Saquon Barkley to Sit Out Week 18: Eagles Prioritize Playoffs

Saquon Barkley, the Eagles' star running back, will sit out the final week of the regular season. With the Eagles secured as the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, head coach Nick Sirianni decided to rest several key players to ensure they're fresh for the postseason. This means Barkley won't challenge the 40-year-old single-season rushing record held by Eric Dickerson. Barkley was just 101 yards short of breaking that record after Week 17. Sirianni made the call to keep Barkley out of the game against the Giants, which spares Barkley's former team from potentially seeing him break the record against them. Everyone in Philadelphia is hoping that this break helps Barkley perform even better during the playoff run. For the Giants, this might be a bit of a relief. Given their tumultuous season, they might not want to face Barkley at his peak. However, there’s always a sense of pride—and maybe a bit of regret—when a former player achieves such a significant milestone.