Terrell Davis entered the 1998 season as the reigning Super Bowel MVP. Coming off of his 157 yard, 3 TD performance in Super Bowl XXXII, Davis was considered one of the top running backs in the game alongside Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith. His rise was meteoric at the time, especially from where he came from. A Denver Broncos’ 6th round draft pick in 1995, Davis had to climb up from the bottom of the depth chart to win the starting job. Although the success came quick, Davis didn’t let it go to his head. With that mentality he was able to put together one of the greatest seasons ever for a running back in 1998.
Davis, Broncos Run Through NFL En Route to Super Bowl
The Denver Broncos were title favorites coming into the 1998 NFL season. Along with Hall of Fame QB John Elway, the Broncos got off to a hot start, thanks to Davis. The Broncos hopped on the back of their stud running back, winning their first 13 games of the season. They coasted to a 14-2 regular season and would complete their mission by defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII. Davis would break his own Broncos’ rushing record of 1,750 yards set just a year earlier by running for 2,008 yards. At the time he was the fourth running back in NFL history to join the 2,000 yard club (Sanders, Eric Dickerson and O.J. Simpson).
Terrell Davis was Unstoppable in 1998
Davis had some monster games that year. He crossed the 100 yard rushing mark 11 times including a stretch in which he did that in 7 consecutive games. In Week 2, he torched the Dallas Cowboys for 191 yards and 3 TDs on 23 carries. Against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6, Davis rushed for 208 yards and 1 TD on 30 rushing attempts. It was the first of two huge rushing games against the Seahawks that season; in the second game (last game of the season) Davis ran for 178 yards on 29 carries, surpassing the 2,000 yard mark in the process. He also set an NFL record with 21 rushing TDs in a single season, giving fans plenty of Mile High Salutes. Along with passing the 2,000 yard mark and winning a second straight Super Bowl, Davis also took home Offensive Player of the Year and NFL MVP honors as well.
Terrell Davis’ sensational season made him one of the greatest running backs to play in the NFL. Although injuries would slow his career down years later, there was no denying the huge impact he had in the NFL during the mid to late 1990s.