WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Last year Adrian Peterson became the seventh NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. If history is a guide, it will be difficult for Peterson to duplicate his 2012 season.
1. ERIC DICKERSON, Rams
19841985
Games1614
Attempts379292
TDs1412
Per carry5.64.2
Per game131.688.1
Dickerson missed first two games of 1985 in a contract dispute; he rebounded to gain 1,821 yards in 1986.
2. ADRIAN PETERSON, Vikings
20122013
Games16- Attempts348-
TDs12-
Per carry6.0-
Per game131.1-
Peterson set an NFL record for most rushing yards in a month when he piled up 861 last December.
3. JAMAL LEWIS, Ravens
20032004
Games1612
Attempts387235
TDs147
Per carry5.34.3
Per game129.183.8
Lewis served a two-game suspension in 2004 for a drug-related conviction related to an incident four years earlier.
4. BARRY SANDERS, Lions
19971998
Games1616
Attempts335343
TDs114
Per carry6.14.3
Per game128.393.2
Sanders retired abruptly after the 1998 season.
5. TERRELL DAVIS, Broncos
19981999
Games164
Attempts39267
TDs212
Per carry5.13.1
Per game125.552.8
Davis tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in the fourth game in 1999 and never ran for 1,000 yards in a season again.
6. CHRIS JOHNSON, Titans
20092010
Games1616
Attempts358316
TDs1411
Per carry5.64.3
Per game125.485.3
Johnson set the NFL record in 2009 for most yards from scrimmage (rushing and receiving) with 2,509.
7. O.J. SIMPSON, Bills
19731974
Games1414
Attempts332270
TDs123
Per carry6.04.2
Per game143.180.4
"The Juice" is the only player to rush for 2,000 yards in a 14-game season. Teams started playing 16 in 1978.