The NFL’s regular season finale is upon us.
Week 18 brings playoff clinching scenarios, draft order mayhem, incentive bonuses and so much more. This year it also brings a record chase to the slate. Saquon Barkley is closing in on Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record, but with the Eagles already locked into a playoff spot, the running back may not have the chance to make NFL history.
Philadelphia has their eyes on a Super Bowl run and now has to weigh whether the record is worth the potential risk of injury against the Giants in Week 18.
Here’s the latest on Barkley’s status for the regular season’s final week.
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Will Saquon Barkley play in Week 18?
During an appearance Tuesday on SportsRadio 94WIP in Philadelphia, head coach Nick Sirianni said that the team is still thinking through the decision whether to let Barkley play.
‘Take a lot into account,’ Sirianni said. ‘What’s the best thing for the team and also what’s the best things for the individuals going for the record?’
The coach pointed to DeVonta Smith’s chase for the team’s rookie receiving record in 2021.
‘2021, Smitty was going for the rookie receiver record,’ Sirianni said. ‘We didn’t play some other guys in that game, but we went and got him that record. Every situation is a little different. Not saying one way or the other.”
It remains to be seen whether Barkley will have the opportunity to break the rushing record in Week 18. The Eagles are locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC, essentially making this week’s game against the Giants meaningless.
Philadelphia could end up resting their starters ahead of their playoff game slated for next week. They had an early bye this season, which came in Week 5, so the rest could go a long way in gearing up for what the team hopes is a long playoff run.
In addition to the much-needed rest, the Eagles could also give the Giants a better chance at securing a victory that would only further hurt their draft positioning. New York dropped out of the No. 1 pick spot with a win over the Colts in Week 17 and Philadelphia has no incentive to give their rivals a better pick in April’s draft.
How many yards does Saquon Barkley need to break Eric Dickerson’s record?
Barkley is 100 yards away from tying Dickerson’s rushing record of 2,105 yards that he set in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams. That record has withstood the test of time even despite rule changes over the years.
The NFL famously has 17 regular season games now, something that was still at the 16 mark in 1984. While it remains to be seen whether Barkley will play in an attempt to break the record, it’s a mystery how the football world will view it with the extra game making the number to beat more attainable.
Regardless, we know that Dickerson doesn’t want Barkley to break his record that’s stood for 40 years.
Eagles RB depth chart
If Barkley ends up being held out of action, here’s a look at the Eagles’ depth chart:
Kenneth Gainwell
Will Shipley
Shipley is currently in concussion protocol, meaning his status could be in doubt for Week 18. However, Lew Nichols and Tyrion Davis-Price are running backs currently on the team’s practice squad that could be elevated if Barkley is out.
Saquon Barkley stats
Barkley’s first season in Philadelphia has been a resounding success. He’s played in all 16 games to this point, posting a league-leading 345 carries and 2,005 rushing yards. Barkley has totaled 13 touchdowns on the ground and added 33 catches, 278 yards and two touchdowns through the air. The running back is averaging a whopping 142.7 scrimmage yards per game and six yards per touch, essentially serving as a cheat code for the Eagles’ offense.