Contrary to beliefs that have swirled across social media in recent years, running backs do matter. Their influence can be felt in a number of ways — some crash into oncoming rushers to keep QBs off their back, others field passes and turn upstream, mystifying those who come in their path.
Ultimately, though, the most important requisite to being a good tailback is being proficient at running the football. And there are few environments where that skill is more coveted than in postseason play, when temperatures drop, fingers turn to icicles and footballs masquerade as cannon fodder.
Plenty of great tailbacks have fielded carries in the playoffs, from Paul Hornung, Jim Brown, and Lenny Moore to Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and LaDanian Tomlinson. But who has the best single-game playoff rushing performance? Here’s what you need to know.
NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
Most rushing yards in a playoff game
Eric Dickerson holds the record for most rushing yards in a playoff game, slaloming past the Cowboys’ defense for 248 yards in a 1985 NFC divisional-round matchup.
Raheem Mostert fell 28 yards short of Dickerson’s record mark in 2020, racking up 220 yards on 29 carries to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
Only eight players have ever surpassed the 200-yard mark in a postseason game. Hall of Famer Terrell Davis tallied 199 yards in the Broncos’ AFC divisional win against the Dolphins in 1999, while Steve Van Buren, Derrick Henry, Wilbert Montgomery, and Marcus Allen dropped 196 (1949 NFC Championship vs. Rams), 195 (2020 AFC divisional round vs. Ravens), 194 (1981 NFC Championship vs. Cowboys), and 191 yards (1984 Super Bowl vs. Washington). in their respective postseason outbursts.
With that, here’s a look at the 15 best rushing performances in NFL history based on yardage gained.
| Player Name | Team | Yards | Year |
| Eric Dickerson | Rams | 248 | 1986 |
| Raheem Mostert | 49ers | 220 | 2020 |
| Lamar Smith | Dolphins | 209 | 2000 |
| Keith Lincoln | Chargers | 206 | 1964 |
| Timmy Smith | Commanders | 204 | 1988 |
| Freeman McNeil | Jets | 202 | 1983 |
| Lawrence McCutcheon | Rams | 202 | 1975 |
| Ryan Grant | Packers | 201 | 2008 |
| Terrell Davis | Broncos | 199 | 1999 |
| Steve Van Buren | Eagles | 196 | 1949 |
| Derrick Henry | Titans | 195 | 2020 |
| Wilbert Montgomery | Eagles | 194 | 1981 |
| Marcus Allen | Raiders | 191 | 1984 |
| Thurman Thomas | Bills | 186 | 1994 |
| Derrick Henry | Ravens | 186 | 2025 |
