Saquon Barkley is closing in on NFL history. And if he gets it, it will most assuredly happen against the Giants. Barkley ran for 150 yards in Sunday’s 36-33 loss to the Washington Commanders, giving the Philadelphia Eagles’ star running back 1,838 rushing yards this season. The 27-year-old Barkley is now 268 yards away from breaking the single-season rushing record, which Eric Dickerson set with 2,105 yards in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams. To break the record, Barkley would need to average 133.5 rushing yards over the final two weeks of the regular season. He has averaged 122.5 rushing yards per game through 15 games, meaning he would have to slightly increase his output down the stretch. His matchups are favorable. This Sunday, Barkley is set to face a Dallas Cowboys defense that surrenders 135.9 rushing yards per game, which is the fifth-worst mark in the NFL. And in Week 18? Barkley is scheduled to face the Giants — his former team — who allow 142.6 rushing yards per game, which is the second most among NFL teams. Both games are in Philadelphia. Barkley has rushed for at least 146 yards in six games this season, including a 176-yard explosion against the Giants at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 20. Breaking the rushing record against the Giants would be poetic, considering they failed to reach a contract extension with Barkley, let him hit free agency last offseason and ultimately watched him sign with their hated division rival. Barkley has already won NFC Offensive Player of the Week four times with the Eagles, who lead the NFC East at 12-3. The Giants, meanwhile, suffered their franchise-record 10th consecutive loss on Sunday to fall to 2-13. The previous Giants regime drafted Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick in 2018, and he earned two Pro Bowl selections during his six seasons with the team. The 2023 offseason proved pivotal in the saga, as Giants general manager Joe Schoen opted to give quarterback Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million extension while using the franchise tag on Barkley. An extension for Barkley never came, and he played the 2023 season on an adjusted tag, rushing for 962 yards and totaling 10 touchdowns on an offense that did not provide much support around him. Rather than tag him again, Schoen allowed Barkley to hit the open market in March, then declined to make him a final offer, as documented on HBO’s offseason edition of “Hard Knocks.” The Eagles gave Barkley a three-year, $37.8 million contract. The Giants released Jones in November after a 2-8 start to the season. “It’s not about doing it to them. It’s not about that,” Barkley told the Daily News after his huge performance against the Giants in Week 7 led the Eagles to a 28-3 win. “The beauty of it is I feel like that monkey is off my back. I think it’s the last time I’ve got to talk about the Giants, ya feel me?” But the Giants are part of the story once again as Barkley pursues Dickerson’s record. It’s worth noting Dickerson set the record when the NFL season was 16 games, as opposed to 17 like it is now. There are multiple factors that could complicate Barkley’s pursuit. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion during Sunday’s game, putting his availability for Week 17 against the Cowboys in jeopardy. Not having Hurts would likely limit the upside of the Eagles’ offense, though Philadelphia could lean more on Barkley if backup quarterback Kenny Pickett gets the start. Pickett, too, suffered a ribs injury Sunday after entering in relief of Hurts, but he stayed in the game. Sunday’s loss to Washington, meanwhile, significantly damaged the Eagles’ chances at getting the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings both won on Sunday to improve to 13-2. Due to tiebreakers, the Eagles would be eliminated from contention for the No. 1 seed with a loss to the Cowboys or if the Lions defeat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17. Either scenario would likely lock Philadelphia into the NFC’s No. 2 seed, which would make Week 18’s game against the Giants meaningless in terms of seeding. The Eagles could therefore rest their starters, including Barkley, who, despite a healthy 2024 season, suffered multiple significant injuries during his Giants tenure. Facing the Eagles without their starters could also have ramifications for the Giants in terms of draft order, as they currently own the NFL’s worst record and are therefore in line for the No. 1 overall pick. Of course, the Giants are already playing many of their backups, including with a revolving door at quarterback and with top players such as left tackle Andrew Thomas and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence out for the season. Barkley, who is on pace for 2,083 rushing yards, would become the ninth player in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 in a season.