Saquon Barkley

[Morbius]

Saquon Barkley, the outstanding running back with the Philadelphia Eagles, just passed 2000 yards for the season. At 2005 yards, he is just 101 yards short of Eric Dickerson's record from 40 years ago.

And he probably won't get it. The Eagles are locked in at the #2 seed so their final game is meaningless. Even if they allow Barkley to play, they will likely rest their receivers and some of their offensive line, so the running game would be hindered. After last year's collapse, the organization is laser focused on winning in the playoffs, and the first game in the NFC playoffs would have the Eagles hosting either the dangerous Packers or the Commanders - who beat the Eagles just last week. You have to think they want to rest their important players, Barkley included.

On the other hand, Barkley is a veteran who likely understands he it is highly unlikely he will get this chance again. The Eagles would not be where they are in the standings without Saquon, and so the team does not want him to be unhappy.

What do you think they will do?

[True Dough]

1. I don't know what they will do,

but I HOPE they will rest Saquon next week. For a player to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record in the 17th game of the season when Dickerson only got to play 16 just doesn't sit well with me.

[rsdsharp]

7. Should we have "distinguishing marks" for single season records?

I understand what you’re saying, but ultimately a season is a season. Eight games, twelve games, fourteen games, sixteen games, seventeen games. They play what is scheduled. Did it sit well when Dickerson broke Simpson’s record in 16 games when Simpson only played 14? Did Jim Brown really break his own record in 1963 in 14 games, when the old record was set in 12?

[True Dough]

8. Yeah, I think that context matters

and it would be good to have the list of record-breakers showing how many games each of the players needed to set their records.

[rsdsharp]

9. I would have no problem if they are consistent.

In 1961, the first 162 game season, Ford Frick announced that Babe Ruth’s record would need to be broken with 154 games — the same number of games Ruth had played. And yet in 1965, when Sandy Koufax broke Rube Waddell’s single season strike out record in 162 games, it was no problem. But then, Frick hadn’t been Koufax’s biographer.

[True Dough]

10. In that case,

Frick 'em all!

[Wiz Imp]

11. Um, Dickerson had 379 carries to get the record, Barkley has 345.

Barkley isn't going to carry the ball 34 times next week regardless, so if he breaks the record, he will have done it in fewer carries which IMO is more significant than the number of games.

[True Dough]

14. Interesting

Just checked on Adrian Peterson's 2012 season, when he finished just 9 yards shy of eclipsing Dickerson's record (both in 16 games), and Peterson did that on 348 carries.

The more stats, the merrier, IMO.

[Wiz Imp]

15. And Barry Sanders came up 52 yards short of Dickerson on just 335 carries

Of the Top 50 all time yardage totals, these were the best YPC averages:

Jim Brown (1963) 291 for 1863 6.4 average
Barry Sanders (1997) 335 for 2053 6.1 average
Adrian Peterson (2012) 348 for 2097 6.0 average
O.J. Simpson (1972) 332 for 2003 6.0 average
Saquon Barkley (2024) 345 for 2005 5.8 average
Derrick Henry (2024) 305 for 1783 5.8 average
Barry Sanders (1994) 332 for 1883 5.7 average
Eric Dickerson (1984) 379 for 2105 5.6 average
Chris Johnson (2009) 358 for 2006 5.6 average

By any objective measure, Barkley's 2024 season is one of the best ever for a running back (whether he gets total yards record or not).

[True Dough]

16. Do you have any analyses for offensive lines for all of their teams?

It is another factor!

[Wiz Imp]

17. True!

Sorry, but I don't have the patience or in-depth knowledge to factor in the offensive lines play.

[dem4decades]

2. I think they should send a thank you note to the Giants.

Rest him for the playoffs and go into the playoffs full strength. They pay him to make the team better, not set personal records. And as a professional, he knows the misery of getting hurt in a meaningless game, I doubt he wants to take that chance.

[Rhiagel]

3. I'll bet he plays the first half.

If he's close to the record, they'll let him get it in the 2nd half and then sit him down. He blew the "Giants" up for 187 yards the first time this season, so he should be able to break the record easily. It's not really fair that he gets to play one extra game than Dickerson, but then again, Dickerson got 2 extra games more than OJ.

[tishaLA]

13. He's gotten most of his yards in the second half, though

After the O-line bullies the hell out of the defense in the first half

[brush]

4. IMO they should go for the record. For offensive linemen it's a huge honor...

to hold such a record. It's theirs as well as Barkely's record. Just 105 years needed...hell yes, go for it.

And against the Giants too, the franchise stupid enough to trade him to a team in their division, and keep/over pay a second-rate QB who they had to release because he was/is not that good.

[Morbius]

5. Heh.

4 responses: 2 say play him, 2 say rest him. I figure the best thing for (Eagles coach) Nick Sirianni to do is talk to Barkley and persuade him to let the record go. A ring on his finger would be something Dickerson and O.J. didn't get - not that the Eagles are a lock to beat either the Vikings or the Lions in January.

[BOSSHOG]

6. What I think they should have done

Was left him in the game today. Maybe a few more yards or maybe a big run. Closer to the record. Easier to get the record in the first half next week.

OTH The Giants are kicking Ass.

Congrats Giants Fans. You stuck with your team through thin and thin.

[Morbius]

12. In postgame comments,

Saquon Barkley said he is fine sitting out next week, if that's what the coach decides. Breaking 2000 yards is nice, he said, but he signed with Philly for something more, something bigger. It seems his teammates want this record more than he does!

[True Dough]

18. And that's what the coaches/team ownership has decided

Saquon will sit and not get a shot at the single-season rushing yardage record.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43249454/eagles-saquon-barkley-cusp-record-sit-vs-giants