Saquon Barkley is posting one of the best seasons for a running back in the last decade. The veteran started a new chapter in his career with the Philadelphia Eagles this season and the decision is paying off for him and his team.
So much so that former NFL player and coach Jeff Saturday made a case for Barkley to have a real shot at winning the 2024 MVP award. During Tuesday’s edition of “Get Up!”, the former Indianapolis Colts player explained what it would take for Barkley to bag the award in the next two games.
“I think it’s Lamar, but I’ll say this, if Saquon Barkley breaks the record, Saquon Barkley should win it. Bottom line, he breaks the record. I don’t care how good Lamar is, but don’t care how good Josh Allen’s playing.” (08:32 mark)
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After Adrian Peterson won the 2012 MVP award, the honor became exclusive for quarterbacks until running backs like Barkley and Derrick Henry entered the scene.
Now, the path to the honor has three serious candidates, Barkley, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. The next two games against the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants should give the veteran running back a chance to dominate again and get closer to Eric Dickerson’s record.
Saquon Barkley chasing Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record
After posting 29 rushing attempts for 150 yards against the Washington Commanders in a dramatic Week 16 game, Saquon Barkley has 1,838 rushing yards on the season. He’s 268 yards away from surpassing Dickerson, who recorded 2,105 rushing yards in 1984.
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He could become the ninth player in NFL history with 2,000 rushing yards in a season if he records 162 more. The next two games look pretty favorable for the former Giants star.
Averaging 122.5 rushing yards per game, he’s on pace for 2,083, which wouldn’t be enough to surpass Dickerson or Adrian Peterson (2,097). In the first two games against the Cowboys and Giants, Barkley recorded 242 rushing yards, giving him hope for the season’s final stretch.
Edited by Nicolaas Ackermann
