Denard Robinson vs DeMarco Murray: NFL’s Best Running Backs Face Off
By Luke Sims
DeMarco Murray is the best running back in the NFL so far this season. His 1133 yards through nine games is an historic pace that will likely not be replicated in the NFL for many, many years to come. Denard Robinson isn’t anywhere near 1000 yards, but his 329 yards on 57 over the past three games puts him among the best in the league at the moment.
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Today both running backs will square off as the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Dallas Cowboys in London as part of the NFL International Series.
There’s no mistake that right now both offenses are being run through the half back. Murray is fighting for every yard. He missed out on extending his record eight 100 yard games to start the season when he came up with only 79 against the Cardinals last week, but he is eager to continue to show the league that a running back is still incredibly relevant in today’s NFL. With Tony Romo still struggling with his injured back, expect even more attention and pressure to be placed on Murray.
Robinson, in contrast, is just trying to show that the Jacksonville Jaguars have some level of offense. Blake Bortles’ emergence as the starting quarterback has come with turnover problems and inconsistencies. While the Jaguars will continue to struggle along with their rookie quarterback, Robinson is trying to provide consistency. His five yards per rushing attempt is equal to Bortles’ adjusted yards per attempt passing.
Because of quarterback problems, expect Robinson and Murray to dominate the game. Expect them to be difference makers as they seek holes opened by the offensive lines, break tackles, and work on a next level that isn’t being replicated by other teams. Both runners are averaging five yards per attempt on the season. Both runners are making statements with their expanded roles in their respective offenses.
Both runners will be the highlight of today’s game. Two the NFL’s best are going to be in action. Revel in it. Denard Robinson vs DeMarco Murray, a rare non-QB battle worth watching.