Saquon Barkley on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s record, and faces bad run defenses ahead

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Saquon Barkley on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s record, and faces bad run defenses ahead​

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is on pace to break the NFL’s single-season rushing record. And he will benefit from facing a soft schedule of run defenses the rest of the way.

Barkley has 1,499 rushing yards through 12 games this season. That puts him on pace to gain 2,124 yards in a 17-game season. The NFL record is 2,105 yards, set by Eric Dickerson in 1984. (In a 16-game season). If Barkley keeps gaining yardage at the same pace he has for his first 12 games as an Eagle, he’ll break the record.

But Barkley has a great chance of actually stepping up his rushing output, thanks to the Eagles’ remaining schedule.

On Sunday, the Eagles face the Panthers, whose defense is allowing an NFL-worst 166.8 rushing yards per game. Barkley should feast against Carolina.

After that, Barkley has to face the Steelers, who at 90.5 rushing yards allowed per game are the fourth-best in the NFL. But that’s the only tough remaining game on the schedule.

In the final three weeks the Eagles face their three division opponents: the Cowboys (who are allowing 147.6 rushing yards per game, making them the second-worst run defense in the NFL), the Giants (allowing 145.8 rushing yards per game, fourth-worst in the NFL), the Commodes (allowing 137.0 rushing yards per game, sixth-worst in the NFL).

Barkley has already faced all three divisional opponents once this season, and he totaled 388 rushing yards in those three games — and in two of those three games he went to the bench early because the Eagles were winning blowouts.

With five games remaining, Barkley has an excellent chance to take from Dickerson what Dickerson took from O.J. Simpson, and become the NFL’s all-time single-season rushing champion.
 

Londoner

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While it would be a shame to see Dickerson lose his record, all records get broken eventually. The ever-increasing number of games doesn’t lend itself to preserving old records, anyway.

O.J. only had 14 games in his day, and ED had an extra two to overtake him.
 

Elmgrovegnome

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If it had to be someone I don’t mind it being Barkley. He’s a good guy and fellow PSU alum.

I’m just happy Chris Johnson didn’t break it/
 

0311rams

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harder to feel amazed with a 17-game schedule soon to be 18 for any running back to win. should be same number of games as a measuring stick.
 

tempests

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Jim Brown held his rushing mark for ten seasons, OJ had it for eleven, but Eric has kept his record for 40 years.

I'd be sorry to see it go, but that was quite an accomplishment.
 

fearsomefour

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Bummer.
17 games however.
Hopefully the Eagles fall behind in a couple and have to stop running the ball.
They will for sure feed him to try and get him the record however.
One benefit is, once again, the Giants being the Giants will be on full display.
 

CGI_Ram

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If the eagles clinch I wonder if their HC sits him
Thinking Pondering GIF by CBS
 

TexasRam

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Be careful what you wish for.

An injury to Barkley in pursuit of a record would be devastating to a team poised for a Super Bowl run.
 

Memento

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Honestly? Better Barkley - who, by all accounts, is a good person - than someone like Adrian Peterson.
 

Elmgrovegnome

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Bummer.
17 games however.
Hopefully the Eagles fall behind in a couple and have to stop running the ball.
They will for sure feed him to try and get him the record however.
One benefit is, once again, the Giants being the Giants will be on full display.
harder to feel amazed with a 17-game schedule soon to be 18 for any running back to win. should be same number of games as a measuring stick.
Doesn’t the 17 game thing apply to Puka’s records too?
 

So Ram

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While it would be a shame to see Dickerson lose his record, all records get broken eventually. The ever-increasing number of games doesn’t lend itself to preserving old records, anyway.

O.J. only had 14 games in his day, and ED had an extra two to overtake him.
I CALL BS , only because The Rams Run defense aloud it late. He isn’t getting all these yards early in games.It’s when teams are pressing & have to contain Jalen Hurts from rush & scrambling.

It’s not if your running against standard defenses.Add the extra game & yes he could break the record.His rushing yards get increased by his long runs. Luka against Baltimore the game before as well ?
 

Merlin

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Not gonna rationalize this one. I don't want anyone breaking Eric's record.

If I'm the Eagles right now I am telling Barkley is your concern the record or is it being fresh for a Super Bowl run. And hoping he will see things my way. Maybe they can get both, but RB is a dangerous position and he can call Dickerson and ask him how that empty ring finger feels.
 

HE WITH HORNS

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Hopefully he comes up short.
But he got more than 20% of his total in one game against us. It's unlikely he will have a game like that again this year.
 

Allen2McVay

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See if he makes it in 16. Asterisk record otherwise.
You don't really think that is going to happen ... Do you?

When Eric Dickerson broke O.J. Simpson's record in 1984, he did it in the 15th game, Simpson set the record in a 14-game season. Dickerson never got an asterisk ... Why would Barkley?