The Philadelphia Eagles and Nick Sirianni made the prudent, albeit difficult, decision to make Saquon Barkley a healthy scratch for the regular-season finale. That meant Barkley would finish the regular season with 2,005 rushing yards, a mere 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson's all-time single season rushing record.
Many argued that the Eagles would have to win the Super Bowl for the decision to pay off. Given Barkley carried Philly to the Super Bowl for a date with the Kansas City Chiefs, though, it is safe to say that was the right call.
While Barkley was deprived of making NFL regular-season history, he just became the all-time leading rusher for a full season, including the regular season and playoffs. Barkley entered Super Bowl 59 needing just 30 more rushing yards to reach the milestone.
Eagles star Saquon Barkley makes NFL history in Super Bowl 59 vs. Chiefs
Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis set the record in 1998 with the Denver Broncos when he rushed for 2,476 yards. Davis rushed for 2,008 yards during the regular season and cleaned up at the end-of-season awards ceremony, taking home MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors.
He keeps making history‼️
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 10, 2025
Saquon Barkley now holds the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season, including playoffs. pic.twitter.com/kf02PLYbRK
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Barkley deservedly was named Offensive Player of the Year at Thursday's NFL Honors, but Bills quarterback Josh Allen won MVP. There was a strong argument for Barkley to win league MVP, but that has evolved into a quarterback-only award in recent years.
The Chiefs defense has held Barkley in check thus far but they are clearly selling out to stop the run. Subject to widespread criticism throughout the playoffs and leading up to Sunday's kickoff, Jalen Hurts has made Kansas City pay as a result.
Hurts has racked up over 100 yards passing and set up the first TD of the game with a 28-yard dime up the sideline to Jahan Dotson. He had a bad interception but has otherwise taken what Kansas City has given him.
That is the Saquon Barkley effect.
It was cruel that Barkley was deprived of breaking Dickerson's regular-season rushing record. At the same time, though, it is poetic that he shattered Davis' long-standing record in the Super Bowl. A win would be the perfect capper to arguably the greatest season ever from a running back.