Tag: Rushing touchdowns

Alvin Kamara claims the Saints franchise rushing touchdowns record

With two scores in the second half against the Detroit Lions, Alvin Kamara broke the Saints franchise record for most career rushing touchdowns:

Alvin Kamara now holds the record for most rushing touchdowns in New Orleans Saints history. This season has been full of record breaking moments for Alvin Kamara. He has broken the team record for most total touchdowns, 2 point conversions and now rushing touchdowns. He took the title from his old running mate, Mark Ingram, for those last two records. He also tied the lead for the most 2-point conversions in league history this year.

Kamara scored two touchdowns in the second half against the Detroit Lions, both of which were scores at the goal line. These scores helped New Orleans be more efficient in the red zone. Despite Kamara playing well, these were his first touchdowns since Oct. 29 versus the Indianapolis Colts.

It didn’t take long for Kamara to establish himself as one of the best running backs in the league. Through his career, his versatility and dynamic skill set has set him apart from his peers. He’s used that to establish himself as a Saints legend.

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Alvin Kamara tied up Mark Ingram II’s record for Saints touchdown runs

Another week, another record. Alvin Kamara tied up Mark Ingram II’s record for Saints touchdown runs after scoring twice against the Colts:

Another week, another record for Alvin Kamara. Kamara scored a pair of touchdown runs in Sunday’s win over the Indianapolis Colts to put his career total at 51 scoring runs, which is impressive by itself. But that also ties the record his old teammate Mark Ingram II set for rushing touchdowns in a Saints uniform. One more will break it.

Kamara has already broken his tie with Ingram for the most two-point conversions in Saints franchise history, having also taken the record for the most touchdowns scored for New Orleans from Marques Colston. He still has a lot of football left to play before he’ll call it a career, but Kamara is already one of the most-accomplished players to ever suit up in black and gold.

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Chargers’ 2022 season in review: Assessing the play of Los Angeles’ running backs

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler had a remarkable 2022 season.

In the modern pass-first NFL, a solid running game is something of a novelty, but the Los Angeles Chargers proved in 2022 that a throwback run-and-shoot strategy can still work. Quarterback Justin Herbert has lifted Los Angeles to new heights with his work in the passing game, but veteran running back Austin Ekeler’s effort on the ground helped immensely in the Chargers’ fight for a playoff spot.

Ekeler carried the ball 204 times in 2022 for 915 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in what would be the most productive season of his career. However, his role as a receiver was an underrated part of his campaign as well, and he managed to add 722 receiving yards to his season total with five touchdowns through the air to boot.

Behind Ekeler, third-year back Joshua Kelley found modest success as a runner in 13 appearances, tallying 287 yards and two touchdowns. Though he only made one start on the season, Kelley carved out a legitimate role for himself in the Chargers’ offense and should prove to be valuable depth at the position moving forward.

Three other running backs carried the ball for Los Angeles as well, though they weren’t nearly as productive. Veteran Sony Michel, rookie Isaiah Spiller, and second-year back Larry Rountree combined for 166 yards on 67 carries over the course of the year, good for an average of just 2.2 yards per carry. None were able to find the end zone in 2022.

The last piece of the puzzle in the Chargers’ backfield is fullback Zander Horvath, who makes his money as a lead blocker. Though he isn’t often thought of as a key piece to Brandon Staley’s offensive attack, Horvath has proven to be an asset in the running game.

Los Angeles shouldn’t be too concerned about adding another running back in the offseason, though if they want to pursue depth at the position they may decide to take a flier on a late-round draft prospect. Their less-than-ideal situation relative to the salary cap will make it difficult to justify spending more than a minimal amount of money at the position and should serve to cement Ekeler’s role as the team’s lead back ahead of the 2023 season.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes makes franchise history in Week 15 win vs. Texans

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes claimed two franchise records from Alex Smith during the Week 15 win over the #Texans.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes claimed a few pieces of franchise history during the team’s Week 15 win over the Houston Texans.

During the course of the game, Mahomes ran for his 11th career rushing touchdown. In doing so, Mahomes now has the most rushing touchdowns by a QB in franchise history in their career. It breaks the tie that he held with Alex Smith (10) for the most rushing touchdowns by a QB in franchise history. Keep in mind, this is only the fifth year that Mahomes has been a starter for the team. It’s also not the only record that Mahomes claimed from Smith on Sunday.

In addition to his rushing prowess, Mahomes had a dominant day throwing the ball. He completed 36-of-41 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns in Houston. That’s an 87.80% completion percentage — which is now the highest completion percentage (minimum of 20 attempts) by a Chiefs QB in a single game in franchise history.

Smith previously held the completion percentage record with 86.36% against the Oakland Raiders in October of 2016, when he completed 19-of-22 passes. Smith actually now owns No. 2 through No. 5 on the franchise leaderboards, but he never completed more than 25 passes in those games. It makes the record by Mahomes all the more impressive and one that will likely stand for a very long time.

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Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny named FedEx Ground Player of Week 4

For his impressive efforts against the Lions, Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny was named the FedEx Ground Player of Week 4.

The Seattle Seahawks offense put up big numbers against the Detroit Lions in Week 4, resulting in a final Scorigami of 48-45. For his efforts, quarterback Geno Smith was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Week. Running back Rashaad Penny was also honored and voted the FedEx Ground Player of Week 4.

In Detroit on Sunday, Penny logged 17 carries for 151 yards and two rushing touchdowns. He also managed one reception for six yards.

In the FedEx Ground Player of the Week poll, Penny was pitted against Josh Jacobs and Miles Sanders. The Seahawks running back won with 44.1% of the vote.

The complete results are below.

“There’s a real suddenness to him and it’s the power that he has,” coach Pete Carroll said of Penny on Wednesday. “He runs right through tackles that normally guys have to change course. He didn’t have to change course half the time. A guy reaches out and tries to get him, whether it’s the big guys or not. He just runs right through it, and it doesn’t affect him, so he seems to maximize his opportunity to get to top speed and you feel like when he bust it, he’s gone.

“You don’t feel like anybody is not going to get a shot at him and he has proven that.”

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Is Shaun Alexander Seahawks best player not yet enshrined in Hall of Fame?

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander could very well be the team’s best player not yet enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 will have to wait another season before being enshrined, as this year’s ceremony was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak across the nation.

But for some players, the wait continues for the formal invite to Canton, including former Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander.

Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports recently put together his list of each team’s best player who has yet to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. His criteria were as follows:
  • The player must have played more than half of his career for the franchise
  • The player must be currently eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame

DeArdo’s easy choice for Seattle was Alexander. 

“While his prime was relatively short, Alexander enjoyed a highly productive five-year run that saw him win one rushing title while leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns twice,” DeArdo writes. “Alexander also earned three Pro Bowl selections during this span while being named the 2005 Offensive Player of the Year. Alexander’s success that season helped Seattle reach its first Super Bowl.”

Alexander is tied with Marshall Faulk for the eighth-highest total rushing touchdowns in NFL history. During his career with Seattle, Alexander averaged 1,501 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns per year.

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