Chargers: Most Super Bowl winners didn’t need a franchise running back

By Tyler Schoon

Sep 2, 2019

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 11: Running back C.J. Anderson #22 of the Denver Broncos rushes with the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 11, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

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CARSON, CA – OCTOBER 01: LeGarrette Blount /

Chargers and running back comparisons: Rushing stats in the Super Bowl

Here are the rushing yards leaders for the team’s lead back (we’ll go with carries to determine lead back in that game):

Pierre Thomas: Nine carries, 30 yards, no touchdowns
James Starks: 11 carries, 52 yards, no touchdowns
Ahmad Bradshaw: 17 carries, 72 yards, one touchdown
Ray Rice: 20 carries, 59 yards, no touchdowns
Marshawn Lynch: 15 carries, 39 yards, one touchdown
LeGarrette Blount: 14 carries, 40 yards, no touchdowns
C.J. Anderson: 23 carries, 90 yards, one touchdown
LeGarrette Blount: 11 carries, 31 yards, no touchdowns
LeGarrette Blount: 14 carries, 90 yards, one touchdown
Sony Michel: 18 carries, 94 yards, one touchdown

Averages: 15.2 touches, 59.7 yards per game, 0.5 rushing touchdowns per game.

Well that’s not very inspiring.

The goal here was to focus on the need for a bell-cow at running back, as well as how said bell-cow fared in Super Bowl games. Here, lead backs averaged less than four yards per carry. It’s not like the lead backs were even asked to do much, as only one player rushed more than 20 times in a game. Marshawn Lynch, who received just 15 carries in the Super Bowl, rushed more than 20 times on seven different occasion during the regular season, and averaged almost 19 rushes per game throughout the entire year.