The quarterback runs too much, which takes away carries from the backs and puts him at risk — the key factors in Barkley's failed pursuit.

Barkley became only the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards last week against the Cowboys. He’s at 2,005 — exactly 100 yards shy of Eric Dickerson, who set the mark of 2,105 in 1984 with the Los Angeles Rams.

The running back was 101 yards away from the NFL single-season rushing record, but his head coach decided the starters needed to rest in the regular-season finale against the Giants Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.