Jamal Lewis played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2000 to 2006, but he is most remembered for his 2003 campaign.
It was the season when Jamal Lewis Lewis broke Corey Dillon’s single-game rushing record of 278 yards by running for 295 at home against the rival Cleveland Browns in week two.
It was also the season he earned his way into the highly rarified air of the 2000-yard season club.
Ultimately, his 2,066 total rushing yards fell just 40 yards shy of the all-time single-season record set by Eric Dickerson in 1984.
A couple of days ago, Lewis appeared on the Ravens’ in-house video channel as the featured guest for an episode of “Untold Stories.”
“I always knew I can do that, and that was my mindset.”@Jamal31Lewis on Untold Stories: pic.twitter.com/t9avcPCPHy
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 10, 2024
Lewis pinpointed the moment when the opportunity to break the single-season rushing record got away from him.
It was week 16 when the Ravens visited the Browns, and he had 22 carries for 205 rushing yards in a 35–0 victory.
Lewis came out in the second half when they were up 28-0.
“I think I ended up coming out the late third quarter, early fourth quarter, something like that,” Lewis told the video podcast.
“I would have gotten the 60-plus yards that I would have needed to break the season record—I can tell you that.”
The show’s host then asked him if, looking back on it now, he wishes he had stayed in for another series or two.
“Looking back, I wish I could have, but coach (Brian) Billick, he had a good point,” Lewis answered.
“We were going into the playoffs; I needed to be healthy. I didn’t want to risk my health or injury, being selfish.”
With the Browns bruised and beaten, week 16 was the opportunity that got away. The following week, the Ravens welcomed in their most hated rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, Lewis couldn’t get going enough to surpass 2,105. Despite the game going into overtime, which provided extra chances at the record, he fell short.
The following season, Lewis’s single-game rushing record was broken by Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings. Peterson got 296 against the San Diego Chargers, besting Lewis by just one yard.
Peterson also surpassed Lewis on the season, which moved him into second place all-time on the season rushing list, just ahead of Lewis.