Fansided
Fansided

The Top 10 Greatest NFL Rushing Performances of All Time

By Erik Lambert

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs downfield with the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans runs downfield with the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the fourth quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
9 of 10
Next

#2: O.J. Simpson vs. Detroit Lions (1975)

A lot of people associate O.J. Simpson these days with the tragic criminal trials that marked the later stages of his life. It’s so easy to forget that the man used to be a football player. Not only that but one of the greatest football players in NFL history. Throughout most of the 1970s, it was unquestioned that he was the best running back in football. He’d been the first ever to run for over 2,000 yards in a season in 1973. Yet his best performance didn’t come until three years later.

The Bills were in the midst of a 2-12 season. There wasn’t a lot to play for by year’s end. They had no quarterback and every team was gunning for Simpson. The Detroit Lions were actually a pretty good defensive team in 1976, ranking 9th in the NFL against the run. Simpson then proceeded to show them how irrelevant that was as he raced to a record 273 yards and two touchdowns. The Lions had no answer for him.

Yet it didn’t matter. Buffalo still lost 27-14. Try to imagine how bad it would’ve been if the Bills had managed to complete more than 4-of-21 passes.

Home/Power Rankings