Factoid
I believe that running backs are more likely to run for over 2,000 yards than to fall just short of that mark. That’s just part of the chase and mentality of going after that kind of mark.
And it shows in the numbers over the years. Five players have now going over 2,000 yards in a season. And 13 players have finished in the 1,800-yard range. But only one player has finished within 100 yards short of that figure. That was the legendary Earl Campbell, in 1980, and his was a different kind of story. His final game was one of his best (he ran for 203 yards), allowing him to pull up to 1,934 – it wasn’t like he entered his final game needing 140 yards and fell short.
So with Chris Johnson (and his teammates around him) needing just 128 yards to reach the 2,000-yard club, I consider it to be almost a shoo-in. The more compelling dimension is that maybe Johnson starts off really strong in this game, then makes the push for the 234 rushing yards he would need to break Eric Dickerson’s all-time record.
RUNNING BACKS WITH 1,800-PLUS YARDS
Yds Player (Year)
2105 Eric Dickerson, Rams (1984)
2066 Jamal Lewis, Balt. (2003)
2053 Barry Sanders, Det. (1997)
2008 Terrell Davis, Den. (1998)
2003 O.J. Simpson, Buff. (1973)
1934 Earl Campbell, Hou. (1980)
1883 Ahman Green, G.B. (2003)
1883 Barry Sanders, Det. (1994)
1880 Shaun Alexander, Sea. (2005)
1872 Chris Johnson, Tenn. (2009)
1863 Jim Brown, Clev. (1963)
1860 Tiki Barber, NYG (2005)
1853 Ricky Williams, Mia. (2002)
1852 Walter Payton, Chi. (1977)
1846 Jamal Anderson, Atl. (1998)
1821 Eric Dickerson, Rams (1986)
1817 O.J. Simpson, Buff. (1975)
1815 LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. (2006)
1808 Eric Dickerson, Rams (1983)
—Ian Allan
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