If it seems like Miles Sanders is doing stuff that very few running backs have ever done, there's a good reason for it.
The dude is having a historic season, despite averaging just 13 carries per game.
With three games left in the 2020 season, Sanders is averaging 5.7 yards per carry — fourth highest in the NFL and second highest among running backs, behind only Nick Chubb’s 5.9 mark.
He's already become the first back in eight years with three 70-yard runs in the same season.
Let's take a look at some of Sanders' crazy accomplishments so far in 2020:
Gale Sayers never did this
Of the 26 modern-era running backs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 13 never had a single run of at least 74 yards in their entire career. Sanders has three in his last 74 carries. Among the Hall of Famers who never had a 74-yard carry: Gale Sayers, Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin, Edgerrin James and Steve Van Buren. Sanders has three in his last seven games.
Shady never had one
Sanders now has three of the nine-longest rushing plays in Eagles history. Nobody else ever had more than one 74-yard run in their Eagles career. Sanders has three in his last seven games.
Chasing Ernie
Sanders’ career average is now up to 5.0, which is second highest in Eagles history among running backs, behind only Ernie Steele’s 5.2 from 1942 through 1948. The top three spots belong to Michael Vick (6.7), Randall Cunningham (6.6) and Donovan McNabb (5.7).
Making a lot of nothing
Sanders has four games this year with 80 or more rushing yards on 15 or fewer carries. Only two players in NFL history have had more such games in a season: Abner Haynes of the Dallas Texans in 1960 and Jamaal Charles of the Chiefs in 2010 had five apiece.
Maybe he should get more carries
Sanders is only the 11th running back in NFL history with a 5.0 rushing average 26 games into his NFL career (minimum of 300 carries).
Nobody's ever done that
With four more rushing yards, Sanders will become the first player in Eagles history with 750 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons. Sanders had 818 rushing yards last year and 746 this year.
Elite company
Sanders is on pace to become only the 16th running back in NFL history to average 5.7 yards per carry with a minimum of 150 carries. In the last 55 years, only seven backs have done it. Chubb is also on pace for that. In the last 20 years, only Adrian Peterson, C.J. Spiller, Charles and Maurice Jones-Drew have done it.
Breaking records
Sanders is on pace to break the franchise record for highest rushing average in a season. The mark is currently held by Timmy Brown, who averaged 5.45 yards per carry in 1965.
Tatum Bell? Really?
Sanders has 746 yards on just 132 carries. In NFL history, only 11 players have had 746 yards 13 games into a season on fewer carries, and only five of them were running backs, only one in the last 50 years (The Broncos’ Tatum Bell in 2005).
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