Where Is This Record Everyone Keeps Talking About?

Am I missing something?

After the Lions game Redskins tailback Clinton Portis was lauded with a special achievement, he is the first tailback since OJ Simpson to run for 120 or more yards in five consecutive games twice. This story is literally everywhere this week, the Washington Times, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Redskins play the Steelers this week), the Washington Post here and here.

Unless I am missing something, Clinton has not actually earned this accolade. If anyone out there has done the research and found something different, please drop a comment or email me.

OJ Simpson did it in 1973 at the end of the season, weeks ten through fourteen with 120, 124, 137, 219 and 200 yard games. He did it again in 1975 to start the season, weeks one through five with 173, 227, 138, 159 and 126 yard games.

As we now know, Clinton Portis has a similar run in 2008, weeks four through eight with 121, 145, 129, 175 and 126 yard games.

But in reviewing Clinton Portis' career performance I can find no other stretch in which Clinton ran the ball 120 yards or more in five consecutive games. In 2003 Clinton had a five game stretch over 100 yards, but not 120 yards, he ran four games over 120. In 2005 Clinton had five consecutive games over 100, one of which was over 120.

Database Football and Pro Football Reference back up these numbers.

So what's the deal? Are we missing something or is this an achievement that was reported erroneously to start with and then just entered into the echo chamber and repeated?



Clinton Portis: Reuters Pictures from here.