Pass, pass, pass, it's all we hear about anymore.
I bet the vast majority of football fans could not tell me how many players have rushed for over 1,000 yards in a single season since the year 2000. Well, I can answer that for you.
There have been 87 players that have rushed for over 1,000 yards 210 times since the start of the year 2000.
Running back by committee seems to be a popular concept in the NFL now, and that might detract yards from a running back that would carry the load. Three teams have had two players gain over 1,000 yards on the ground in the same year since the start of 2000, The New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, and Carolina Panthers.
In 2009, the Panthers had DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart both gain over 1,000 yards. In 2008 the Giants had Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs both break the 1,000 yard barrier, and in 2006, the Falcons had Warrick Dunn and Michael Vick do it.
Michael Vick is the only quarterback in the NFL to rush for over 1,000 yards since the start of the 2000 season, and only once, in 2006.
Look for Cam Newton in the future. In his rookie year last season, he ran for 706 yards and 14 TDs on 126 attempts, an average of 5.6 yards per carry. I think the only way Newton doesn't break the 1,000 yard barrier in the future is if the Panthers tell him not to run as much. In 2006, when Vick ran for over 1,000 yards, he only carried the ball 123 times and had a rushing average of 8.4 yards per carry.
On the bottom of the spectrum, there are a few teams that stand out. The Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions have all had players with over 1,000 yards rushing three times since the start of the 2000 season, and each team has had two different players eclipse the 1,000 yard mark.
I didn't have to look hard to see the tie-breaker here, the Detroit Lions are the only team in the NFL without a 1,000 yard rusher since the start of the 2005 season.
All of those are cool facts, but not what this is about.
The object of this article is simple, what team is the most prolific running team in the NFL since the year 2000? Well, looking at the data, one must determine the factors that make a team a prolific running team. Obviously, having a player rush for over 1,000 yards every season is nice, but what if that is just because the player is that talented?
So, I'll define prolific running team in two categories, the most 1,000 yard seasons since the year 2000, and the most players to do it for one team since the year 2000. I think that is a strong indicator of a great offensive line.
Most 1,000 yard season performances:
Two teams have had players rush for over 1,000 yards TEN TIMES since the year 2000, the New York Giants and the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have had five different players rush for over 1,000 yards in that span, while the Giants have had 4 different players do it in that span.
Tiki Barber had six seasons in a row with over 1,000 yards rushing for the Giants, Brandon Jacobs twice, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw once.
The Titans have had Eddie George rush for over 1,000 yards three times, Chris Johnson four times, LenDale White, Travis Henry, and Chris Brown did it one time.
I'm going to give this one to the Tennessee Titans, an excellent running team with a solid run blocking offensive line.
Team with the most different players over 1,000 yards:
Since the start of the 2000 season, two different teams have had five different players rush for over 1,000 yards. Yep, the Titans are one of those teams.
The Denver Broncos have had five different players rush for over 1,000 yards since the start of the 2000 season.
Another tie?
The Broncos have had 7 seasons in which a player ran for over 1,000 yards, the Titans have had 10.
There are lots of other things I could look at, like rushing attempts per season Vs. rushing average, but just looking at those two areas, the Tennessee Titans are the most prolific running team in the NFL since the start of the 2000 season.
I have included a list of every team, the players that ran for over 1,000 yards, and the years they did it in. This list is not in order of best to worst, but it's close to that.
New York Giants
2000 Tiki Barber RB 1,006
2002 Tiki Barber RB 1,387
2003 Tiki Barber RB 1,216
2004 Tiki Barber RB 1,518
2005 Tiki Barber RB 1,860
2006 Tiki Barber RB 1,662
2007 Brandon Jacobs RB 1,009
2008 Derrick Ward RB 1,025
2008 Brandon Jacobs RB 1,089
2010 Ahmad Bradshaw RB 1,235
Tennessee Titans
2000 Eddie George RB 1,509
2002 Eddie George RB 1,165
2003 Eddie George RB 1,031
2004 Chris Brown RB 1,067
2006 Travis Henry RB 1,211
2007 LenDale White RB 1,110
2008 Chris Johnson RB 1,228
2009 Chris Johnson RB 2,006
2010 Chris Johnson RB 1,364
2011 Chris Johnson RB 1,047
Baltimore Ravens
2000 Jamal Lewis RB 1,364
2002 Jamal Lewis RB 1,327
2003 Jamal Lewis RB 2,066
2004 Jamal Lewis RB 1,006
2006 Jamal Lewis RB 1,132
2007 Willis McGahee RB 1,207
2009 Ray Rice RB 1,339
2010 Ray Rice RB 1,220
2011 Ray Rice RB 1,364
Cincinnati Bengals
2000 Corey Dillon HB 1,435
2001 Corey Dillon HB 1,315
2002 Corey Dillon RB 1,311
2004 Rudi Johnson RB 1,454
2005 Rudi Johnson RB 1,458
2006 Rudi Johnson RB 1,309
2009 Cedric Benson RB 1,251
2010 Cedric Benson RB 1,111
2011 Cedric Benson RB 1,067
Jacksonville Jaguars
2000 Fred Taylor RB 1,399
2002 Fred Taylor RB 1,314
2003 Fred Taylor RB 1,572
2004 Fred Taylor RB 1,224
2006 Fred Taylor RB 1,146
2007 Fred Taylor RB 1,202
2009 Maurice Jones-Drew RB 1,391
2010 Maurice Jones-Drew RB 1,324
2011 Maurice Jones-Drew RB 1,606
New York Jets
2000 Curtis Martin RB 1,204
2001 Curtis Martin RB 1,513
2002 Curtis Martin RB 1,094
2003 Curtis Martin RB 1,308
2004 Curtis Martin RB 1,697
2007 Thomas Jones RB 1,119
2008 Thomas Jones RB 1,312
2009 Thomas Jones RB 1,402
2011 Shonn Greene RB 1,054
San Diego Chargers
2001 LaDainian Tomlinson RB 1,236
2002 LaDainian Tomlinson RB 1,683
2003 LaDainian Tomlinson RB 1,645
2004 LaDainian Tomlinson RB 1,335
2005 LaDainian Tomlinson RB 1,462
2006 LaDainian Tomlinson RB 1,815
2007 LaDainian Tomlinson RB 1,474
2008 LaDainian Tomlinson RB 1,110
2011 Ryan Mathews RB 1,091
St. Louis Rams
2000 Marshall Faulk RB 1,359
2001 Marshall Faulk RB 1,382
2005 Steven Jackson RB 1,046
2006 Steven Jackson RB 1,528
2007 Steven Jackson RB 1,002
2008 Steven Jackson RB 1,042
2009 Steven Jackson RB 1,416
2010 Steven Jackson RB 1,241
2011 Steven Jackson RB 1,145
Atlanta Falcons
2000 Jamal Anderson RB 1,024
2004 Warrick Dunn RB 1,106
2005 Warrick Dunn RB 1,416
2006 Michael Vick QB 1,039
2006 Warrick Dunn RB 1,140
2008 Michael Turner RB 1,699
2010 Michael Turner RB 1,371
2011 Michael Turner RB 1,340
Green Bay Packers
2000 Ahman Green RB 1,175
2001 Ahman Green RB 1,387
2002 Ahman Green RB 1,240
2003 Ahman Green RB 1,883
2004 Ahman Green RB 1,163
2006 Ahman Green RB 1,059
2008 Ryan Grant RB 1,203
2009 Ryan Grant RB 1,253
San Francisco 49ers
2000 Charlie Garner RB 1,142
2001 Garrison Hearst RB 1,206
2003 Kevan Barlow RB 1,024
2006 Frank Gore RB 1,695
2007 Frank Gore RB 1,102
2008 Frank Gore RB 1,036
2009 Frank Gore RB 1,120
2011 Frank Gore RB 1,211
Buffalo Bills
2002 Travis Henry RB 1,438
2003 Travis Henry HB 1,356
2004 Willis McGahee RB 1,128
2005 Willis McGahee RB 1,247
2007 Marshawn Lynch RB 1,115
2008 Marshawn Lynch RB 1,036
2009 Fred Jackson RB 1,062
Chicago Bears
2000 James Allen RB 1,120
2001 Anthony Thomas RB 1,183
2003 Anthony Thomas RB 1,024
2005 Thomas Jones RB 1,335
2006 Thomas Jones RB 1,210
2008 Matt Forte RB 1,238
2010 Matt Forte RB 1,069
Denver Broncos
2000 Mike Anderson RB 1,487
2002 Clinton Portis RB 1,508
2003 Clinton Portis RB 1,591
2004 Reuben Droughns RB 1,240
2005 Mike Anderson RB 1,014
2006 Tatum Bell RB 1,025
2011 Willis McGahee RB 1,199
Indianapolis Colts
2000 Edgerrin James RB 1,709
2001 Dominic Rhodes RB 1,104
2003 Edgerrin James RB 1,259
2004 Edgerrin James RB 1,548
2005 Edgerrin James RB 1,506
2006 Joseph Addai RB 1,081
2007 Joseph Addai RB 1,072
Kansas City Chiefs
2001 Priest Holmes RB 1,555
2002 Priest Holmes RB 1,615
2003 Priest Holmes RB 1,420
2005 Larry Johnson RB 1,750
2006 Larry Johnson RB 1,789
2009 Jamaal Charles RB 1,120
2010 Jamaal Charles RB 1,467
Minnesota Vikings
2000 Robert Smith RB 1,521
2002 Michael Bennett RB 1,296
2006 Chester Taylor RB 1,216
2007 Adrian Peterson RB 1,341
2008 Adrian Peterson RB 1,760
2009 Adrian Peterson RB 1,383
2010 Adrian Peterson RB 1,298
Pittsburgh Steelers
2000 Jerome Bettis HB 1,341
2001 Jerome Bettis RB 1,072
2005 Willie Parker RB 1,202
2006 Willie Parker RB 1,494
2007 Willie Parker RB 1,316
2009 Rashard Mendenhall RB 1,108
2010 Rashard Mendenhall RB 1,273
Seattle Seahawks
2000 Ricky Watters RB 1,242
2001 Shaun Alexander RB 1,318
2002 Shaun Alexander RB 1,175
2003 Shaun Alexander RB 1,435
2004 Shaun Alexander RB 1,696
2005 Shaun Alexander RB 1,880
2011 Marshawn Lynch RB 1,204
Washington Redskins
2000 Stephen Davis RB 1,318
2001 Stephen Davis RB 1,432
2004 Clinton Portis RB 1,315
2005 Clinton Portis RB 1,516
2006 Ladell Betts RB 1,154
2007 Clinton Portis RB 1,262
2008 Clinton Portis RB 1,487
Miami Dolphins
2000 Lamar Smith RB 1,139
2002 Ricky Williams RB 1,853
2003 Ricky Williams RB 1,372
2006 Ronnie Brown RB 1,008
2009 Ricky Williams RB 1,121
2011 Reggie Bush RB 1,086
New Orleans Saints
2000 Ricky Williams RB 1,000
2001 Ricky Williams RB 1,245
2002 Deuce McAllister RB 1,388
2003 Deuce McAllister RB 1,641
2004 Deuce McAllister RB 1,074
2006 Deuce McAllister RB 1,057
Houston Texans
2003 Domanick Williams RB 1,031
2004 Domanick Williams RB 1,188
2008 Steve Slaton RB 1,282
2010 Arian Foster RB 1,616
2011 Arian Foster RB 1,224
Philadelphia Eagles
2002 Duce Staley RB 1,029
2006 Brian Westbrook RB 1,217
2007 Brian Westbrook RB 1,333
2010 LeSean McCoy RB 1,080
2011 LeSean McCoy RB 1,309
Carolina Panthers
2003 Stephen Davis RB 1,444
2008 DeAngelo Williams RB 1,515
2009 DeAngelo Williams RB 1,117
2009 Jonathan Stewart RB 1,133
Cleveland Browns
2005 Reuben Droughns RB 1,232
2007 Jamal Lewis RB 1,304
2008 Jamal Lewis RB 1,002
2010 Peyton Hillis RB 1,177
Oakland Raiders
2000 Tyrone Wheatley RB 1,046
2005 LaMont Jordan RB 1,025
2007 Justin Fargas RB 1,009
2010 Darren McFadden RB 1,157
Arizona Cardinals
2006 Edgerrin James RB 1,1592007 Edgerrin James RB 1,222
2011 Beanie Wells RB 1,047
Dallas Cowboys
2000 Emmitt Smith RB 1,203
2001 Emmitt Smith RB 1,021
2006 Julius Jones RB 1,084
Detroit Lions
2000 James Stewart HB 1,184
2002 James Stewart HB 1,021
2004 Kevin Jones RB 1,133
New England Patriots
2001 Antowain Smith RB 1,157
2004 Corey Dillon RB 1,635
2010 BenJarvus Green-EllisRB 1,008
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2000 Warrick Dunn RB 1,133
2005 Cadillac Williams RB 1,178
2010 LeGarrette Blount RB 1,007
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