7 Reasons why Emmitt Smith is underrated: Reason #3 He played big in big games

(Con’t from Reason #2: He was a complete player)

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Reason #3: He played big in big games

It is common knowledge that Emmitt Smith is the all-time leading rusher in NFL history. However it is less commonly known that he is also the all-time leading rusher in NFL playoff history and the all-time leader in career playoff rushing touchdowns. What is more surprising is that he owns these records despite having played in fewer career playoff games (17) than #2 all-time Franco Harris (19) and #3 all-time Thurman Thomas (21)!

**3x Super Bowl Champ Emmitt Smith vs the Giants in 1994 when he gained over 220 yards from scrimmage playing with a separated shoulder. Photo by © Jerry Coli | Dreamstime.com.LLC**

In the biggest game of all, the Super Bowl, Emmitt Smith is 3^rd all-time in rushing yards. This, despite having played in 3 Super Bowls (1 with an injury) compared to 4 for Franco Harris who is #1 overall on that list. He also remains alone atop the career Super Bowl rushing touchdown list with 5!

Then of course there is the 1993 regular season finale against the New York Giants. Both teams had already secured playoff berths but the division title and a 1^st round bye were on the line. It was a close game against one of the top defenses in the league and just before half time, Emmitt suffered a separated shoulder that most assumed would force him from the game. Instead, with a patchwork tape job and an injection to help dull the pain, Emmitt Smith lead the Cowboys to a gutsy victory rushing for 168 yards on 32 carries and another 61 yards on 10 catches. He scored Dallas’ only touchdown and the Cowboys proceeded to win the Super Bowl that season.

Emmitt Smith has recorded a higher average yards/game, touchdowns/game, receiving yards/game and yards/carry average during his playoff career than during the regular season. In stark contrast, Barry Sanders’ statistical production drops of substantially in the postseason. Barry Sanders played in 6 career playoff games which is a decent sample size. In those 6 games he has recorded over 100 yards rushing only once and scored 1 career playoff touchdown. Barry Sanders recorded (-1) total rushing yards in one playoff loss to the Packers and in the biggest game of his career, the 1991 NFC Championship game, he had recorded negative yardage into the fourth quarter of a

**Barry Sanders poor playoff production is the biggest knock on his otherwise stellar career. Photo by © Jerry Coli | Dreamstime.com.LLC**

blowout loss to the Redskins.

The poor playoff production is perhaps the biggest knock on Barry Sanders’ otherwise stellar career. The evidence here is overwhelming in favour of Emmitt Smith because during the playoffs when the competition is stiffer and the games more meaningful, his performance rose to another level.

Con’t with Reason #4: Tougher competition…