Saquon Barkley This Year

[SeahawkFever]

This year, Saquon Barkley for Philly had 2,005 rushing yards, and 2,283 yards from scrimmage in 16 games because he sat out the final game.

In the playoffs through three games, he has 442 rushing yards and 477 yards from scrimmage.

Those totals combine for 2,447 rushing yards, 2,760 yards from scrimmage, and 20 touchdowns from scrimmage in a single season (with the regular season and playoffs combined).

If he has one more 30 yard rush, then he has more rushing yards than Terrell Davis in 1998 (2,476). For the record, the most touchdowns from scrimmage appears to be 33 by LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006, and Barkley appears to have the most yards from scrimmage of any running back in a season in NFL history.

Out of curiosity, how does this season Barkley's about to finish compare to other great running back seasons?

I don't think I'd call this the single best necessarily. If you go by a per game basis, there's O.J. Simpson in 1973 averaging about 143 per game, others can best Barkley's yards per carry too (5.95 counting playoffs), and there's others that probably had a worse offensive line to work with (namely Barry Sanders in 1997 and Walter Payton in 1977).

But at the very least this seems like one of the best running back seasons recent years. What do you think?

[Brian wolf]

If the Eagles win the SB, it will be considered the greatest free agent signing in NFL history. I still think Davis in 1998 has the advantage though, because he followed up a great 1997 season and SB MVP into a 2000 yard repeat championship. Those two seasons, put him into the HOF ...

[Ness]

If the Eagles win the SB, it will be considered the greatest free agent signing in NFL history. I still think Davis in 1998 has the advantage though, because he followed up a great 1997 season and SB MVP into a 2000 yard repeat championship. Those two seasons, put him into the HOF ...

How would Barkley's season leapfrog Reggie White for the Packers, Deion Sanders for the 49ers, or Drew Brees for the Saints???

[Brian wolf]

I basically meant for one season, even though Sanders won a SB with Frisco, before leaving. It took White and Brees awhile to win it all. Of course the Eagles still need to win the game. Priest Holmes was a great signing of the Chiefs but couldnt win the SB.

[GameBeforeTheMoney]

Upton Bell - who has been close to the NFL since his father was named commissioner in 1946, he and I just did a podcast episode with much of the focus discussing Barkley's season historically compared to other great running backs.

Jim Brown in 1963 and 1958 are probably most impressive. I mean, what Jim Brown did in 12 and 14 games in those two years is likely unmatched. I don't know if we'll be talking about Barkley's season 50 years from now. Upton also rated Dickerson's season higher - going so far to say that he's the second best RB ever. And I've heard players say that he's the best they've ever played against. I also remember Dickerson just being absolutely unbelievable. I don't think I ever got the same feeling about Barkley during the regular season.

I don't want to sound like "get off my natural grass" kind of grumpy NFL fan but I mean, when Dickerson set the record, he put up those yards against a 15-1 49ers teams, defenses with Lawarence Taylor and Harry Carson, Singletary, Randy White. There might have been some porous defenses too there weren't any defenses like those Giants, 49ers, and Bears - that I'm really confident in stating.

Now, no one's around to really know for sure, but looking at Beattie Feathers 1934 season, I mean, it's really hard (at least for me) to look at that and not be completely astounded. If there's any season close to Brown's 58 and 63, it might be Feathers. It's like Lou Groza's crazy FG season. Feathers rushed for 1,000 yards - first ever in NFL history. Next was Steve Van Buren in 1947. Van Buren did it again, then Joe Perry did it twice, Rick Caseras once, and then next person to rush for 1,000 is Jim Brown in 1958 - and he goes for 1500 yards in 12 games! And then 1800 in 14!

Now, firsthand, one of the best I can remember that I actually saw that I think is worth discussing here - call me crazy - I'd say Billy Sims' rookie year, I mean I know stats aren't going to back me up on this but in terms of impact and amazement, that was an incredible season.

[Brian wolf]

Great calls, Jackson. With this year being the rejuvenation of the veteran running back--which will help their wallets as well--a victory for Barkley in the SB, could take away the focus on league QBs for a change. At least for a moment ...

[SeahawkFever]

Great calls, Jackson. With this year being the rejuvenation of the veteran running back--which will help their wallets as well--a victory for Barkley in the SB, could take away the focus on league QBs for a change. At least for a moment ...

The Eagles did win this game, though it was far from Barkley’s best performance this season (2.3 yards per carry after all).

Still, he set new records for rushing yards (2,504) and yards from scrimmage (2,857) in a season counting the playoffs.

As I said up top, say what you want about all time rankings, but in my opinion this is one of the best seasons by a running back in this generation at minimum.

[SixtiesFan]

When did counting regular season and playoff rushing yardage become a record? Is it now an official record? That being said, Barkley's season is one of the best a RB has ever had.

[Brian wolf]

This guy has to be tired but jubilant. Without a doubt, the best one year free agent signing in NFL history. Even Jason Kelce has to be jealous of this team. I dont think the combined season and postseason totals are an official record, but I feel Saquon feels satisfied in missing out on the chance to break Dickerson's record in exchange for a SB championship.

[SeahawkFever]

When did counting regular season and playoff rushing yardage become a record? Is it now an official record? That being said, Barkley's season is one of the best a RB has ever had.

I’ve never seen regular season and playoff statistics combined formally.

That said because one follows the other I think it’s interesting to consider at the very least, because this production immediately follows the regular season.

One thing I will also throw in: The previous record holder for these records was Terrell Davis in 1998.

Since the Broncos were a top seeded team, Davis played one fewer game, and if you go by per game averages, Davis’s were slightly higher:

130.32 rushing yards per game, and 145.36 yards from scrimmage per game for Davis, as opposed to 125.2 rushing yards per game and 142.85 yards from scrimmage per game for Barkley.