NFL Week 2 Top Performances
Posted: Tuesday September 15, 1998 12:37 PM
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The Lions prove once again that they can find a way to lose despite the efforts of Barry Sanders AP |
No need to panic. All is right in the world of football. The league's top running backs, quieted in the first week of the season, returned with a vengeance Sunday with the multi-touchdown, 150-yard games you've come to expect.
When last year's top three rushers -- Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis and Jerome Bettis -- were all held under 100 yards last week, it was the first time that had happened since December 1996. The three came back Sunday for a combined 507 yards on Sunday.
So our top three awards are swept by tailbacks this week -- no quarterback in the league threw for more than two TDs until Steve Young's Monday night romp, and only one receiver (Cincinnati's Darnay Scott) caught more than one. With that, we keep it on the ground for this week's honors.
Offensive Outburst Award
Terrell Davis had his fourth-best career performance with 191 yards AP | |
Minnesota tailback Robert Smith set a career-high with 179 yards on Sunday, with nearly half coming on a 74-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of the Vikings' 38-31 win over Rams. Smith also scored a 24-yard touchdown on the game's opening drive.
The run wasn't the longest of Smith's career -- he had a 78-yard scoring run last season. Before the season is over, Smith may have the team single-game record, held by Chuck Foreman, who rushed for 200 yards in a 1976 game. He already set the Vikings season rushing mark last season when he finished with 1,266 yards.
Top Ground Gainer Award
Denver's Terrell Davis, held to 75 yards last week, had that covered and then some on two consecutive runs -- touchdowns of 59 and 63 yards in the first quarter of the Broncos' 42-23 win over Dallas. Davis didn't have to do much after that -- his 3-yard score in the fourth quarter sealed a 2-0 start for the Super Bowl champs, and his 191 yards is the fourth-highest total of his career. The last time Davis faced the Cowboys was his second NFL game in 1995, when he rushed for 61 yards in a losing effort. A lot's changed since then.
Losing Effort Award
Detroit's Barry Sanders could have won either of the above awards, but since he plays with Scott Mitchell, he's stuck with this award after the Lions' 34-28 overtime loss to Cincinnati. Sanders rushed for 185 yards -- still just the eighth-best performance of his career. In case you're wondering, Sanders has just six of the Lions' top 10 all-time rushing performances. Sanders has all four of Detroit's 200-yard days, but joining him after that are Bob Hoernschemeyer (198 yards, 1950), Mel Farr (197, 1967), Dutch Clark (194, 1934) and Billy Sims (189, 1983).
Top Rushing Performances
Terrell Davis, Broncos, 23 rushes, 191 yards
Barry Sanders, Lions, 26 rushes, 185 yards
Robert Smith, Vikings, 23 rushes, 179 yards
Napoleon Kaufman, Raiders, 20 rushes, 139 yards
Garrison Hearst, Redskins, 22 rushes, 138 yards
Jerome Bettis, Steelers, 21 rushes, 131 yards
Marshall Faulk, Colts, 29 rushes, 127 yards
Ricky Watters, Seahawsk, 22 rushes, 105 yards
James Stewart, Jaguars, 26 rushes, 103 yards
Fred Lane, Panthers, 18 rushes, 100 yards
Top Passing Performances
Steve Young, 49ers, 21-32, 0 INT, 3 TD, 303 yards
Neil O'Donnell, Bengals, 25-36, 0 INT, 2 TD, 303 yards
Jeff George, Raiders, 25-44, 0 INT, 1 TD, 303 yards
Tony Banks, Rams, 25-45, 4 INT, 1 TD, 283 yards
John Elway, Broncos, 16-22, 0 INT, 2 TD, 268 yards
Rich Gannon, Chiefs, 23-37, 0 INT, 0 TD, 263 yards
Kerry Collins, Panthers, 15-34, 1 INT, 1 TD, 251 yards
Glenn Foley, Jets, 22-32, 3 INT, 1 TD, 247 yards
Brett Favre, Packers, 22-33, 0 INT, 2 TD, 237 yards
Bobby Hoying, Eagles, 24-35, 0 INT, 0 TD, 232 yards
Top Receiving Performances
Isaac Bruce, Rams, 11 catches for 192 yards
Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers, 9 catches for 192 yards
Darnay Scott, Bengals, 5 catches for 130 yards
Tim Brown, Raiders, 6 catches for 127 yards
Ed McCaffrey, Broncos, 5 catches for 117 yards
Sean Dawkins, Saints, 5 catches for 110 yards
Michael Westbrook, Redskins, 5 catches for 109 yards
Shannon Sharpe, Broncos, 6 catches for 97 yards
Wayne Chrebet, Jets, 6 catches for 91 yards
Randy Moss, Vikings, 6 catches for 89 yards
Tony Martin, Falcons, 4 catches for 88 yards
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