The Top 10 Greatest NFL Rushing Performances of All Time
By Erik Lambert
The greatest NFL rushing performances are something the league has done their best to make outdated in this overwhelmingly pass-happy era.
Yet the essence of football never changes. One must tackle the guy with the football in his hands in order to win. That means running the ball will always have a place, leaving the door wide open for epic nights where the running back cannot and will not be stopped. Plenty of fans enjoy still seeing such moments unless of course they cheer for the team getting railroaded.
That leads to an interesting question. In the vast archives of NFL history, what would be considered the best games ever had by a running back? That is what this list will be all about. Finding those performances that were not just gaudy in terms of stats, but also timely in terms of helping their team and also measured against the quality of opponent.
#10: Derrick Henry vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (2018)
The latest addition to the list. In this modern era of passing the football, most people think there isn’t a place for a big back like Derrick Henry. Somebody who’s not overly athletic as a pass catcher. His game is to get fed the rock and let him wear down a defense. Not many teams have the patience to do something like that these days. However, against a solid defense like the Jaguars, they knew he would be needed. Suffice to say he answered the bell.
Jacksonville loved to boast up and down how good their defense is but it’s disappointed a lot in 2018 and Thursday night in Nashville was unquestionably their rock bottom. Henry gashed them for 238 yards with four touchdowns on the night. This included 99-yard run in the second quarter that tied the NFL record held by Hall of Fame great Tony Dorsett. Pretty good company to keep and a game that kept his team in the playoff hunt.