Doubt at your own risk, Eric Dickerson.

Saquon Barkley, the electrifying running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, is hot on the trail of the all-time single-season rushing record — Dickerson's impressive 2,105 yards, achieved with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984. However, the legendary record-holder isn’t too optimistic about Barkley’s chances.

I don’t think he’ll break it,” Dickerson told the Los Angeles Times, though he added, “But if he breaks it, he breaks it.” Dickerson, a Hall of Famer, didn’t hold back on his feelings: “Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not. I’m not whining about it, though. He had 17 games to do it? Hey, football is football. If he’s fortunate to get over 2,000 yards and get the record, it’s a great record to have.”

The context is crucial — Barkley stands 268 yards shy of Dickerson's 2,105, with 17 games at his disposal to surpass this long-standing record, while Dickerson only had 16 during his record-setting season.

It’s important to note that Dickerson also benefitted from an expanding schedule back in his time. “O.J. Simpson was my favorite player,” he reminisced. “He went over 2,000 yards in 14 games. It took me 15 games to get to 2,000. I had one extra game to play, too.”

As it stands, Barkley needs to average 134 rushing yards over his final two games to etch his name in the history books. The Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17, and then Barkley’s previous team, the New York Giants, in Week 18. If Barkley manages to cross the finish line at MetLife Stadium on January 5th against the Giants, it would be a fitting poetic turn of events for a player unceremoniously released by the franchise after his six seasons in blue.

Since joining the Eagles, Barkley has been nothing short of a force of nature. He has already racked up 526 more rushing yards than his previous career-best and is considered one of the front-runners for the league’s MVP award, according to BetMGM and verified by The Athletic. Impressively, he has exceeded 100 rushing yards in ten of fifteen games, and recorded multiple touchdowns in six of those contests. Notably, he’s only the third running back to score four touchdowns of 60 yards or longer within a single season—a true testament to his explosive playmaking ability.

As the Eagles prepare for their showdown with Dallas, the team faces challenges, notably having Jalen Hurts still in concussion protocol. This could lead the Cowboys to focus on the run game, anticipating a heavy dose of Barkley.

But with Barkley's track record this season, it’s a safe bet that he will find a way to perform—no matter who is calling the shots from the quarterback position. The coming weeks will be pivotal, and eyes across the NFL are firmly fixed on the chase for Dickerson's storied record. Will Barkley rise to the occasion and carve his name into the annals of history? Only time will tell!