Rashard Mendenhall Driving Pittsburgh Offense But Barely Cracking List of NFL’s Top 10 Running Backs

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Feb 3, 2011

Rashard Mendenhall Driving Pittsburgh Offense But Barely Cracking List of NFL's Top 10 Running Backs While the two starting quarterbacks have drawn a majority of the pre-Super Bowl hype, the Steelers wouldn't be in Dallas this week if it weren't for running back Rashard Mendenhall.

The third-year back pounded the Jets for 121 rushing yards and one touchdown during Pittsburgh's victory in the AFC Championship, and he was the driving force behind the Steelers' ground game, which totaled 166 rushing yards against the Jets, the most they allowed all season. What's more, the Steelers had more rushing yards than passing yards (121) in a game for the first time since quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned from suspension.

Mendenhall paced the Steelers' offense by bulldozing through a lackluster Jets defense that had poor pursuit and horrific tackling, and he set the scene for a 24-point, first-half lead. The 23-year-old, who missed the majority of his rookie season with an injury, has 2,381 rushing yards since 2009, which is the seventh most in the NFL, and his 20 touchdowns in the last two seasons are tied for the fourth most.

If the Steelers knock off the Packers in Sunday's Super Bowl, there's a good chance Mendenhall will be the game's MVP, as the Packers boast the fifth-stingiest pass defense but the 18th-ranked rush defense.

There's no doubt that Mendenhall has emerged as one of the better running backs in the league, but he's not in that elite class just yet. Let's sort out where he ranks. Interestingly, none of the following running backs have ever won a Super Bowl.

Click here to count down the 10 best running backs in the NFL >>

Where does Rashard Mendenhall rank among the NFL's running backs. Leave your thoughts below.

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