1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

NFL Network Top Rushing Season of All-time? How do they get away with this?

Discussion in 'Other NFL' started by Da 'Fins, Aug 19, 2011.

  1. Da 'Fins

    Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

    34,739
    47,801
    113
    Dec 19, 2007
    Birmingham, AL
    Just watching this on NFL Network and they have Eric Dickerson as the best rushing season of all-time, because of his 2105 yards in 16 games.

    Just as ridiculous an analysis as there is. While they note O.J. Simpson's 2003 yards in 1973 as the first to crack the 2000 barrier, they never once mention that Simpson did this in only 14 games. What is that all about?

    Simpson averaged 143.1 yds per game and a 6.0 avg. per carry.

    Dickerson averaged 131.6 yds per game and a 5.6 avg. per carry.

    Even if Simpson were to go up against the Dolphins vaunted defense in two extra games, based on his avg. per game against the Dolphins that year, he'd still hammer Dickerson's record. He had 175 yds. in two games against Miami that year (which would give him 2178 for the season). Or, give him his worst game of the seasons (55 yds. against Miami at Miami that yr) and he still beats Dickerson and still gets a better avg. per carry. If one extrapolated Simpson's average, he'd have 2289 in a 16 game stretch. By what stretch of the imagination do they argue 2105 is better than 2289?

    Suppose they went to a 19 game season and a QB throws for 51 TD's - will that really be "better" than Marino, Manning or Brady? Of course not.

    In fact, Dickerson's season was not even the second best season, as Jim Brown's 1963 season was better and arguably as good as any if not the most prolific. In 14 games Brown rushed for 1863 yds. with a 6.4 avg. and 133.1 per game (which, extrapolated to 16, would put him over the top of Dickerson).

    Perhaps another measure of greatness is how other top RB's performed relative to these league leaders (to get a picture of the dominance of the player that seasons relative to the rest of the league).

    In Dickerson's year, six other rushers averaged more than 85 yards per game, with Walter Payton, James Wilder and Gerald Riggs all averaging over 95 yards/game. Walter Payton had 1684 yards (80% of Dickerson's total) (not far behind: Wilder, 1544; Riggs, 1486).

    In Simpson's great year, one back averaged over 85 yards per game (McCutcheon at 91 in 12 games), and only three total over 80 per game. His closest competition for the rushing title was John Brockington who had 1144 total yards (57% of Simpson's total). Much more dominant than Dickerson relative to the league.

    In Brown's big year, the closest competition was Jim Taylor who was the only other rusher with over 1000 yards (1018, 55% of Brown's total) and he averaged 78.3 yards per game.

    Dickerson's best season was simply not nearly as dominant as the other two, and by a slight edge, Brown's season was easily the most dominant season for a running back in NFL history. Simpson's however, was statistically the best.
     
    Clark Kent and HugeFinFan like this.

Share This Page