YEAR: 1977 & 1983

SIGNIFICANCE: Multiple rushing records were broken including single-game YDS, consecutive RSH TD, and RSH ATT in a game

Given its focus in The Last Dance, most everybody has heard of Michael Jordan’s famous “Flu Game.” Believe it or not, however, Walter Payton had the original “Flu Game” on this date in 1977 against the rival Vikings. After dealing with a fluctuating temperature and weakness throughout his body late in the week, Payton was admittedly surprised he was able to play with a 101-degree fever that Sunday. 

A 10-7 victory on a windy afternoon in Chicago, “Sweetness” carried the ball 26 times for 144 yards and the Bears’ only TD in the first half while QB Bob Avellini attempted just a single pass — a 6-yard completion to Walter Payton. Despite the Bears being shut out in the second half, Payton handled another 14 carries for 131 yards to bring his total to 275 — two more yards than OJ Simpson’s record from just a season earlier. Though several players have broken it since Corey Dillon’s 278-yard game in 2000, Payton’s “Flu Game” held the record for an incredible 23-year span.

Just a few years later, two NFC East rushers each set NFL records on the very same day in 1983. In a 42-20 victory over the Rams, the eventual NFC Champions were led by John Riggins’ three TDs which brought his season total to a record-tying 19 on the ground — with four games to play. Also his 12th consecutive game with a TD (6th consecutive GP with multiple TDs), the “Diesel” would extend his NFL-record streak to 13 before it was snapped a week later. Led by the “Posse”, Riggins and his 24 rushing TDs, along with Joe Theismann, Washington’s offense was arguably the league’s most prolific due to their balanced attack, which would vault them to their second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. 

Earlier that afternoon in the Giants’ 23-0 shutout of the Eagles, Butch Woolfolk also happened to set an all-time rushing record himself. The New York defense completely shut down Philly’s offense, allowing just 79 total yards, so the Giants opted to feed the ground game and kill the clock. This led to Butch Woolfolk, a second-year rusher from Michigan, toting an NFL-record 43 carries that afternoon en route to 159 yards and the game’s first TD. He broke James Wilder’s previous record from a month earlier by one single attempt, but Wilder managed to tie Woolfolk’s 43 attempts less than a year later as well. 

1983 John Riggins sets @NFL record by scoring on 12th consecutive game in victory over LA Rams #onthisday @Redskins pic.twitter.com/G4RRnY85GE

— #OnThisDay (@Iain_McDougall) November 20, 2015