Marcus Allen: The Greatest Raider
Throughout Raider history there have been many great moments and many great games. Perhaps the best thing about the Raiders is the heroes who have worn the Silver and Black. Marcus Allen may be the greatest Raider of all-time. The internet lacks a Marcus Allen page so hopefully this will fill that void to an extent.
I have several reasons to prove my thesis that Marcus Allen is the greatest Raider of all-time. However, even if you don't agree, Marcus has to be one of the best players to ever wear the black and silver. During his college career Allen rushed for more yards than any college player ever had up to that time. He also won the Heisman Trophy. Allen's NFL career began in 1982 when he was taken in the first round of the draft. During the 1982 season Allen was the NFL's most outstanding rookie. Marcus led both conferences in scoring with 84 points. He was the American Football Conferences 3rd-leading rusher and he led the entire NFL with 11 rushing touchdowns. Allen scored 14 touchdowns during the 1982 season and capped off the year with the NFL's Rookie of the Year Award.
In 1983 the Los Angeles Raiders were poised for a championship run after a playoff year in 1982. Allen was the MVP of Super Bowl XVIII and he set a then Super Bowl record by rushing for 191 yards. His 209 all-purpose yards was also a Super Bowl record at that time. His 74 yard run which was good for a TD is still the longest run in Super Bowl history. He scored 2 total touchdowns in a 38-9 rout of the Redskins.
In 1984 Allen was the AFC's 2nd-leading rusher. He scored 13 touchdowns to lead the American Football Conference in that category. He had a 52 yard run from scrimmage in 1984, the 2nd longest run of his career. Marcus also caught the longest pass of his career, a 92-yarder from Marc Wilson. In 1985 Allen enjoyed his finished NFL season by:
-Setting a NFL single season record for combined rushing and receiving yards (2,314).
-Led the NFL with 1,759 yards with 11 touchdowns and caught 67 passes for 555 yards and three more touchdowns
-Was named NFL's MVP by the PFWA, AP, The Sporting News and Football News. (1985)
-Was voted the NFL's offensive player of the year. (1985).
Marcus had a great career in the National Football League. Click here for his some of his career highlights. No player had more heart than Marcus, a team leader in Los Angeles and Kansas City. Allen also piled up a lot of yards and second-most rushing touchdowns in NFL history. He made the Pro Bowl five times (1982, 1984, 1985, 1993). He holds the Raiders records for yards rushing and touchdowns. He became the first back in NFL history to have at least 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards in one season. Allen retired with 587 catches the most ever by a running back. It is said that great players make big plays in big games and Allen was one of those individuals. When he got the chance, Allen was awesome during the playoffs. Here are his playoff stats. Here are his rushing stats. In 2003 Marcus was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
-Played in 206 games which at the time of his retirement was the most ever by a Running Back.
-At the time of retirement Allen scored the second most touchdowns in NFL history.
-When he retired Allen's with 2,898 rushing attempts which ranked 6th all-time
-The second oldest player to rush for 100 yards in a game at 35 years, 252 days.
-Has five career playoff 100 yard games.
-His 13 playoff touchdowns are the fifth most in playoff history.
-At the time of his retirement, Allen held the record for the most combined yards gained in a single season by a offensive player. (Broken by Marshall Faulk in 1999). In 1985 Allen gained 2,314 yards and scored 14 touchdowns.
-NFL Most Valuable Player 1985
-NFL Offensive MVP 1985
-AFC Offensive MVP 1985
-NFL Rookie of the Year 1982
-AFC Rookie of the Year 1982
-NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year 1982
-1st Team All Pro 1985
-2nd Team All Pro 1984
-2nd Team All-AFC 1986
-Pro Bowl: 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994
-All Pro: 1982, 1985
-Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003
-Scored on 1 fumble recovery touchdown
-Also, Allen once held the NFL record for the most consecutive games with 100+ yards. Allen did it in 11 straight games between 10/28/85-9/14/86. (Broken by Barry Sanders in 1998)
-Was a threat on any Halfback option play. Click here for Allens career passing stats.
| Year | Games | Team | Att | Yards | LG | Avg. | TD |
| 1982 | 9 | Raiders | 160 | 697 | 53 | 4.4 | 11 |
| 1983 | 16 | Raiders | 266 | 1014 | 19 | 3.8 | 9 |
| 1984 | 16 | Raiders | 275 | 1168 | 52 | 4.2 | 13 |
| 1985 | 16 | Raiders | 380 | 1759 | 61 | 4.6 | 11 |
| 1986 | 13 | Raiders | 208 | 759 | 28 | 3.6 | 5 |
| 1987 | 12 | Raiders | 200 | 754 | 44 | 3.8 | 5 |
| 1988 | 15 | Raiders | 223 | 831 | 32 | 3.7 | 7 |
| 1989 | 8 | Raiders | 69 | 293 | 15 | 4.2 | 2 |
| 1990 | 16 | Raiders | 179 | 682 | 28 | 3.8 | 12 |
| 1991 | 8 | Raiders | 63 | 287 | 26 | 4.6 | 2 |
| 1992 | 16 | Raiders | 67 | 301 | 21 | 4.5 | 2 |
| 1993 | 16 | Chiefs | 206 | 764 | 39 | 3.7 | 12 |
| 1994 | 13 | Chiefs | 189 | 709 | 36 | 3.8 | 7 |
| 1995 | 16 | Chiefs | 207 | 890 | 38 | 4.3 | 5 |
| 1996 | 16 | Chiefs | 206 | 830 | 35 | 4.0 | 9 |
| 1997 | 16 | Chiefs | 124 | 505 | 30 | 4.1 | 11 |
| Career | 222 | ------- | 3022 | 12243 | 61 | 4.1 | 123 |
| Raider Career | 145 | Raiders | 2090 | 8545 | 61 | 4.08 | 79 |
| Year | Team | Catch | Yards | LG | Avg. | TD |
| 1982 | Raiders | 38 | 401 | 51 | 10.6 | 3 |
| 1983 | Raiders | 68 | 590 | 36 | 8.7 | 2 |
| 1984 | Raiders | 64 | 758 | 92 | 11.8 | 5 |
| 1985 | Raiders | 67 | 555 | 44 | 8.3 | 3 |
| 1986 | Raiders | 46 | 453 | 36 | 9.8 | 2 |
| 1987 | Raiders | 51 | 410 | 39 | 8.0 | 0 |
| 1988 | Raiders | 34 | 303 | 30 | 8.9 | 1 |
| 1989 | Raiders | 20 | 191 | 26 | 9.6 | 0 |
| 1990 | Raiders | 15 | 189 | 30 | 12.6 | 1 |
| 1991 | Raiders | 15 | 131 | 25 | 8.7 | 0 |
| 1992 | Raiders | 28 | 277 | 40 | 9.9 | 1 |
| 1993 | Chiefs | 34 | 238 | 18 | 7.0 | 3 |
| 1994 | Chiefs | 42 | 349 | 38 | 8.3 | 0 |
| 1995 | Chiefs | 27 | 210 | 20 | 7.8 | 0 |
| 1996 | Chiefs | 27 | 270 | 59 | 10.0 | 0 |
| 1997 | Chiefs | 11 | 86 | 18 | 7.8 | 0 |
| Career | ------ | 587 | 5411 | 92 | 9.2 | 21 |
| Raider Career | Raiders | 446 | 4258 | 92 | 9.5 | 18 |
| Total Carries | Total Yards | Total Touchdowns | Avg. Per carry |
| 3609 | 17654 | 144 | 4.89 |
Touchdowns
| Rushing | Receiving | Return | Passing |
| 123 | 21 | 1 | 4 |
| Att | Comp | % | Yards | TD | Int | Rating |
| 25 | 10 | 40.0 | 267 | 4 | 1 | 119.5 |
| Playoff Games | Starts | Rush Att. | Yards | Avg. | TD | Rec | Yards | Avg. | TD |
| 15 | 14 | 255 | 1310 | 5.1 | 11 | 52 | 522 | 10.0 | 2 |