Thanks to the Cardinals’ uncooperative defense in Week 9, DeMarco Murray’s quest to be the first NFL back to rush for 100 yards in every game of a season has been quashed. That said, 100 yards — as nice and round a number as it is — is still just a number. Would it surprise you to learn that no back has rushed for even 75 yards in all of his team’s games? I mention this because the Cowboys’ Murray had 79 against Arizona, so the feat is still within reach.

Indeed, only two other backs have gotten as far as DeMarco has — 75-plus rushing yards in each of the first 10 games. They are: Terrell Davis with the 1997 Broncos and Edgerrin James with the 2005 Colts. (Jim Brown, O.J. Simpson and Eric Dickerson didn’t even do it the years they broke the single-season rushing record.)

Sure, 75 yards is as arbitrary as 100, but it might be considered, at the very least, a “quality start.” Gaining that many yards week in and week out shows a fairly high level of consistency, does it not? Here are the backs who’ve come closest to doing it in every game of a season:

MOST GAMES WITH 75 OR MORE RUSHING YARDS, SEASON

[table width= “400px”]

Year,Running back\, Team,75+,Low Game

2004,Corey Dillon\, Patriots,15,79 vs. Bills

2011,Maurice Jones-Drew\, Jaguars,15,63 vs. Texans

2012,Adrian Peterson\, Vikings,15,60 vs. Colts

2008,Adrian Peterson\, Vikings,15,32 vs. Saints

2003,Jamal Lewis\, Ravens,14,68 vs. Jaguars

1985,Marcus Allen\, Raiders,14,50 vs. Chiefs

2012,Alfred Morris\, Redskins,14,47 vs. Vikings

2012,Marshawn Lynch\, Seahawks,14,41 vs. Patriots

1984,Eric Dickerson\, Rams,14,38 vs. 49ers

1983,Eric Dickerson\, Rams,14,37 vs. Redskins

2009,Chris Johnson\, Titans,14,34 vs. Colts

1992,Barry Foster\, Steelers,14,25 vs. Bears

1997,Barry Sanders\, Lions,14,20 vs. Bucs

1973,O.J. Simpson\, Bills,13*,55 vs. Dolphins

[/table]

*14- game season (so only once did he fall below the 75-yard threshold).

If you’re confused by Dillon’s line, let me explain: He missed a game that season. In the other 15, he rushed for 75 or more yards (gaining, on his worst day, 79 against Buffalo in Week 3. So he rushed for 75+ in every one of his games but not in every one of New England’s games.

Regardless, it’s an impressive accomplishment. Consider: The Patriots went 17-1 (postseason included) in the games Dillon played, capped by their Super Bowl win over the Eagles. And in the one they lost — 29-28 to the Dolphins — they blew an 11-point lead in the last three minutes. That’s how close he came to a perfect season. You’d have to think his utter reliability had something to do with it.

Source: pro-football-reference.com