NFL Week 18 preview: Play-off pemutations, MVP watch, Mahomes and Barkley to miss out
It could have been a fairy tale day for Saquon Barkley, who needed just 101 yards to break Eric Dickerson’s coveted rushing record, and he would have been on track to win against his former team, New York. He did that with the Giants, who controversially fired him over the summer.
However, the Philadelphia Eagles are aiming to reach the Super Bowl, so head coach Nick Sirianni said Barkley “will probably have Sunday off.”
Barkley was eager to break the record that has stood since 1984 but accepted the decision, saying: “I have more important things on my mind and we have a chance to rest and get ready for the playoffs”.
Mahomes, likely Travis Kelce and other Chiefs stars will miss the game and have a bye in a week, giving them more than three weeks between games.
Whether this will lead to a well-rested Chiefs team that falters in the playoffs or some rust and lack of sharpness remains to be seen.
Like Barkley, Josh Allen doesn’t have much of a chance to win the eventual MVP, as the Buffalo Bills have confirmed they will only let their star quarterback continue his 114-game starting streak before moving on. Pull him out of the line of fire.
