The Not-So-Great Playoff History of 2,000-Yard Rushers
Despite impressive seasons, 2,000-yard rushers often struggle in the playoffs, raising questions about their postseason success.
Saquon Barkley, NFL, Playoffs, 2,000-Yard Rushers, Jalen Hurts, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Adrian Peterson, Derrick Henry, Terrell Davis
Philadelphia: So, Saquon Barkley just hit that 2,000-yard rushing mark, right? That’s a big deal! He’s now in a club with legends like Eric Dickerson and Barry Sanders. But here’s the kicker: just because he rushed for all those yards doesn’t mean his team will go far in the playoffs.
It’s kind of wild when you look at the history. Since O.J. Simpson broke the 2,000-yard barrier back in ’73, only a handful of guys have done it. And guess what? Most of them didn’t have much playoff success. Like, two of them didn’t even make the playoffs at all!
Out of the six who did make it, five lost their first playoff game. Take Eric Dickerson, for example. He rushed for over 2,100 yards in ’84 but lost in the wild card round. And then there’s Adrian Peterson, who was a beast in 2012 but got shut down by the Packers in the playoffs.
Even Jamal Lewis, who hit 2,000 yards in 2003, couldn’t get it done against the Titans. He only managed 35 yards in that game! And Barry Sanders? He had a great regular season but got held to just 65 yards in the playoffs against the Bucs.
Now, the only guy who really turned it around was Terrell Davis. He not only rushed for 2,000 yards but also helped his team win the Super Bowl. But he had John Elway throwing the ball, which made a huge difference.
So, while Barkley’s season is impressive, it’s a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to playoff success for 2,000-yard rushers. Luckily for him, he’s got Jalen Hurts, who’s way better than some of those other quarterbacks. Let’s see how it all plays out!