I don't think anybody was surprised by the super-sized numbers Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl RB Jamaal Charles put up in 2013, inlcuding his 37 rushes that gained at least 10 yards, tops in the AFC and third-best in the NFL. While there were plenty of highlights to choose from in Jamaal's 2013 campaign, below are the Top 10 plays from his third Pro Bowl season.
1) Jamaal's first TD of 2013
Jamaal's first score of the season deserved to be on the list, after watching how hard he worked in the offseason, including countless hours spent studying Andy Reid's new playbook. The study time proved worthwhile in Week 1 as Jamaal found pay dirt in the second quarter, pushing the Chiefs lead to 21-2, before the eventual 28-2 victory.
Charles finished the game with 16 carries for 77 yards (4.8 avg.) and the one touchdown, the 18th of his career. He also added three receptions for 23 yards in the win.
2) Jamaal's First TD at Arrowhead Stadium in 2013
More than a "Top Play", Jamaal's first TD at Arrowhead Stadium this year, with the Chiefs rocking the all-red uniforms, is noteworthy, serving as an appetizer for what he would do all season long, attack the opposition as a ball-carrier and a receiver. To see the fans erupt after Jamaal scored and did his customary "dust-off" celebration continued to give the feeling that 2013 was going to be a very special season.
Charles finished the 17-16 victory against Dallas with 16 carries for 55 yards, as well as eight receptions for 48 yards with the TD.
Week 3 - Charles in Charge in the Fourth Quarter
Jamaal turned up the heat in the fourth quarter, facing the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, finishing the game with 20 carries for 92 yards and a three-yard touchdown run, the 19th-rushing score of his career. Charles continued with his receiving efforts, finished with seven grabs for 80 yards. Having touched the ball 27 times for a total of 162 yards, he and the Chiefs left the City of Brotherly Love with the 26-16 win.
4) Jamaal's 35-yard Speed Burst Against Denver
While the road matchup against the AFC West-rival Denver Broncos didn't go as planned, Jamaal recorded 72 yards from scrimmage, 35 coming after a quick second-quarter burst, down the left sideline. Following the game, Charles landed in the record books, becoming just the fifth player in franchise history to surpass 7,000-career yards from scrimmage.
5) The 46-yard Weave Against the Chargers
Jamaal's 5.58 yards-per-carry average is the highest average in NFL history of any back with more than 1,000 carries, topping Pro Football Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown, who averaged 5.22 yards per carry. Long-gain runs like the 46-yard weave he recorded against the Chargers in Week 12 certainly helped his stats. Charles finished the contest with 14 carries for 115 yards and two TDs, along with four catches for 42 yards.
6) Jamaal's Superman-Like Feat Against the Broncos
Trailing 35-21 in the fourth quarter of the Week 13 matchup against the Denver Broncos, Jamaal showcased his leg strength, diving over the pile for the score. He finished with 19 carries on the day to cover 93 yards and the diving TD. He also added two receptions for 27 yards in the game.
7) The Snow Tries to Slow Jamaal and Fails
When the Chiefs visited Washington in Week 14, the snow was falling, before the players took the field for warm-ups. I was surprised to see that Jamaal came out without sleeves, later proving he's not afraid of snow and other cold elements. Charles broke off this 35-yard run in the third quarter and finished 19 carries for 151 yards (7.9 avg.) with one touchdown. The 45-10 win also marked his third 100-plus yard rushing game of the season, 20th of his career, ranking third in franchise history.
8) Jamaal Feasts During a Week 15 Visit to Oakland
Everybody knows that you throw out the record books when the Chiefs and Raiders collide, like they did for the second time in 2013 in Week 15. Jamaal clearly showed the West Coast time difference didn't bother him as he jolted for the end zone on the team's first offensive play from scrimmage, scoring on the 49-yard screen pass from Alex Smith.Â
9) Jamaal's One-Handed Grab Leads to Six
On the very next drive, after the 49-yard TD, Charles took another screen pass, caught with one hand, and celebrated 39 yards later. Charles caught eight passes for 195 yards (24.4 avg.) in the game, marking a new single-game career-high for receiving yards. Charles' 195 receiving yards rank as the fifth-best mark in NFL history by a running back and is the second-best single-game total by a running back in team history. Charles' four receiving touchdowns are the most by a running back in a single game in NFL history.
On the day, Charles had 16 total touches (eight rushing, eight receiving) and finished with five touchdowns (one rushing, four receiving) scoring on 31.3% of his touches, becoming the first player in NFL history with at least four touchdown receptions and one touchdown run in a single game. His five total touchdowns tie for the fourth-most in a single game in NFL history and fall just one shy of the league record. Three players have scored six touchdowns in a game: Ernie Nevers (Nov. 28, 1929), Dub Jones (Nov. 25, 1951) and Gale Sayers (Dec. 12, 1965).
10) Jamaal's Cold-Weather Score at Arrowhead
In the final home game of 2013, Jamaal again wasn't slowed by snowy, icy conditions, capping off the Chiefs first drive on offense with a 31-yard TD run. Charles finished the contest with 13 carries for 106 yards and the score, along with five receptions for 38 yards.
Jamaal's final stat line in 2013:
259 carries for 1,287 yards and 12 TDs
70 receptions for 693 yards and 7 TDs
The 2013 season was truly record-breaking for Jamaal, giving hopes to Chiefs fans that year number two in coach Reid's system could be that much bigger and better than what we were all fortunate to watch.
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