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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IRVING, TX – JANUARY 23: Running back Emmitt Smith #22 of the Dallas Cowboys runs upfield against the San Francisco 49ers at Texas Stadium in the 1994 NFC Championship Game on January 23, 1993 in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers 38-21. (Photo by James Smith/Getty Images)
IRVING, TX – JANUARY 23: Running back Emmitt Smith #22 of the Dallas Cowboys runs upfield against the San Francisco 49ers at Texas Stadium in the 1994 NFC Championship Game on January 23, 1993 in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the 49ers 38-21. (Photo by James Smith/Getty Images) /

Dallas Cowboys: Emmitt Smith (1993)

Considering how the 1993 season began for the NFL’s all-time rushing leader, who would have thought he would enjoy this impressive of a campaign?

Emmitt Smith had led the NFL in rushing yards the previous two seasons. However, he was looking for a substantial raise. Eventually, the parties came to an agreement, but not before the reigning Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys had dug themselves a 0-2 hole without him.

He would embark on a season in which he ran for 1,486 yards and nine scores in the final 14 games. Late in the first half of a Week 18 clash with the Giants, Smith suffered a shoulder separation. He barely missed any time and finished the game with 168 yards on 32 carries. He also caught 10 passes for 61 yards and a score in the overtime win. Smith would lead the league in rushing for a third consecutive year and was named NFL MVP.

When the playoffs arrived, he got better as time wore on. He ran just 13 times for 60 yards in a 27-17 conquest of the Packers. He added 23 attempts for 88 yards and one TD (he also caught a touchdown pass) in the 38-21 win over the 49ers in the NFC title game. In Super Bowl XXVIII at Atlanta, he rushed for 132 yards and a pair of scores on 30 carries and earned game MVP honors in Dallas’ 30-13 victory.

Next: Denver Broncos

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