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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 32
Next
BALTIMORE – NOVEMBER 30: Jamal Lewis #31 of the Baltimore Ravens splits the San Francisco 49ers defense to rush for a first down on November 30, 2003 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE – NOVEMBER 30: Jamal Lewis #31 of the Baltimore Ravens splits the San Francisco 49ers defense to rush for a first down on November 30, 2003 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

Baltimore Ravens: Jamal Lewis (2003)

In 2019, the franchise saw quarterback Lamar Jackson (1,206) and running back Mark Ingram (1,018) both hit the 1,000-yard rushing mark in the same season. It was the seventh time and the last occurrence in NFL annals that teammates ran for 1,000-plus yards in the same season.

That season, Jackson (whose total is the most by a quarterback in a season in league annals) was not only the league’s MVP but the Baltimore Ravens set a new NFL single-season record for most rushing yards by a team.

Still, it was 20 years ago that the fifth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft joined some rare company. His performance in ‘03 was made even more amazing considering that he missed all of 2001 with a knee injury.

As a rookie in 2000, Lewis was part of a Super Bowl championship team as he ran for 1,364 yards and six scores. He bounced back in ‘02 one year after the aforementioned injury and ran for 1,327 yards and six TDs and obviously just getting warmed up.

In 2003, he was a 16-game starter who rolled up 387 carries for 2,066 yards and 14 touchdowns. That included a 295-yard outing in Week 2 vs. the visiting Browns that set a new single-game record (until Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson ran for 296 yards vs. the Chargers in 2007).

All told, Lewis’ 2003 showing earned him Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.

Next: Buffalo Bills

Home/NFL