Saquon Barkley is chasing Eric Dickerson's NFL season rushing record. Can he do it?

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley's “ minor injury ” may have played a major role in the Eagles running back losing ground in his pursuit of Eric Dickerson's season rushing record.

After topping 100 yards rushing in each of his last four games, Barkley ran for 65 yards on 19 carries — a 3.4-yard average and his second-lowest total of the season — in Philadelphia’s 27-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Barkley remained the NFL rushing leader with 1,688 yards — though he needs some big outings over the next three games to top Dickerson and his 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984.

Barkley needs 418 yards over the final three games — just over 139 yards per game — to break Dickerson’s record. The 27-year-old Barkley has surpassed that total five times this season.

Barkley gets an extra shot at the NFL record thanks to a 17th game of the season that Dickerson and the NFL did not have in 1984.

Here’s a look at what’s ahead for Barkley and his chances of catching Dickerson:

Barkley leads the NFL in rushing with 1,688 yards, a hefty 214 yards ahead of Baltimore's Derrick Henry at 1,474.

Barkley was drilled in the right knee by Pittsburgh’s Minkah Fitzpatrick and then landed on his right shoulder late in the first quarter. He was briefly examined and returned to the sideline with his helmet in hand.

He rushed two times for 3 yards after the hit, then didn’t have another carry until after halftime.

Barkley declined to say exactly what bothered him, only that his right knee was fine and he was not injured on Fitzpatrick’s hit.

“Nothing crazy. Little minor,” Barkley said. “Get ready for next week.”

Just on the quality of defenses alone, Barkley faces little pushback down the stretch.

After he was stymied by the Steelers, Barkley could run wild against Washington, Dallas and the Giants, who both rank near the bottom of the league against the run.

The Commanders are 26th in the NFL in rushing defense.

The Giants are one of two teams who have allowed more than 2,000 yards rushing this season while the Cowboys are close behind at 1,905.

The 27-year-old Barkley has flourished in his first season with the Eagles.

Barkley might enjoy the delicious twist of setting the record against his old team, the Giants — but surely not the 17th-game asterisk that would come with the total.

Barkley was drafted out of Penn State with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft. He was an instant success in New York and ran for 1,307 yards his rookie season. Barkley ran for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns and had 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 TDs in six years with the Giants.

He hit free agency after the Giants elected not to put a franchise tag on him.

Barkley signed a three-year deal with the Eagles for $26 million guaranteed and $37.75 million overall, making him the highest-paid running back in franchise history.

His free agency was chronicled by the reality sports documentary television series “Hard Knocks.”

In the crucial scene, Giants general manager Joe Schoen told Barkley the Giants would not make him an offer, nor stick the franchise tag on him. Rather, the Giants would let Barkley test the free-agent market, a move that sent him to an NFC East rival.

“I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I’ll tell you that,” team owner John Mara said to Schoen in the series. “As I’ve told you, just being around enough players, he’s the most popular player we have, by far.”

Under general manager Howie Roseman, the Eagles generally had been loath to use high draft picks or valuable salary cap space on a running back.

Barkley was deemed a worthy exception.

Barkley has been a workhorse this season and worked a heavy load in New York — when he was healthy. Barkley only twice played in 16 games with the Giants.

He played in 14 games last season, missing three because of a high ankle sprain. He ran for 962 yards and six touchdowns. He was limited to two games in 2020 after he suffered a torn ACL.

Barkley has played through minor injuries this season — like against Pittsburgh — but has otherwise proved his durability by leading the NFL with 285 carries.

Barkley may not top Dickerson's total just based on his performances in the first three meetings against his division rivals.

Barkley ran for 146 yards and two TDs in November against Washington and 176 yards and a touchdown in his first career game against the Giants. He ran for only 66 yards against Dallas.

Impressive numbers but they only add up to 388 yards — a pace that would leave him shy of the setting the NFL record by 30 yards.

Sporting his trademark goggles and Jheri curl, Dickerson was one of the great running backs in the 1980s, and the Hall of Famer was widely considered one of the best of all time.

Dickerson finished his career with 13,259 yards, the ninth-most in NFL history. Emmitt Smith holds the career NFL rushing record with 18,355 yards.

In 1984, Dickerson topped 100 yards rushing 12 times to break Buffalo's O.J. Simpson's 1973 record of 2,003 yards rushing in a single season.

Simpson set his record in 14 games before the NFL expanded to 16 in 1978. The NFL moved to 17 games in 2021.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Dean Lowry (94) as he loses his helmet during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith (56) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball as Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) hands off the ball to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) hands off the ball to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

A fan holds a sign for Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the second half of an NFL football game between the Eagles and the Carolina PanthersSunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Former NFL and SMU running back Eric Dickerson speaks to media after a panel discussion about NIL and NCAA college football, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Former NFL and SMU running back Eric Dickerson speaks during a panel discussion about NIL and NCAA college football, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Former NFL and SMU running back Eric Dickerson left, chats with SMU safety Jonathan McGill after a panel discussion about NIL and NCAA college football, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Former NFL and SMU running back Eric Dickerson speaks during a panel discussion about NIL and NCAA college football, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) hands off to Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley reacts after he set the Eagles' season rushing record during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — If the Atlanta Falcons are going to make a playoff push, coach Raheem Morris and quarterback Kirk Cousins both know the 13-year veteran needs to improve his performance over the last three games of the season.

“He’s got to play better,” Morris said after the Falcons escaped Monday night with a 15-9 road win over the lowly Las Vegas Raiders. “Obviously, you've got to go back and look at everything. But he wants to play better, he’s got to play better, we've got to find a way to get him to play better.”

Cousins was a lackluster 11-of-17 passing for 112 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He entered with no touchdown passes and eight interceptions over his previous four starts.

In 159 career starts, it was Cousins' third-fewest number of completions and fourth-lowest total in passing yards.

“I think I need to play better. I don’t think that’s a mystery,” said Cousins, who leads the NFL with a career-high 16 interceptions. “I think the last few weeks, I would say I need to play better. Raheem says it, but it’s stating the obvious.

"Every week you kind of go through your process and you plan to go out there and play the very best you can, and so this week will be no different.”

When asked where his biggest area of improvement lies, Cousins was forthright in saying he has to do a better job of protecting the football.

“I think it’s always just decision-making so that you’re not putting the ball in harm’s way and not trying to be too aggressive,” said Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract before the season. “I think really the key, you know, protecting the football.”

Before his four-week drought, Cousins never endured consecutive weeks without a touchdown pass.

Now, with Atlanta sitting one game back of the first-place Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC South, the pressure is mounting — with rookie Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings to potentially spark the offense.

“We've got everybody on our roster for a reason, right?” Morris said, with team owner Arthur Blank sitting in the room. “We've got so much to get better at, and those things will always be discussed. That’s just the nature of the beast in football.

“It's just so heavily talked about at the quarterback position, because there’s only one guy out there. So like for us, man, our mentality is to find a way to win the next game. That’s just the mentality that I’m going to have.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) looks to throw as Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Zach Carter (93) pursues during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) throws against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) is pressured by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end K'Lavon Chaisson (44) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) throws under pressure from Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo (5) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) throws against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)