Who was the better running back?

[djboos22]

Jamal Lewis - 2066 yard season, 295 yard game, SB, OPY, 12,000 total yards.

Or

Shaun Alexander - 27 rushing touchdowns in a season, 5 tds in one half, MVP, 112 total career tds

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[RussianRacket]

Alexander and it is not even close.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

I think it is close, but it's Alexander. They both stunk in the playoffs, oddly. Less than 3.5 YPC.

 

[djboos22]

I think it’s close too. Two completely different styles.

Alexander had his line and a better team. Jamal had to do it with no QB or other offense. But Alexander could find the end zone man.

I go back and forth and I love the RBs in the 2000s. Edge was my favorite.

 

[djboos22]

Jamal ran so angry and was virtually the only offense on that SB winning Ravens team.

However, if I had to pick now I would go with Alexander. He was elusive and could find the endzone with ease. That 5 td game was insane.

 

[Evincar]

Lewis. Alexander had the better peak but Lewis makes up for it with more productive seasons, even though he missed all of his 2nd season due to injury.

 

[djboos22]

Lewis. Alexander had the better peak but Lewis makes up for it with more productive seasons, even though he missed all of his 2nd season due to injury.

O-Line aside (Lewis still had Ogden), Alexander still had 50 more career touchdowns than Lewis.

 

[Evincar]

O-Line aside (Lewis still had Ogden), Alexander still had 50 more career touchdowns than Lewis.

Scoring TDs isnt necessarily an indicator of skill as much as it is a byproduct of the quality of the offense as well as how a RB is used. Melvin Gordon is a good example of this.

 

[djboos22]

Scoring TDs isnt necessarily an indicator of skill as much as it is a byproduct of the quality of the offense as well as how a RB is used. Melvin Gordon is a good example of this.

I agree, but when you are one of only eight rbs in the history of the NFL with 100 rushing tds, that means something as far as the player goes. Gordon has 36 tds in 5 years...Alexander had 87 tds in a 5 year stretch. You can’t compare them.

Let’s not forget in 05 Seattle’s leading receiver was Bobby Engram with 778 yards.