The NFL has long abandoned the 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust approach to offense, instead opting to use high-powered quarterbacks, speedy receivers and complex route trees to blow by defenses.
That's what makes the 2022 Eagles such an enigma in Super Bowl 57, especially when juxtaposed against the Chiefs' high-flying offense: Unlike Kansas City, which places the onus on Patrick Mahomes' rocket arm — with good reason — the Eagles instead use a multi-faceted rushing attack to crush opposing defenses.
Jalen Hurts, Mahomes' Eagles counterpart, is the biggest factor in the Eagles' rushing success this season. His dual-threat ability and excellent deep ball have forced defenses to spread themselves thin in an attempt to cover all their bases.
Add to that the rushing prowess of Miles Sanders and Boston Scott, the vertical deep threat of receivers DeVonta Smith and AJ Brown and the cohesion of the NFL's best offensive line unit, and the Eagles have been wildly successful at scoring rushing touchdowns in 2022.
MORE: Watch Super Bowl 57 live with fuboTV (free trial)
Indeed, "wildly successful" doesn't quite cover the extent of the Eagles' rushing totals this year. They are now the most successful team in NFL history at scoring rushing touchdowns, breaking a 99-year NFL record en route to Super Bowl 57 — with one more game to add to their record.
Here's a look at the Eagles' rushing touchdowns record, as well as the teams they passed — er, rushed by — to achieve the feat:
NFL rushing touchdown record
The 2022 Eagles hold the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns in a season — postseason included — with 39. That moves Philadelphia past the 1924 Frankford Yellow Jackets, who previously held the all-encompassing record with 38.
Other teams with notable touchdown totals include the 1962 Packers, which previously held the record among still-active NFL franchises, with 37. The Bears previously held that distinction by rushing for 36 touchdowns in 1941.
It wasn't until the 1976 season that another team scored at least 36 touchdowns, when the Steelers tied the 1941 Bears' mark of 36 rushing scores. That total is also notable inasmuch it was the NFL's post-merger rushing record — until the Eagles broke it in 2022.
Here's a breakdown of which teams have scored 35 or more touchdowns in the regular season and postseason combined:
| Team | Rushing touchdowns |
|---|---|
| 2022 Eagles | 39 |
| 1924 Yellow Jackets | 38 |
| 1962 Packers | 37 |
| 1941 Bears | 36 |
| 1976 Steelers | 36 |
| 1983 Redskins | 36 |
| 1948 49ers | 35 |
| 2006 Chargers | 35 |
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NFL regular-season record for rushing touchdowns
The Eagles still don't have the record for most regular-season touchdowns. Several teams rank ahead of Philadelphia's 2022 team in that metric, headlined by the 1924 Yellow Jackets (who did not play in the playoffs that season).
That team went 11-2-1, good enough to finish third in the league standings that year. The Yellow Jackets had eight players score rushing touchdowns that season, none fewer than two. Only fullback Tex Hamer scored in the double digits, with 12, while Jack Storer finished second with seven.
They, the 1962 Packers, 1948 49ers and 1976 Steelers all rank ahead of the Eagles in terms of regular-season rushing touchdowns. Here's the full breakdown of teams that have scored at least 30 regular-season rushing touchdowns:
| Rank | Team | Rushing touchdowns |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1924 Yellow Jackets | 38 |
| 2 | 1962 Packers | 36 |
| 3 | 1948 49ers | 35 |
| 4 | 1976 Steelers | 33 |
| T-5 | 2003 Chiefs | 32 |
| T-5 | 2006 Chargers | 32 |
| T-5 | 2022 Eagles | 32 |
| 8 | 2004 Chiefs | 31 |
| T-9 | 1941 Bears | 30 |
| T-9 | 1978 Patriots | 30 |
| T-9 | 1983 Redskins | 30 |
| T-9 | 2008 Panthers | 30 |
| T-9 | 2020 Saints | 30 |
MORE: Printable Super Bowl squares grid for Eagles vs. Chiefs in 2023
NFL postseason record for most rushing touchdowns
The Eagles have another rushing touchdown record they can set in 2022, though it would necessitate an incredible performance vs. the Chiefs. If Philadelphia scores five rushing touchdowns in Super Bowl 57, it would tie the 1997 Broncos' postseason rushing touchdown record, with 12.
It's worth noting Denver accomplished that feat in four games; Philadelphia, by virtue of its No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, will only play three playoff games in 2023. The three-game record is nine, set first by the 49ers in 2012, then tied by the Patriots in 2018.
Here's a breakdown of the postseason rushing touchdown record:
| Rank | Team | Rushing touchdowns |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997 Broncos | 12 |
| T-2 | 2012 49ers | 9 |
| T-2 | 2018 Patriots | 9 |
| T-4 | 1973 Dolphins | 8 |
| T-4 | 1983 Raiders | 8 |
| T-4 | 1990 Bills | 8 |
| T-4 | 1993 49ers | 8 |
| T-4 | 1994 49ers | 8 |
| T-9 | 1940 Bears | 7 |
| T-9 | 1991 Redskins | 7 |
| T-9 | 1995 Cowboys | 7 |
| T-9 | 1998 Broncos | 7 |
| T-9 | 2013 Patriots | 7 |
| T-9 | 2019 49ers | 7 |
| T-9 | 2022 Eagles | 7 |
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Eagles rushing touchdown leaders
Hurts leads all Eagles rushers with 15 touchdowns on the season (including playoffs). Sanders is second on the team with 13 heading into the Super Bowl.
Here's a complete rundown of Philadelphia's top rushing scorers, playoffs included:
| Player | Rushing touchdowns |
|---|---|
| Jalen Hurts | 15 |
| Miles Sanders | 13 |
| Kenneth Gainwell | 5 |
| Boston Scott | 5 |
| Gardner Minshew | 1 |
| Total | 39 |
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NFL record for most rushing touchdowns by a QB
The Eagles' rushing record isn't complete without the effort put forth by Hurts. The third-year quarterback now holds the NFL record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season, playoffs included, with 15.
The previous record — 14 — was set by Cam Newton in 2011, though that's still good enough for most regular-season rushing touchdowns by a QB. (Hurts scored 13 regular-season touchdowns and two playoff touchdowns to move him past Newton).
If Hurts scores one rushing touchdown vs. the Chiefs, he will move into a six-way tie for most postseason rushing touchdowns by a quarterback: Otto Graham, Colin Kaepernick, Jim McMahon and Steve McNair (twice) are all tied for first with three. Two rushing touchdowns by Hurts in Super Bowl 57 would give him the all-time record.
Just add it to the growing list of NFL rushing records by the Eagles.