Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Jacobs' spectacular season mirrors some Hall of Famers

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 12/6/22

In 2022, Josh Jacobs keeps pace with some Pro Football Hall of Famers.

Through 12 games, Jacobs has rushed for 1,303 yards, 10 touchdowns and averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

Per The Associated Press' Josh Dubow, only three other players had similiar numbers through 12 games, Jim Brown (Browns), O.J. Simpson (Bills) and Walter Payton (Bears).

Josh Jacobs has 1,303 yards rushing, 10 TD runs and is averaging 5.38 yards/carry. Only others to hit those numbers thru 12 games:
Walter Payton 1977
OJ Simpson 1973
Jim Brown 1965
Jim Brown 1963
Jim Brown 1958
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) December 5, 2022

All are in the HOF, so the league's rushing leader is in outstanding company.

Jacobs holds a 225-yard lead in scrimmage yards this season, too. If the eye-catching numbers don't earn him a spot on the All-Pro team, nothing will.

Most scrimmage yards this season

Josh Jacobs 1,634
Tyreek Hill 1,409
Derrick Henry 1,364
Justin Jefferson 1,301
Saquon Barkley 1,296@iAM_JoshJacobs is a BEAST pic.twitter.com/QIPchsGY3J
— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) December 5, 2022

"He's a football player. That's the greatest compliment I could give him," said Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels recently.

McDaniels praised Jacobs because he rescued the team from a collapse.

150 total yards?! @iAM_JoshJacobs stayed hungry on Sunday ️ (via @nfl)#ProBowlVote | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/awZSR63CbG
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 6, 2022

After a 2-7 start, the Raiders have won three straight games. During the past three games, no defense could slow Jacobs, who has averaged 160.6 yards per game. In Week 12, he set the franchise's rushing record for a game with 229.

If Jacobs continues to produce at this clip, he will smash the organization's season rushing record of 1,759 yards, set by Hall of Famer Marcus Allen in 1985. Allen won NFL MVP that year.

Jacobs probably won't win league MVP because the Raiders' playoff chances are small and a running back hasn't won the award since 2012 (Adrian Peterson). But no one can deny that he's not the league's MVRB — Most Valuable Running Back.

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