Luggin\' The Leather

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by TJ Troup
Coach and Author

How many times have we heard a coach say how important it is to run the ball successfully
during a game? With those words in minds, let us use the 100-yard individual rusher as
our benchmark. And see how often we win? We can see that historically, in the National
Football League, that the winning percentage will vary between 62 and 86% (depending on
which team). Every team at one time or another has had a successful ground attack. Which
teams have consistently won when they have had a 100-yard rusher?

Each era has had at least one team that has won consistently when they had a 100 yard
rusher. The Cleveland Browns for their first twenty years in the NFL (1950-69) were that
era’s best team. Cleveland’s record with a 100-yard rusher was an incredible 86-12-2
(86%).

The Steelers have had a 100-yard rusher in more victories than any other team in league
history with 173. The 2005 Super bowl champions won all six times during the 2005 season
when they had a 100 yard rusher. And, historically when a Steeler rushes for 100 yards
they win 83.57% of the time. When they do not, they win only 43.42% of the time; this is
the largest differential of all 32 teams.

The Rams are the team with the most individual 100-yard rushing performances in a game.
They have had 220, and nine times a Ram duo has gained 100 yards rushing in the same
game. Further, the last 39 times a Ram has rushed for 100 yards in a game, the Rams have
won. That streak is the longest winning streak in league history.

From September 7, 1963 through October 28, 1985 (a span of 331 games) the record for the
men in Silver & Black when they have had a 100-yard rusher was, hold your breath, 59-1.
The Raiders rank a close second in running the ball and winning.

There have been many successful coaches who are linked with running the ball. Two of the
most successful were Vince Lombardi and Don Shula. The highest win percentage for coaches
with a 100-yard rusher is the author of “Run To Daylight.” Under Lombardi, the
Packers record when having a 100-yard rusher was 31-2-1.

Practicing on a daily basis as a rookie defensive back with the Cleveland Browns in 1951
against the defending league rushing champion Marion Motley was a lesson that Don Shula
utilized as a head coach. He was first with the Baltimore Colts and later with the Miami
Dolphins. Miami has continued after the retirement of Shula to have an effective running
game. As such, the Dolphins stand by themselves at the top of the charts. Overall, the
Dolphins have 98 wins and only 16 losses when they have a 100-yard rusher.

The Redskins have also had a history of successfully running the ball. Though at one
point in their history during a 136 game span (November 8, 1959 through October 12, 1969)
the Redskins had only two men rush for over 100 yards. The Washington franchise rebounded
under Hall of Fame coaches George Allen and Joe Gibbs to win 55 of 63 games (87.3%) when
a Redskin rushed for 100 yards under their leadership.

Only five times in their first 118 games did a Denver Bronco rush for 100 yards. Since
then, the Broncos have had great success in running the ball and winning. Denver ranking
seventh in win percentage when having a 100-yard rusher. The Broncos have accomplished
this with a number of different men.

Each year every team’s goal for the season is to play for a championship. It was 50
years ago during the 1956 season that the Chicago Bears met every team goal. The Bears
are the only team in league history to have a 100-yard rusher in every regular season
victory and play for the championship.

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