Saquon Barkley just did something that only eight other NFL players have ever pulled off. The Eagles running back crashed through the 2,000-yard rushing mark on Sunday, hitting the milestone during Philly's blowout 41-7 win over the Cowboys. Oh, and they grabbed the NFC East title while they were at it.
The Big Moment
The magic happened in the fourth quarter. Barkley broke loose for a 23-yard run that pushed him past 2,000, finishing the day with 167 yards on 31 carries. His season total now sits at 2,005 yards, and he couldn't hide the excitement when talking about it after the game.
"I can't lie, it's amazing," Barkley told FOX. "It was fun being out there with those guys, and to be able to do that. I wouldn't be able to do it without the O-line, the wide receivers, the tight end."
Taking Aim at a 40-Year-Old Record
It actually gets really interesting. Barkley's now just 100 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson's NFL rushing record of 2,105 yards, which has been standing tall since 1984. What's poetic is that his last chance to break it would come against his old team, the New York Giants, who let him walk away in free agency just nine months ago.
But there's a catch, though. The Eagles have already locked up the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, which means they might want to keep their star runner fresh for the games that really count. Barkley, though, seems like a chill guy regarding the whole thing.
"I'm not overtly trying to get it," he said about possibly breaking the record. "I'm not scared of it. But we've got bigger things we're focused on. Whether we play next week or rest, I'm fine with that. I didn't sign here just to break a record. I want to do something special with the team."
Barkley's achievement is even cooler when you realize that he's the first player to hit 2,000 yards after switching teams. That's right. The last guy to join the 2,000-yard club was Derrick Henry back in 2020 when he ran for 2,027 yards with the Titans.
Looking Ahead
Barkley's been absolutely crushing it in his first year. For the Eagles, he's racking up over 100 yards in 11 different games this season. When Philly signed him last offseason, they were hoping for a good year. It's safe to say they got one of the best rushing seasons anyone's ever seen in the NFL.
Now all eyes are on next week. Will the Eagles let Barkley take a shot at Dickerson's record? Or will they play it safe and rest him for the playoffs? Either way, Barkley's made running the ball look easy in a league where it's anything but. And that's truly special.