Fansided

Every NFL team’s greatest rushing season of all time

By Russell S. Baxter

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 23: Running back Eric Dickerson #29 of the Los Angeles Rams runs with the football during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals as rain falls at Riverfront Stadium on September 23, 1984 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Rams defeated the Bengals 24-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 23: Running back Eric Dickerson #29 of the Los Angeles Rams runs with the football during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals as rain falls at Riverfront Stadium on September 23, 1984 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Rams defeated the Bengals 24-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – CIRCA 1985: Marcus Allen #32 of the Los Angeles Raiders carries the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game circa 1985 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Allen played for the Raiders from 1982-92. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – CIRCA 1985: Marcus Allen #32 of the Los Angeles Raiders carries the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game circa 1985 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Allen played for the Raiders from 1982-92. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Las Vegas Raiders: Marcus Allen (1985)

In 2022, Las Vegas Raiders’ running back Josh Jacobs totaled 1,653 yards on 340 carries (12 touchdowns) and earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro accolades. He became the first member of the Silver and Black to lead the league in rushing yards since Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen in 1985.

There was plenty to like about Allen in 1983, who had earned All-Pro honors as a rookie during the ’82 strike-shortened year. In his second NFL season, the then-Los Angeles Raiders would win the AFC West with a 12-4 record and steamrolled the Steelers, Seahawks and Washington in the playoffs in capturing Super Bowl XVIII.

Allen would run for a combined 466 yards and four scores in those three contests and won Super Bowl MVP honors. It was quite a performance considering he ran for only 1,014 yards during the regular season.

Back to 1985 when Allen was a real workhorse. He totaled 380 carries (17th most in NFL history) and totaled an NFL-best 1,759 yards rushing. He ran for 100 or more yards in each of his last nine games and 11 times overall. He added 121 yards and one score on 22 carries in the divisional playoffs, but the mistake-prone Raiders fell at home to the wild-card Patriots, 27-20.

Next: Los Angeles Chargers

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