The Philadelphia Eagles made a significant commitment by signing Saquon Barkley to a three-year contract during the 2024 NFL offseason, and that decision is proving to be a great success so far.

Barkley entered the “Sunday Night Football” game against the Los Angeles Rams as one of the leaders in rushing yards across the league.

Following the game, he is now on track to break Eric Dickerson’s long-standing single-season rushing record after a remarkable performance in Los Angeles.

Here’s what you need to know about Barkley’s record-setting performance against the Rams and his impressive pace in his first season with the Eagles.

Saquon Barkley stats today

Barkley delivered the most outstanding performance of his NFL career on Sunday night. He achieved a career-high of 255 rushing yards on 26 carries while also adding 47 receiving yards on four receptions during the Eagles’ 37-20 victory.

He started strong against the Rams, consistently gaining good yardage in the first half where he averaged 5.6 yards per carry, keeping Philadelphia’s offense in rhythm against a challenging Rams defense.

On the very first play of the second half, Barkley nearly doubled his first-half output. He sprinted 70 yards for a touchdown on his opening carry, thanks to excellent blocking from the right side of his offensive line and Landon Dickerson. He encountered no defenders on his way to the end zone.

From there, Barkley continued to impress, making a significant 31-yard catch on a third-and-10, setting up a 13-yard touchdown from Kenneth Gainwell. He capped off his career night with a 72-yard touchdown run, which secured the game for the Eagles.

Barkley’s record-breaking rushing game came just over a month after he almost surpassed his previous best against the New York Giants. In that game, he chose to step back during the 28-3 rout to allow teammates some playing time rather than focusing on breaking any records.

In the much closer 37-20 match against the Rams, he played all out and surpassed both his record set against Washington in 2019 and his previous career-high of 279 scrimmage yards, finishing with 302 total yards on Sunday night.

Most rushing yards in an NFL game

Barkley’s 255 rushing yards rank as the ninth-highest in NFL history for a single game and the highest since Jonathan Taylor’s 253-yard game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.

Here’s a list of the NFL’s single-game rushing yard leaders:

1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: 296 yards (2007)
2. Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens: 295 yards (2003)
3. Jerome Harrison, Cleveland Browns: 286 yards (2009)
4. Corey Dillon, Cincinnati Bengals: 278 yards (2000)
5. Walter Payton, Chicago Bears: 275 yards (1977)
6. O.J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills: 273 yards (1976)
7. Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks: 266 yards (2001)
8. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs: 259 yards (2010)
9. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles: 255 yards (2024)
10. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: 253 yards (2021); DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys: 253 yards (2011)

Saquon Barkley rushing yards 2024

Barkley has accumulated 1,392 rushing yards in 2024, placing him at the top of the NFL. However, it’s important to note that Derrick Henry, currently rank second, has not yet played in Week 12.

Despite this, Barkley has already had his bye week, while Henry has not. This means Barkley is well-positioned to maintain his lead in total rushing yards during his inaugural season with the Eagles.

NFL single-season rushing record

Eric Dickerson still holds the record for the most rushing yards in a single NFL season, having achieved 2,104 yards in 1984.

Only eight NFL players have ever surpassed 2,000 rushing yards in a single season:

1. Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams: 2,105 yards (1984)
2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings: 2,097 yards (2012)
3. Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens: 2,066 yards (2003)
4. Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions: 2,053 yards (1997)
5. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans: 2,027 yards (2020)
6. Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos: 2,008 yards (1998)
7. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans: 2,006 yards (2009)
8. O.J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills: 2,003 yards (1973)

Barkley is on track to finish the 2024 NFL season with 2,151 rushing yards, which would allow him to surpass Dickerson’s record.

If Barkley can remain injury-free, he has a genuine opportunity to make NFL history in his debut season with the Eagles, whether it’s by setting a new rushing record or challenging the 2,000-yard milestone.