Saquon Barkley was greeted with chants of “MVP!” from Eagles fans after he broke the team’s single-season rushing record during a 22-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Barkley rushed for 124 yards, bringing his season total to 1,623 yards and surpassing the previous record held by Eagles Hall of Famers Wilbert Montgomery and LeSean McCoy.
With this performance, Barkley not only eclipsed McCoy’s 1,607 yards set in 2013 but also positioned himself in pursuit of Eric Dickerson’s NFL single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, established in 1984. At his current pace, Barkley could break this record before the end of the regular season, benefiting from an additional game compared to Dickerson’s era.
In an Instagram post captioned “Thankful,” Barkley celebrated his achievement, marking the franchise record with a checked box.
Current Standing in the Record Chase
Barkley currently leads the NFL in rushing with 1,623 yards, 216 yards ahead of Baltimore’s Derrick Henry, who has 1,407 yards (though the Ravens were on a bye this week). Averaging 124.8 yards per game, Barkley needs 483 yards over the final four games to surpass Dickerson’s long-standing record. If he maintains his current pace, he is projected to finish the season with 2,122 yards, surpassing Dickerson by 17 yards.
Upcoming Schedule and Challenges
Barkley faces a favorable schedule as he looks to continue his record chase. The Panthers, one of the league’s weakest run defenses, allowed him to average 6.2 yards per carry. The Eagles will host the Pittsburgh Steelers next, who boast a strong run defense, ranking fourth in the NFL. Following the Steelers, Barkley will face three opponents — Washington, Dallas, and the New York Giants — all of whom rank near the bottom in run defense.
Barkley’s Impact with the Eagles
Now in his first season with the Eagles, the 27-year-old Barkley has emerged as a leading candidate for league MVP, with only Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen having better odds, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The possibility of breaking the record against his former team, the Giants, adds an intriguing narrative to his pursuit, although he would prefer to avoid any asterisk associated with the extra game.
Drafted second overall in 2018 by the Giants, Barkley had a standout career in New York, rushing for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns over six seasons. After the Giants opted not to franchise tag him, he signed a three-year, $26 million guaranteed contract with the Eagles, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.
A Look Back at Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson, known for his signature goggles and impressive running style, is regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. He finished his career with 13,259 rushing yards, ranking ninth all-time, and set the single-season rushing record in 1984 with 2,105 yards, a mark that has stood for nearly 40 years.
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