Snotbubbles
Footballguy
The 6 other 2k RBs got within less than a 100 yards (closer than Saquon) to breaking the record in the same (or less) 16 games.With the current 17 game schedule (and 18 likely to soon follow) Saquon’s record total would have been passed before he even hit his HOF eligibility year.Getting that record would put him on a better track for a HOF legacy. I kind of think they owed it to the Line and the fans who showed up yesterday. Injury always looms in the NFL. A chance at history doesn't.
It takes more than just volume of carries. You need to average over 5.5 ypc. Only 3 RBs did that this season (Henry, Barkley and Gibbs).
A 17th, and maybe 18th game, increases the odds of it getting broken, assuming we all agree Saquon would have been pulled after getting the record and probably only bested it by a few yards.
Also, YPC isn’t a constant because total carries are a big variable. A back that gets 24 carries/game (Saquon had 22/game) only needs 4.8 YPC in an 18 game season (8 RBs did that this year) or 5.1 in 17 games.
Bottom-line, it’s a more reachable record because of the increase in games. Unlike other records like an undefeated season, which gets less reachable. That was threatened once in the last 52 years, and a 17th (and maybe 18th) game just keep decreasing the chance it ever happens again.
Only 58 times in the history of the NFL has a player gotten 350 rushing attempts. Only 1 player in the last 5 seasons has gotten more than 350 carries. It's hard to get that many carries. You need to stay healthy, you need to have a feature back that gets the carries, you need a coach that calls for rushes at that level. Only 6 RBs played 17 games this season. It's not that easy. But, if you're lucky enough to have all that fall your way, you need to average a high YPC.