If he went out and got hurt I'd like to see these same fans and pundits reaction
The record will still be the record because it took more games than OJ or Dickerson
It also took Dickerson more games to break OJ record, so it's all relative.
And what if Barkley blows out his knee in the first series of the playoffs? It will just be looked at as an unfortunate injury. Same would be said if he got injured the last week of the season. There would be something on the line in both scenarios. And I don't buy it's a meaningless game, because it's not for Barkley. He has a chance to etch his name into the NFL history books.
I mentioned earlier I'm fine with it. If he's fine with not playing, but after watching him talk about it. Dude seems a little down about it and even said his family wants him to go for it.