Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the football during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Why Eagles miss the mark by benching Saquon Barkley

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated Jan 1, 2025 9:38 PM ET

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is about to take one for the team by sitting out Sunday’s game rather than chase Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record, but Eagles fans are the ones missing out.

As the No. 2 seed, Philadelphia will host either the Green Bay Packers or Washington Commanders in the wild-card round of this year’s NFC playoffs, regardless of what happens against the Giants in this week’s regular-season finale.

On Wednesday, head coach Nick Sirianni said that he would rest most of his starters, Barkley included, against New York. Under normal circumstances, a team-first decision like this would sit well with most fans but benching the NFL’s leading rusher when he’s 101 yards away from passing Dickerson’s mark of 2,105 yards in one season is a slap in the face to one of the most passionate fan bases in professional sports.

#Eagles HC Nick Sirianni announced they will rest RB Saquon Barkley in Week 18 in preparation for the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/mJLhgMd3V8
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 1, 2025

Spend enough time in Philadelphia, and you’ll meet people who remember Phillies Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt hitting his 500th home run against the Pirates in 1987 at Three Rivers Stadium or Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham launching the third-longest punt in NFL history (91 yards) against the Giants in 1989 at the Meadowlands, but neither were records, and both happened on the road.

To have Barkley become the all-time single-season rushing record in front of 67,594 home fans at Lincoln Financial Field would have been special, especially with Hall of Fame play-by-play announcer Merrill Reese on the call. For the record, Reese agrees with Sirianni’s decision to rest his starters, but he’s been getting in for free since 1977.

According to the team’s website, Philadelphia has more than 40,000 fans on their waiting list for season tickets, which is no small feat considering the team has the NFL’s third-most expensive tickets ($305 per game) per Samanda Dorger of thestreet.com.

For his part, Dickerson admitted he wants to keep his 40-year record, something that seems inevitable at this point. That’s good for him, but anything but for Philly fans that could have been part of NFL history in an otherwise meaningless game.

Bruce Ewing

Bruce Ewing is 183 pounds of twisted steel and Happy Meals. His work has appeared on Yardbarker, 5th Down Fantasy, Inside the Iggles and MSN. Give a Philly fan a break and follow him on Twitter/X at @fantasybruce.

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