Dallas Cowboys DeMarco Murray Rushing for History
The Dallas Cowboys have been blessed with elite running backs in their history. When names like Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett hang in the Ring of Honor, it’s hard to imagine anyone overshadowing the seasons that were amassed in Big D.
Then walks in running back DeMarco Murray. Coming into the 2014 season, uncertainty and a contract year hung over the head of the Cowboys featured back. Murray produced while on the field, but he big question remained– can he stay healthy?
Coming into the Cowboys bye week in the 11th week of the season, number 29 has stayed out of the trainer’s room and is finding himself in the record books. After the first seven games, Murray is holding Jim Brown’s previous record of consecutive games with 100 yards on the ground. He later would extend that streak to eight games. Now with six games left on the season, Murray will set his sights to a more lofty goal– the single season rushing record.
The current single season rushing record belongs to Eric Dickerson who ran for 2,105 yards in his 1984 campaign with the Los Angeles Rams. At the present, Murray sits at 1,233 yards through 10 games.
Let’s make some assumptions from the stats. If Murray runs for his season average (123.3 yards) in every remaining game, he will end the season with 1,972.8 yards, which would pass up Earl Campbell (1,934) for eighth all-time.
Looking at the remaining games, the Cowboys will face the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles twice, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington. If their star back runs for the average rushing total that each team gives up per game, 1,929.2 yards on the season, leaving him 9th all time ahead of Barry Sanders (1,883).
Murray must average 146 yards a game to top Dickerson, however, only needing to average 91 yards in the remaining games, Smith’s franchise record of 1,773 still looks ripe for the picking.
A record-setting season may be unlikely, but it’s still possible. Although he is putting up a colossal season, Murray’s attention is likely on the scoreboard rather than the record book. After his streak of consecutive 100 yard games was snapped, he was asked what the record meant to him– his response,
“Nothing. Just worry about winning…”
At 7-3, I’d say he’s doing a pretty good job.
