Tracking Saquon Barkley's pace for NFL rushing yards record

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley totaled 167 rushing yards in the team's Week 17 win over the Cowboys, putting him at 2,005 yards through 16 games. That means he'd need 101 yards in Week 18 against the Giants to break the single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards set by Eric Dickerson in 1984. However, coach Nick Sirianni suggested Barkley will be one of the starters who will rest as the Eagles gear up for the playoffs.

Dickerson's record has stood for four decades, and only eight other players have even reached 2,000 yards in rushing. Barkley averaged 125.3 rushing yards per game over the first 16 contests to join them. The Eagles have relied heavily on his rushing ability this season after signing him in free agency. Offensive linemen Lane Johnson, Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata helped spark a more run-oriented offense with a visit to coach Nick Sirianni's office during the Week 5 bye. Philadelphia leads the NFL with 596 rush attempts, which has helped Barkley put up huge numbers.

We're tracking his momentous season as he runs and hurdles his way toward Dickerson's long-standing mark. Eagles reporter Tim McManus is sizing up where things stand and NFL analyst Ben Solak looks at what lies ahead in Week 18 -- if he does play.

Week 18: vs. New York Giants (Jan. 5, 1 p.m. ET)

What Barkley would need to do to break the record: Barkley needs 101 yards in Week 18 to break the record. And the Giants allow 141.6 rushing yards per game, 31st in the NFL.

Early word on if he will play: Barkley will sit out Sunday's regular-season finale against the Giants, putting an end to his chase of the single-season rushing record. With Philadelphia's postseason seeding secured, Sirianni said, "He will probably be somebody that rests." Whether Barkley should have the opportunity to go for the rushing title was a hot point of debate in Philadelphia and beyond this week. The Eagles (13-3) have clinched the NFC East division title and are locked into the NFC's No. 2 seed, making the Giants game irrelevant from a playoff positioning perspective. -- McManus

How the matchup would have projected for Barkley: The Giants just gave up 125 yards on 32 carries to Indianapolis' Jonathan Taylor, a week after giving up 94 yards on 22 rushes to Atlanta's Bijan Robinson. Since star nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II was lost for the season with an elbow injury, the core of the Giants' run defense has been suspect.

The Giants have shown that they can still get some stops on the ground. They held Derrick Henry to 67 yards on 14 carries against the Ravens (at the expense of getting absolutely dominated through the air and on the ground by quarterback Lamar Jackson). If the Giants choose, they can index their entire defense to stopping the run and lose instead through the air. But the Eagles just played a Cowboys defense that was loading the box and daring Pickett and QB3 Tanner McKee to beat them through the air, and Barkley still ran for 167 yards. -- Solak

Week 17: vs. Dallas Cowboys (41-7 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley became just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. The coaching staff decided to keep Barkley in the game in the fourth quarter despite Philadelphia being well ahead. He was handed the ball on five straight plays, the last being a 23-yard scamper down the left side that put him over 2,000-yard mark. He was greeted by teammates and chants of "MVP" from the fans as he went to the sideline. Barkley finished with 167 yards on 31 carries. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 26 times for 98 yards in his 16th and final game of the 1984 regular season, putting him at 2,105. Barkley is at 2,005 after 16 games, 100 yards behind Dickerson. But remember, Barkley has that extra game, meaning he could still do it.

Week 16: at Washington Commanders (36-33 loss)

Barkley's performance: Barkley finished with 150 yards on 29 carries. He rushed for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the first quarter alone, highlighted by a 68-yard TD scamper down the left sideline with 2:18 remaining in the opening frame. Barkley is the first player with 100-plus rushing yards and two-plus rushing TDs in an opening quarter since the Vikings' Adrian Peterson in 2012 Week 14 against the Bears. Peterson was named the NFL MVP that season.

It was Barkley's 10th game this season with at least 100 rushing yards. That's tied for the most by any player in his first season with a team, matching Jerome Bettis in 1996, Edgerrin James in 1999 and Ricky Williams in 2002. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 27 times for 215 yards (season high) in his 15th game of the 1984 season, putting him at 2,007. Barkley was at 1,838 after 15 games, 169 yards behind Dickerson. He was slightly off pace to break the record, even with the 17th game factored in.

Week 15: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (27-13 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley finished with 65 yards on 19 carries. He played sparingly in the first half after a trip to the medical tent -- Barkley was seen on the sideline stretching out his right leg -- and went into halftime with 31 yards. He had a fuller workload in the second half but didn't post the kind of gaudy numbers that he has put up for much of the season. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 33 times for 149 yards in his 14th game of the 1984 season, putting him at 1,792 on the season. Barkley was at 1,688 after 14 games, 104 yards behind Dickerson. And he fell off pace to break the record, even with the 17th game factored in.

Week 14: vs. Carolina Panthers (22-16 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley set a new franchise record for single-season rushing yards. He entered needing 109 yards to move past LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 1,607 yards in 2013, and Barkley moved into first place midway through the fourth quarter with a 9-yard gain. Chants of "MVP!" broke out as his achievement was announced in the stadium. Barkley finished with 124 rushing yards on 20 carries. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 28 times for 191 yards in his 13th game of the 1984 season, putting him at 1,643 on the season. Barkley was at 1,623 after 13 games, 20 yards behind Dickerson. But once factoring in the extra game from the 17-game season, Barkley was still on pace to break Dickerson's record.

Week 13: at Baltimore Ravens (24-19 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley rushed 23 times for 107 yards, and he continues to play the role of closer. He had 44 rush yards through the first three quarters, then erupted for 63 yards -- including a 25-yard touchdown scamper -- in the fourth to help ice the game. He has the second-most rushing yards in the fourth quarter through 12 games in the play-by-play era (since 1978), trailing only Edgerrin James in 2000. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 25 times for 132 yards in his 12th game of the 1984 season, putting him at 1,452 on the season. Barkley was at 1,499 after 12 games, 47 yards ahead of Dickerson. That means Barkley was still on pace to break Dickerson's record, factoring in the extra game from the 17-game season.

Week 12: at Los Angeles Rams (37-20 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley set both personal and franchise highs with 255 rushing yards and 302 yards from scrimmage. Both of his rushing touchdowns went for 70-plus yards. "You're already the best running back in the world," receiver A.J. Brown told him on the sideline. "I think you're the best player in the world." -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 28 times for 149 yards in his 11th game of the 1984 season, putting him at 1,320 on the season. Barkley was at 1,392 after 11 games, 72 yards ahead of Dickerson. And for the first time all season, Barkley was on pace to break Dickerson's record, factoring in the extra game from the 17-game season.

Week 11: vs. Washington Commanders (26-18 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley went for 198 all-purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns in a battle for first place in the division. His 26-carry, 146-yard effort on the ground was the sixth time he hit the 100-yard rushing mark this season. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 21 times for 208 yards in his 10th game of the 1984 season, putting him at 1,171 on the season. Barkley was at 1,137 after 10 games, 34 yards behind Dickerson.

Week 10: at Dallas Cowboys (34-6 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley posted 66 yards on 14 carries. Though not his most active game, he provided one of the top highlights of the year in the first quarter when he turned on the jets following a short reception along the left side, blowing past a pair of Cowboys defenders who collided with one another. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 13 times for 38 yards in his ninth game of the 1984 season, putting him at 963 on the season. Barkley was at 991 after nine games, 28 yards ahead of Dickerson.

Week 9: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (28-23 win)

Barkley's performance: The reverse hurdle game! Barkley left his teammates astonished in the second quarter when he leaped backwards over cornerback Jarrian Jones for one of the most impressive 14-yard gains in league history. "It was the best play I've ever seen," said Sirianni. Barkley had 159 yards and a TD on 27 carries, and he added 40 yards and a score through the air. He had six runs of 10 or more yards. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 24 times for 145 yards in his eighth game of the 1984 season, putting him at 925 on the season. Barkley was also at 925 after eight games -- tied with Dickerson.

Week 8: at Cincinnati Bengals (37-17 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley's best work came in the closing frame, as he rushed for 57 yards on seven carries in the game-sealing 12-play drive, highlighted by a 17-yard run in which he tip-toed down the sideline and leapt over a photographer near the goal line. He finished with 22 carries for 108 yards. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 20 times for 175 yards in his seventh game of the 1984 season, putting him at 780 on the season. Barkley was at 766 after seven games, 14 yards behind Dickerson.

Week 7: at New York Giants (28-3 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley went off for 176 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in his return to MetLife Stadium. He was in position to break his single-game rushing record (189 yards at the time) but turned down the opportunity so the rest of the running backs could get work late in a lopsided game, telling Sirianni he'd rather "let the young guys eat." -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 19 times for 107 yards in his sixth game of the 1984 season, putting him at 605 on the season. Barkley was at 658 after six games, 53 yards ahead of Dickerson.

Week 6: vs. Cleveland Browns (20-16 win)

Barkley's performance: This was one of Barkley's worst statistical performances of the season (18 carries, 47 yards). He averaged just 2.6 yards per carry, but the offense's new-found dedication to the rushing attack held firm throughout the contest. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 22 times for 120 yards in his fifth game of the 1984 season, putting him at 498 on the season. Barkley was at 482 after five games, 16 yards behind Dickerson.

Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (33-16 loss)

Barkley's performance: This was a turning point in the season. Barkley hardly touched the ball early as the Bucs climbed out to a 24-0 lead and finished with just 10 carries, which he still turned into 84 yards. Thanks to a nudge from the offensive line, Sirianni committed to the ground game from this point forward, sparking a long winning streak. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 22 times for 89 yards in his fourth game of the 1984 season, putting him at 378 on the season. Barkley was at 435 after four games, 57 yards ahead of Dickerson.

Week 3: at New Orleans Saints (15-12 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley ended with 147 yards and two touchdowns on the ground despite getting just 17 carries (8.6 average). His 65-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter finally put Philadelphia on the board and served as the catalyst for its narrow win. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 23 times for 49 yards in his third game of the 1984 season, putting him at 289 on the season. Barkley was at 351 after three games, 62 yards ahead of Dickerson.

Week 2: vs. Atlanta Falcons (22-21 loss)

Barkley's performance: Barkley carried the ball 22 times for 95 yards. His drop near the goal line on third down late in the game forced the Eagles to settle for a field goal, helping Atlanta to sneak out the win. -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 27 times for 102 yards in his second game of the 1984 season, putting him at 240 on the season. Barkley was at 204 after two games, 36 yards behind Dickerson.

Week 1: vs. Green Bay Packers (34-29 win)

Barkley's performance: Barkley made the kind of instant impact the organization was hoping for when signing him to a three-year, $38 million free agent contract, rushing for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns and adding another score through the air. He has since called those TDs in Sao Paulo, Brazil, some of the favorite of his career. "I'm the first person to ever score in South America," Barkley said. "That's cool." -- McManus

The Dickerson comparison: Dickerson rushed 21 times for 138 yards in Week 1 of the 1984 season, meaning Barkley trailed Dickerson by 29 yards (before factoring in Barkley's extra game in the current 17-game season).