Records are records for a reason, but they’re there to be broken. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is used to breaking them.
The Super Bowl rushing record was set 37 years ago, when Washington’s Timmy Smith rushed for 204 yards in a 42-10 decimation over the Denver Broncos. What’s more, Smith required only 22 carries to set the record, recording four rushes of 10 yards or more. Since then, the Denver Broncos’ Terrell Davis is the only player who has recorded 150 or more yards in a single Super Bowl, which he did in Super Bowl XXXII in 1998.
DraftKings Sportsbook is offering +1100 odds on a player to break the rushing record in Super Bowl LIX between the Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, and Barkley seems like the most obvious bet.
Bet on Super Bowl LIX specials at DraftKings Sportsbook, including Will Any Player Break the Super Bowl Rush Yards Record? (205+ Rush Yards), here.
It’s far from out of the realm of possibility; Barkley has recorded 205 or more rushing yards twice this season, including a 205-yard performance in the Divisional Round win against the Los Angeles Rams. In fact, both of the performances came against the Rams, as he also rushed for 255 yards at SoFi Stadium on November 24. Kansas City’s rush defense is, by every conceivable measure, better than Los Angeles’, but I’d never bet against a player who averaged more than four rushing yards per attempt in all but two games all season.
The Chiefs’ secondary has struggled somewhat in the postseason, allowing Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen to throw for 237 yards in the AFC Championship Game, so I don’t think Jalen Hurts will be shut out of the game entirely. But Barkley should still get plenty of opportunities, especially if the Eagles jump out to a lead and can take control the clock.
During the NFC Championship Game, Barkley did most of his damage around the left side of the offensive line, recording five carries, 89 yards, and his score on runs to the left — including his 60-yard touchdown pitch on Philadelphia’s first play from scrimmage. He also had 23 yards and two more scores around the right side of the line, although he was largely bottled up by the Washington Commanders’ interior.
His chances will probably be best around the left again in the Super Bowl, given that left tackle Jordan Mailata is, per Pro Football Focus, the best run-blocker in the league, and edge rusher Michael Danna and cornerback Jaylen Watson — who line up on the right side of the Chiefs’ defense — both grade out poorly as rush defenders, although neither has missed a tackle in the postseason so far.
However, he could have success in between the tackles too, since Kansas City’s interior defensive lineman, Chris Jones and Tershawn Wharton, are also known more as pass-rushers than run-stuffers. In fact, the only elite rush defender in the Chiefs’ front seven is outside linebacker Leo Chenal, although strong safety Justin Reid and left cornerback Trent McDuffie are also more than capable.
Also, Barkley had two of the fastest runs this season, and Watson posted just a 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, 0.03 seconds slower than the average cornerback.
