set in a 14 game season (prior to 1978), so those records broken between 1978-2021 should all have an * next to them too, right?  

Probably none of those old guys would have played a full 14 game schedule if they had today's concussion protocol.

 

NFC "offensive” player of the month.  

On 12/3/2024 at 10:26 AM, jsdarkstar said:

What happens if the Eagles clinch home field advantage going into the last game and Barkley is a 125 yards away from the record?

Does the coach play him or rest him?

Does Barkley want the record or allow other players to eat?

Hmm.

Would sort of be a hollow record... Dickerson set it in 16 games.  So, if Barkley does it in 17 it wouldn't feel as good.

Maybe he can get the record in 16 games, and it can really start by putting up another 200+ yards on the Panthers on Sunday.

On 12/4/2024 at 10:48 AM, toolg said:

TBF, Dickerson's record of 2,105 rushing yards in 16 games should have an asterisk. OJ Simpson's 2,003 rushing yards in 14 games is arguably more impressive. But it was OJ Simpson so we don't talk about it anymore.  

I think the Eagles will rest players against the Giants if they have clinched and/or find themselves unable to clinch the Bye in the playoffs. In that case Barkley won't play.

Randy broke the receiving td mark in 2007 w 23. Rice held the record of 22 in a 12 game strike season.

That to me needs to still be held at the top esp when you consider the passing game in 1987 vs 2007

17 hours ago, NJWolverEagle11 said:

Randy broke the receiving td mark in 2007 w 23. Rice held the record of 22 in a 12 game strike season.

That to me needs to still be held at the top esp when you consider the passing game in 1987 vs 2007

I forget, was it 12 games total or 12 including the replacements?  And did Rice play with the replacement players? 

If he played 4 games against replacement corners, that would put an asterisk next to his name too.

19 hours ago, NJWolverEagle11 said:

Randy broke the receiving td mark in 2007 w 23. Rice held the record of 22 in a 12 game strike season.

That to me needs to still be held at the top esp when you consider the passing game in 1987 vs 2007

Same with Reggie White's 21 sacks in 1987, in 12 games.  Strahan's is bogus even without considering that pathetic excuse for a sack on his last one where Favre laid down for him.

Gastineau at least got all his sacks legitimately.

2 hours ago, Mortimer said:

I forget, was it 12 games total or 12 including the replacements?  And did Rice play with the replacement players? 

If he played 4 games against replacement corners, that would put an asterisk next to his name too.

12 legitimate games.  3 replacement player games and 1 week of games completely canceled.

Both White and Rice sat out the replacement player games.

3 hours ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Same with Reggie White's 21 sacks in 1987, in 12 games.  Strahan's is bogus even without considering that pathetic excuse for a sack on his last one where Favre laid down for him.

Gastineau at least got all his sacks legitimately.

Both those marks in 12 games is ridiculous 

13 hours ago, Mike030270 said:

 

 

482 yards away to tie. 483... just shy of 121yds/game to beat it week 18. 161yd/game to do it week 17

McCoy did 1,607 yards in 16 games, Barkley did 1,623 in 13 games. Pretty remarkable. 

 

He'll get it