Milestones
Each Wednesday throughout the 2005 NFL season, Profootballhof.com examines a current NFL record.
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Sam Cunningham |
In 1972, the undefeated Miami Dolphins, fueled by Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka, Larry Kiick, and Eugene “Mercury” Morris, eclipsed the previous NFL mark which has been set by the Detroit Lions nearly four decades earlier.
The Dolphins rushing total didn’t stand up for long. The following season, with much help from O.J. Simpson’s record 2,003 yards (since broken), the Buffalo Bills became the first NFL team to total more than 3,000 yards on the ground in a single year.
Five seasons later, the 1978 New England Patriots set the new league record, one that still stands today. Interestingly, the Patriots did not feature a 1,000-yard runner. Rather the team shared the rushing duties with five different players who carried the ball more than 75 times that year.
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1978 New England Patriots - Rushing
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| Player |
No.
|
Yds.
|
Lg
|
TD
|
| Sam Cunningham |
199
|
768
|
52t
|
8
|
| Horace Ivory |
141
|
693
|
28
|
11
|
| Andy Johnson |
147
|
675
|
52
|
3
|
| Steve Grogan |
81
|
539
|
31
|
5
|
| Don Calhoun |
76
|
391
|
73
|
1
|
| James McAlister |
19
|
77
|
16
|
2
|
| Stanley Morgan |
2
|
11
|
6
|
0
|
| Harold Jackson |
1
|
7
|
7
|
0
|
| Mosi Tatupu |
3
|
6
|
3
|
0
|
| Jerrel Wilson |
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Don Westbrook |
1
|
-2
|
-2
|
0
|
| Total |
671
|
3,165
|
30
|
|
Progression of a Record – Most Yards Gained Rushing, Season
3,165 yards – New England Patriots, 1978
3,088 yards – Buffalo Bills, 1973
2,960 yards – Miami Dolphins, 1972
2,885 yards – Detroit Lions, 1936
2,847 yards – Chicago Bears, 1934
Other Milestones
Tom Dempsey - longest field goal
Jerry Rice - career receptions
Eric Dickerson - rookie rushing mark
New exhibit honors Patriots streak
A new exhibit opened at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in late September that chronicles the New England Patriots’ record winning streak.
HIDDEN TREASURES
In our weekly feature, we pull items from the archives in Canton.