Tandem Backfields - Good Things Come in Pairs
Brandon Jacobs, RB New York Giants
The "tandem" backfield is as strong as ever!
Last season, 12 clubs boasted two running backs with at least 500 rushing yards apiece, including seven playoff teams -- Baltimore, Carolina, Indianapolis, Miami, the New York Giants, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.
The Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers became the sixth Super Bowl winning team since 2000 to feature two running backs with more than 500 rushing yards each (2007 Giants, 2006 Colts, 2003 Patriots, 2002 Buccaneers, 2000 Ravens) as WILLIE PARKER (791 yards) and MEWELDE MOORE (588) accomplished the feat. In the eight prior seasons, only one such team won the coveted Lombardi Trophy (1996 Packers).
The NFC East champion Giants became just the fourth team in NFL history to feature two 1,000-yard backs in the same season. BRANDON JACOBS and DERRICK WARD rushed for 1,089 and 1,025 yards, respectively, as New York boasted the top rushing attack in the NFL at 157.4 yards per game.
"It's such a long season," says Giants general manager JERRY REESE. "If you have a couple of pretty good running backs it always helps."
Ward, who signed with the Buccaneers in the offseason, led the NFL with 5.6 yards per carry, beating out NFL touchdown leader and Panthers running back DE ANGELO WILLIAMS for the crown.
Williams, who set a franchise record with 1,515 rushing yards, teamed in the Carolina backfield with rookie JONATHAN STEWART (right), who set a franchise rookie record with 836 rushing yards, to form one of the most vaunted tandems in the NFL. Williams and Stewart combined for 2,351 rushing yards in the regular season, the best by any backfield duo since 1984.
"The tandem they have is probably the best in the league," says New Orleans linebacker SCOTT FUJITA.
TEAMS WITH TWO 1,000-YARD RUNNING BACKS IN SAME SEASON
| Season | Team | Tandem Backfield | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source: National Football League | ||||
| 1985 | Cleveland Browns | Kevin Mack (1,104), Earnest Byner (1,002) | ||
| 1972 | Miami Dolphins | Larry Csonka (1,117), Mercury Morris (1,000) | ||
| 1976 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Franco Harris (1,128), Rocky Bleier (1,036) | ||
| 2008 | New York Giants | Brandon Jacobs (1,089), Derrick Ward (1,025) | ||
Teams that employed two running backs with at least 500 rushing yards apiece in 2008
| Team | Running Backs with 500+ Yards | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source: National Football League | ||||
| Baltimore Ravens | Le'Ron McClain (902), Willis McGahee (671) | |||
| Buffalo Bills | Marshawn Lynch (1,036), Fred Jackson (571) | |||
| Carolina Panthers | DeAngelo Williams (1,515), Jonathan Stewart (836) | |||
| Indianapolis Colts | Joseph Addai (544), Dominic Rhodes (538) | |||
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Maurice Jones-Drew (824), Fred Taylor (556) | |||
| Miami Dolphins | Ronnie Brown (916), Ricky Williams (659) | |||
| New England Patriots | Sammy Morris (727), Kevin Faulk (507) | |||
| New York Giants | Brandon Jacobs (1,089), Derrick Ward (1,025) | |||
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Willie Parker (791), Mewelde Moore (588) | |||
| Seattle Seahawks | Julius Jones (698), Maurice Morris (574) | |||
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Warrick Dunn (786), Earnest Graham (563) | |||
| Tennessee Titans | Chris Johnson (1,228), LenDale White (773) | |||
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