The Viking Ship

Five Interesting Facts About The Minnesota Vikings Running Game

by Mark Peters of http://iqfb.com

The Minnesota Vikings have had some great running backs over the years. These players have played a large role in many of the successes of the team too. Here is a look at five interesting facts about the Minnesota Vikings running game.

But He Didn’t Do It All In Minnesota!

While Robert Smith is the all time career rushing leader for the Vikings with 6,818 yards, he does not hold the record for most career rushing yards by a player drafted by Minnesota. That honor belongs to Terry Allen who from 1991 to 1994 gained 2,795 yards in Minnesota, placing him at 11th all time in team history (right behind Chester Taylor and right ahead of Fran Tarkenton). Allen went on though to play for the Washington Redskins, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and Baltimore Ravens, finishing with 8,614 career rushing yards.

Hey, That’s Not Your Job!

Robert Smith is the all time career rushing leader for the Vikings. Who ranks the highest in career rushing yards among Minnesota receivers though? No receiver ran for more rushing yards for the purple and gold during his career than the great Anthony Carter. Carter carried the ball 47 times for 289 yards and two touchdowns while with the team. His first rushing touchdown came in a 1991 win over the Atlanta Falcons and the second one came a week later in a 1992 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Second on the list of highest rushing Vikings wide receivers is Randy Moss with 23 carries for 159 yards and no touchdowns.

Put A Handle On That Thing!

The record for most fumbles by a Minnesota Vikings running back is 54 and is held by two different players. Bill Brown played with the team from 1962 to 1974. He was moderately successful, including leading the league in rushing attempts in 1966. He was also a decent receiving back as well. Over the course of his time in Minnesota, which covered 12 seasons, he accumulated 54 fumbles. Tommy Mason is the player Brown is tied with, but he took a little different route to the record. While Brown tied the mark over 12 years of play, Mason set the record when his 54 fumbles came in just the six seasons he played with the team. His lowest number of fumbles for one year was the six he put up in 1966, his last year with the team, of course he only started six games that season though. In 1963, he fumbled the ball an amazing 14 times, approximately once every 14 times he touched the ball.

Working Overtime

Only three players in team history have ever carried the ball more than 300 times in one season, and they all did it since the year 2006. In 2006, Chester Taylor set the record for most carries in one season for the team with 303. Adrian Peterson then broke that team record in 2008 by carrying the ball 363 times. The very next season Peterson again broke the mark by carrying the ball 314 times.

Triple Threat Running Backs

Most running backs specialize in carrying the ball, some are also very good receivers, but there are very few that go down in the record books for their throwing ability. Seven Vikings running backs have thrown touchdown passes in team history. Darrin Nelson, Keith Henderson, D.J. Dozier, Chester Taylor, Mewelde Moore, and Tommy Mason each threw one at different times during the past. But one running back in particular stands above those. Alfred Anderson is the only running back to throw two touchdown passes during his time with the team. Both of these were thrown during the 1984 season, the first one came in a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and went for 20 yards and was caught by quarterback Tommy Kramer, the second one came in a win over the Atlanta Falcons and was a 43 yarder to receiver Dwight Collins. Incidentally, this would be the only touchdown reception in Collins’ entire career which lasted just that one season in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Vikings have had a great history so far and their running backs have played a large role in that. For a look at a some great Minnesota Vikings trivia, check out IQFB.com.