Saquon Barkley cracks top 10 vs Rams

On By Littum

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The Philadelphia Eagles made a big investment when they signed Saquon Barkley to a three-year deal during the 2024 NFL offseason. So far, the move has paid off big.

Barkley attended the team’s “Sunday Night Football” meeting with Los Angeles Rams among the league leaders in rushing yards.

He leaves on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s decades-long single-season hitting record after enjoying a massive outing in Los Angeles.

Here’s what you need to know about Barkley’s personal-best outing against the Rams and the record-breaking pace he’s on during his debut season in Philadelphia.

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Saquon Barkley stats today

Barkley had the most productive game of his NFL career on Sunday night. He recorded a career-high 255 rushing yards on 26 carries and added 47 receiving yards on four catches in the 37-20 Eagles victory.

Barkley was productive from the jump against the Rams. He repeatedly ripped off solid gains in the first half, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. carry in the first half and kept Philadelphia’s offense on a consistent schedule against Los Angeles’ opportunistic defense.

On the first play of the second half, Barkley nearly doubled his first half production. He took the opening 70 yards to score, after big blocking from the right side of his offensive line and Landon Dickerson into space. He was not touched on his way to the end zone.

Barkley continued to be an explosive playmaker from there. He logged a 31-yard catch on third-and-10 that set up a 13-yard Kenneth Gainwell touchdown before capping his career-best night with a 72-yard touchdown run to close out the game.

Barkley’s personal best rushing performance came just over a month after he nearly eclipsed it against the New York Giants. In that contest, Barkley opted to bow out of the 28-3 blowout to allow his teammates to get to work instead of chasing the record.

In the closer 37-20 contest with the Rams, Barkley stayed with and managed to match his record originally set against Washington in 2019. He also broke his previous career high of 279 scrimmage yards from that outing and replaced it with his 302 in total Sunday evening.

Most rushing yards in an NFL game

Barkley’s 255 rushing yards were the ninth-most in a single game in NFL history and the most by an NFL player since Jonathan Taylor’s 253-yard outing against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.

Below is a complete look at the NFL’s single-game rushing leaders:

  1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: 296 yards (2007)
  2. Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens: 295 yards (2003)
  3. Jerome Harrison, Cleveland Browns: 286 yards (2009)
  4. Corey Dillon, Cincinnati Bengals: 278 yards (2000)
  5. Walter Payton, Chicago Bears: 275 yards (1977)
  6. OJ Simpson, Buffalo Bills: 273 yards (1976)
  7. Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks: 266 yards (2001)
  8. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs: 259 yards (2010)
  9. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles: 255 yards (2024)
  10. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: 253 yards (2021); DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys: 253 yards (2011)

Saquon Barkley rushing yards 2024

Barkley has accounted for 1,392 rushing yards in 2024. That ranks no. 1 in the NFL, although it’s worth noting that the NFL’s No. 2 rusher, Derrick Henry, has yet to play his Week 12 game.

That being said, Barkley has already had a bye while Henry has not. As such, Barkley remains tied for the league lead in rushing yards during his first season with the Eagles.

NFL single-season rushing record

Eric Dickerson still holds the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single season. He ran for 2,104 yards during the 1984 NFL season.

Only eight NFL players have logged more than 2,000 rushing yards in a single season:

  1. Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams: 2,105 yards (1984)
  2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: 2,097 yards (2012)
  3. Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens: 2,066 yards (2003)
  4. Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions: 2,053 yards (1997)
  5. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans: 2,027 yards (2020)
  6. Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos: 2,008 yards (1998)
  7. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans: 2,006 yards (2009)
  8. OJ Simpson, Buffalo Bills: 2,003 yards (1973)

Barkley is currently on pace to record 2,151 rushing yards during the 2024 NFL season. That would allow him to pass Dickerson and break the NFL record.

Barkley doesn’t have much room for error, but if he can stay healthy, he might have a chance to make NFL history in his first year with the Eagles — whether that’s breaking the NFL record or challenging for 2,000 yards on the ground.

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