While the Philadelphia Eagles' passing attack has been in a slump, their ground game is humming thanks to Saquon Barkley and arguably the National Football League’s best offensive line. That combination helped the All-Pro running back establish another franchise record in their Week 14 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Barkley helped the Eagles extend their winning streak to nine games with 20 carries for 124 yards. Those yards were enough for him to break LeSean McCoy’s franchise record for most rushing yards in a season.
The former Penn State standout now has 1,623 rushing yards for the season, 16 more than the record McCoy established in 2013. He broke the record with a nine-yard carry in the fourth quarter, his 17th rushing attempt against the Panthers.
Saquon Barkley has now set the FRANCHISE RECORD for single-season rushing yards (and still counting) ‼️ pic.twitter.com/q6lFOSuToF
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 8, 2024
While Barkley didn’t score a touchdown, his gains allowed the Eagles to control possession time. They also gained a crucial advantage if Xavier Legette caught that potential tying touchdown throw from Bryce Young.
More importantly, the victory helped the Eagles remain the NFC’s second seed at 11-2, only one game behind the top-seed Detroit Lions. With a Week 15 win against their intrastate rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, they can keep the pressure on Detroit.
Meanwhile, Barkley will need at least 377 yards in their four remaining games to become the ninth NFL player with 2,000 rushing yards in a season. With their playoff spot secured, the Eagles should help him achieve that rare feat.
-Lance Fernandez