Despite Arizona's playoff odds dipping to a microscopic one percent according to Football Outsiders' latest projections, there's something else for Cardinals fans to root for when the team takes on New Orleans on Sunday.
Running back David Johnson, the team's offensive bright spot amid a down year, needs one more game with 100 or more yards from scrimmage to break a record set by former Colts running back Edgerrin James for most consecutive games with triple-digit total yards. He also needs 255 receiving yards over three weeks to join the 1,000-1,000 club, which has only been done twice (Marshall Faulk and Roger Craig) in NFL history.
"That's elite company -- nobody," Bruce Arians said of the 100-yard-from-scrimmage record, via the team's official site. "That speaks for itself, really."
While this season has been difficult to swallow for Arians and the Cardinals, Johnson's incredible skill set signifies a bright future on the horizon. A running back with that type of skill set is a huge draw for potential free agents and, should Arizona need to go in this direction, an invaluable asset for a rookie quarterback.
Johnson currently has 1,085 rushing yards and 11 rushing scores. He also has 69 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns. He's third in the NFL in rushing yards and 35th in receiving yards. For perspective: He's essentially put up the same receiving statistics as DeSean Jackson and, in addition, is the third most productive running back in football.
Combined with Le'Veon Bell's resurgence and Ezekiel Elliott's emergence, we may very well be in the next Golden Age of running backs. That is something in itself worth rooting for.
